UCSD vs. Virginia Tech

Deciding between University of California San Diego and Virginia Tech? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of California San Diego
Virginia Tech

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSD La Jolla, CA
  • Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
  • Setting
  • UCSD Large City
  • Virginia Tech Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSD 44,256
  • Virginia Tech 38,857
  • Type
  • UCSD Public 4 Year
  • Virginia Tech Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSD #87
  • Virginia Tech #142
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSD -
  • Virginia Tech -
  • Status
  • UCSD Non-profit
  • Virginia Tech Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSD
  • Virginia Tech

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSD $16,758
  • Virginia Tech $15,948
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSD $50,958
  • Virginia Tech $37,764
  • Room & Board
  • UCSD $18,970
  • Virginia Tech $16,550
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSD $14,047
  • Virginia Tech $24,912
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSD $25,757
  • Virginia Tech $9,168
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSD 59%
  • Virginia Tech 60%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSD 134,450
  • Virginia Tech 52,498
  • Admitted
  • UCSD 35,917
  • Virginia Tech 28,758
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSD 26.7%
  • Virginia Tech 54.8%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSD 20.4%
  • Virginia Tech 25.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSD 1380
  • Virginia Tech 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSD 31
  • Virginia Tech 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSD 3.82
  • Virginia Tech 3.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSD A-
  • Virginia Tech A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSD Exceptional
  • Virginia Tech Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSD High
  • Virginia Tech Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSD 28/34
  • Virginia Tech 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • UCSD 1270/1480
  • Virginia Tech 1280/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSD Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
  • Virginia Tech Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSD Nov 30, 2026
  • Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSD 19:1
  • Virginia Tech 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSD
    • Biology (23%)
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Virginia Tech
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSD 85%
  • Virginia Tech 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSD $67,900
  • Virginia Tech $65,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSD 82%
  • Virginia Tech 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSD $18,500
  • Virginia Tech $23,966
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSD $191
  • Virginia Tech $247

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSD 56%
  • Virginia Tech 55%
  • % Women
  • UCSD 44%
  • Virginia Tech 45%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSD Very High
  • Virginia Tech Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCSD No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • % White
  • UCSD 21%
  • Virginia Tech 68%
  • % Asian
  • UCSD 37%
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • % Black
  • UCSD 1%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSD 16%
  • Virginia Tech 5%
  • % Native American
  • UCSD 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSD 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSD 5%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % International
  • UCSD 17%
  • Virginia Tech 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSD 2%
  • Virginia Tech 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSD 78%
  • Virginia Tech 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSD 9%
  • Virginia Tech 34%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California San Diego in La Jolla, CA with Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California San Diego is larger than Virginia Tech based on total student enrollment (44,256 students vs. 38,857 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California San Diego is located in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting); Virginia Tech is in Blacksburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • University of California San Diego is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Tech is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California San Diego 19:1; Virginia Tech 17:1.

UCSD vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSD or Virginia Tech? 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 Virginia Tech ($14,047 vs. $24,912).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Tech are 12.8% lower than at University of California San Diego ($16,550 vs. $18,970).
  • University of California San Diego is 5.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Virginia Tech (about $810 more per year; $16,758.00 vs. $15,948.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 34.9% higher at UCSD than at Virginia Tech (about $13,194 more per year; $50,958.00 vs. $37,764.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Tech than at University of California San Diego (60% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California San Diego students is 180.9% larger than aid received by Virginia Tech students ($25,757 vs. $9,168).

UCSD vs. Virginia Tech Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSD or Virginia Tech? 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 Virginia Tech and UCSD.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California San Diego (1380) is 10 points higher than at Virginia Tech (1370).
  • Incoming UCSD students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Virginia Tech).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 1270/1480; Virginia Tech 1280/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 28/34; Virginia Tech 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSD - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); Virginia Tech - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSD Nov 30, 2026; Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Virginia Tech students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at UCSD (3.82).
  • Virginia Tech has a higher acceptance rate (54.8%) than UCSD (26.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at UCSD vs. 25.3% at Virginia Tech.

UCSD vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSD and Virginia Tech? 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 Virginia Tech's (82%).
  • Graduates from University of California San Diego earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than Virginia Tech graduates about ten years after starting college ($67,900 vs. $65,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California San Diego graduates have a $5,466 lower median loan debt than Virginia Tech graduates ($18,500 vs. $23,966).
  • Among borrowers, UCSD graduates have an estimated $56 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Virginia Tech graduates ($191 vs. $247).
  • More UCSD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Virginia Tech students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 81%)

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.