San Diego State University vs. University of California, San Diego
A side-by-side comparison of San Diego State and UC San Diego — acceptance rates (37.4% vs. 28.6%), tuition, financial aid, and majors, drawn from each school's official Common Data Set.
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Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Admissions
San Diego State does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized Tests
San Diego State is test-free — SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admissions.
SAT / ACT scores are not used
San Diego State does not review SAT or ACT scores for admission, even if you submit them. Applicants are evaluated on GPA, coursework, essays, and activities instead.
Class Rank
Where San Diego State's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 29% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. San Diego State does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How San Diego State weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from San Diego State's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $14,130 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly Admissions
UC San Diego does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized Tests
UC San Diego is test-free — SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admissions.
SAT / ACT scores are not used
UC San Diego does not review SAT or ACT scores for admission, even if you submit them. Applicants are evaluated on GPA, coursework, essays, and activities instead.
Class Rank
UC San Diego does not report this.
Not reported
Admissions Factors
How UC San Diego weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from UC San Diego's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $37,602 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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San Diego State vs. UC San Diego: frequently asked questions
Is San Diego State or UC San Diego harder to get into?＋
UC San Diego is more selective: it admits about 28.6% of applicants, compared with 37.4% at San Diego State. Both are competitive, and your odds depend on far more than the overall rate.
Is San Diego State or UC San Diego cheaper for out-of-state students?＋
San Diego State has the lower published price for out-of-state students — $23,792 in tuition and fees versus $58,494 at UC San Diego, a gap of about $34,702 a year before financial aid.
Does San Diego State or UC San Diego have a higher graduation rate?＋
UC San Diego graduates a higher share of its students within six years — 86% versus 78% at San Diego State.
Source: San Diego State University Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-11. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with San Diego State. Banner photo by Stuart Seeger, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).
Source: University of California, San Diego Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-06. Student-Faculty Ratio, % Receiving Need-Based Aid, Avg. Aid Package, and Avg. % Need Met are from the 2024-2025 edition. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with UC San Diego. Banner photo by Stephen Bay, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).