UCSD vs. Westmont College

University of California San Diego and Westmont College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

University of California San Diego
Westmont College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: UCSD (26.7% admitted vs 77%). Typical SAT 1380 vs 1350.
  • Cheaper after aid: UCSD. Average net price is $14,047 vs $32,172 at Westmont College.
  • Graduation: UCSD 85% vs Westmont College 77%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UCSD $67,900 vs Westmont College $54,600 (median).
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Key differences

University of California San Diego Westmont College
Acceptance rate
UCSD more selective
UCSD26.7%
Westmont College77%
SAT range (middle 50%)
UCSD higher
UCSD1270-1480
Westmont College1240-1450
Average net price
UCSD $18,125 less
UCSD$14,047
Westmont College$32,172
In-state tuition
UCSD $36,826 less
UCSD$16,758
Westmont College$53,584
Out-of-state tuition
UCSD $2,626 less
UCSD$50,958
Westmont College$53,584
Graduation rate
UCSD +8 pts
UCSD85%
Westmont College77%
Median earnings (10 years)
UCSD +$13,300
UCSD$67,900
Westmont College$54,600

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UCSD 134,450
  • Westmont College 2,479
  • Admitted
  • UCSD 35,917
  • Westmont College 1,910
  • Acceptance rate
  • UCSD 26.7%
  • Westmont College 77%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UCSD 20.4%
  • Westmont College 15.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSD 1380
  • Westmont College 1350
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSD 31
  • Westmont College 28
  • Average high school GPA
  • UCSD 3.82
  • Westmont College 3.59
  • Typical high school grades
  • UCSD A-
  • Westmont College A-
  • Admissions standards
  • UCSD Exceptional
  • Westmont College Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • UCSD High
  • Westmont College
  • SAT range
  • UCSD 1270-1480
  • Westmont College 1240-1450
  • ACT range
  • UCSD 28-34
  • Westmont College 25-32
  • Submit test scores
  • UCSD Test-free
  • Westmont College Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • UCSD Nov 30, 2026
  • Westmont College
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UCSD $16,758
  • Westmont College $53,584
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UCSD $50,958
  • Westmont College $53,584
  • Room & board
  • UCSD $18,970
  • Westmont College $16,960
  • Average net price
  • UCSD $14,047
  • Westmont College $32,172
  • Average grant aid
  • UCSD $25,757
  • Westmont College $38,956
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UCSD 59%
  • Westmont College 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • UCSD 85%
  • Westmont College 77%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UCSD $67,900
  • Westmont College $54,600
  • Making student loan payments
  • UCSD 82%
  • Westmont College 86%
  • Median student loan debt
  • UCSD $18,500
  • Westmont College $25,123
  • Median loan payment
  • UCSD $191
  • Westmont College $259
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UCSD 19:1
  • Westmont College 10:1
  • Popular majors
  • UCSD
    • Biology (23%)
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Westmont College
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Location
  • UCSD La Jolla, CA
  • Westmont College Santa Barbara, CA
  • Setting
  • UCSD Large City
  • Westmont College Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSD 44,256
  • Westmont College 1,310
  • Type
  • UCSD Public 4 Year
  • Westmont College Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UCSD #87
  • Westmont College #154

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California San Diego in La Jolla, CA with Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of California San Diego is larger than Westmont College based on total student enrollment (44,256 students vs. 1,310 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California San Diego is located in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting); Westmont College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of California San Diego is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Westmont College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California San Diego 19:1; Westmont College 10:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Westmont College are 10.6% lower than at University of California San Diego ($16,960 vs. $18,970).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.2% higher at Westmont College than at University of California San Diego (about $2,626 more per year; $53,584 vs. $50,958).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Westmont College than at University of California San Diego (100% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Westmont College students is 51.2% larger than aid received by University of California San Diego students ($38,956 vs. $25,757).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at UCSD than at Westmont College (31 vs. 28, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at UCSD, test optional at Westmont College.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSD Nov 30, 2026.
  • Enrolled first-year students at UCSD average a 3.82 high school GPA, 0.23 higher than at Westmont College (3.59).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at UCSD vs. 15.9% at Westmont College.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California San Diego graduates have a $6,623 lower median loan debt than Westmont College graduates ($18,500 vs. $25,123).
  • Among borrowers, UCSD graduates have an estimated $68 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Westmont College graduates ($191 vs. $259).
  • More Westmont College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSD students, three years after graduation (86% vs. 82%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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