UCSD vs. Pitt

Deciding between University of California San Diego and University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of California San Diego
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSD La Jolla, CA
  • Pitt Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • UCSD Large City
  • Pitt Large City
  • Enrollment
  • UCSD 44,256
  • Pitt 35,724
  • Type
  • UCSD Public 4 Year
  • Pitt Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSD #87
  • Pitt #138
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSD -
  • Pitt -
  • Status
  • UCSD Non-profit
  • Pitt Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSD
  • Pitt

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSD $16,758
  • Pitt $21,926
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSD $50,958
  • Pitt $41,430
  • Room & Board
  • UCSD $18,970
  • Pitt $13,620
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSD $14,047
  • Pitt $25,223
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSD $25,757
  • Pitt $16,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSD 59%
  • Pitt 53%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSD 134,450
  • Pitt 60,898
  • Admitted
  • UCSD 35,917
  • Pitt 35,372
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSD 26.7%
  • Pitt 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSD 20.4%
  • Pitt 13%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSD 1380
  • Pitt 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSD 31
  • Pitt 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSD 3.82
  • Pitt 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSD A-
  • Pitt A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSD Exceptional
  • Pitt Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSD High
  • Pitt Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSD 28/34
  • Pitt 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • UCSD 1270/1480
  • Pitt 1280/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSD Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
  • Pitt Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSD Nov 30, 2026
  • Pitt

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSD 19:1
  • Pitt 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSD
    • Biology (23%)
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Pitt
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSD 85%
  • Pitt 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSD $67,900
  • Pitt $58,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSD 82%
  • Pitt 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSD $18,500
  • Pitt $26,909
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSD $191
  • Pitt $278

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSD 12%
  • Pitt 11%
  • % Women
  • UCSD 9%
  • Pitt 16%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSD Very High
  • Pitt Low
  • HBCU
  • UCSD No
  • Pitt No
  • % White
  • UCSD 21%
  • Pitt 74%
  • % Asian
  • UCSD 37%
  • Pitt 9%
  • % Black
  • UCSD 1%
  • Pitt 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSD 16%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % Native American
  • UCSD 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSD 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSD 5%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % International
  • UCSD 17%
  • Pitt 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSD 2%
  • Pitt 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSD 78%
  • Pitt 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSD 9%
  • Pitt 33%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UCSD Yes
  • Pitt Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UCSD No
  • Pitt No
  • Meal Plan
  • UCSD Yes
  • Pitt Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UCSD No
  • Pitt No
  • Daycare Facility
  • UCSD Yes
  • Pitt No

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California San Diego in La Jolla, CA with University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in Pittsburgh, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California San Diego is larger than Pitt based on total student enrollment (44,256 students vs. 35,724 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California San Diego is located in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting); University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • University of California San Diego is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California San Diego 19:1; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 13:1.

UCSD vs. Pitt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSD or Pitt? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California San Diego than Pitt ($14,047 vs. $25,223).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus are 28.2% lower than at University of California San Diego ($13,620 vs. $18,970).
  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is 30.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSD (about $5,168 more per year; $21,926.00 vs. $16,758.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23% higher at UCSD than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (about $9,528 more per year; $50,958.00 vs. $41,430.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California San Diego than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (59% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California San Diego students is 56.2% larger than aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students ($25,757 vs. $16,494).

UCSD vs. Pitt Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSD or Pitt? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Pitt and UCSD.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California San Diego (1380) is 10 points higher than at Pitt (1370).
  • Incoming UCSD students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 31) as students at Pitt (31).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 1270/1480; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 1280/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 28/34; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSD - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); Pitt - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSD Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UCSD students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Pitt (3.79).
  • Pitt has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than UCSD (26.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at UCSD vs. 13% at Pitt.

UCSD vs. Pitt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSD and Pitt? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of California San Diego's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus's (79%).
  • Graduates from University of California San Diego earn a median of about $9,900 more per year than Pitt graduates about ten years after starting college ($67,900 vs. $58,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California San Diego graduates have a $8,409 lower median loan debt than Pitt graduates ($18,500 vs. $26,909).
  • Among borrowers, UCSD graduates have an estimated $87 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitt graduates ($191 vs. $278).
  • More UCSD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pitt students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.