Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Large city

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, California. 34,948 undergraduates. Admits 27% of applicants.

California colleges Official websiteIts net price calculator
86%Graduation rate32 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$14,794Average net price per year26% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$96,197Median earnings 10 years after starting63% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$13,000Median debt at graduation40% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($13,000) equals 14% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($96,197). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$9,229
$30,000–$48,000$9,965
$48,001–$75,000$12,147
$75,001–$110,000$17,235
Over $110,000$32,338

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $17,337 in-state, $54,939 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate86%54%
Return for second year94%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$67,904$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$96,197$58,912
Median debt at graduation$13,000$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

175 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Computer Science415$109,047$173,619$14,085
Computer Engineering207$104,513$152,769$13,049
Mathematics and Computer Science358$86,456$132,202$15,000
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology102$90,963$126,919$19,069
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering177$88,098$125,735$17,083
Biological/Biosystems Engineering23—$110,711—
Statistics48—$110,045—
Mechanical Engineering180$77,655$109,743$14,459
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering88$76,064$106,878$15,000
Applied Mathematics136$43,458$106,014$13,540
Civil Engineering96$69,754$101,732$17,560
Biomedical/Medical Engineering126$59,527$100,982$15,997
Chemical Engineering89$70,446$100,641$16,555
Engineering, Other45$64,415$97,669$16,786
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods444$69,142$96,733$11,144
Physics69$61,325$94,942$11,407
Economics255$56,525$91,717$13,799
Chemistry157$55,576$91,369$14,266
International/Globalization Studies413$52,280$86,896$13,086
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology183$47,239$86,521$15,500
Cognitive Science743$46,650$85,575$14,456
Mathematics218$54,763$83,654$15,250
Computer and Information Sciences, General239$82,223—$14,785
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology57$40,840$81,221$12,148
Urban Studies/Affairs54$49,555$79,449$8,891
Neurobiology and Neurosciences187$35,938$79,078$12,850
Biology, General353$34,326$78,570$14,208
Political Science and Government353$40,228$75,717$12,000
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services55$31,391$73,561$12,000
Research and Experimental Psychology113$40,342$71,927$14,500
Communication and Media Studies244$38,629$71,682$11,743
Public Health345$42,151$71,554$12,937
Visual and Performing Arts, Other——$69,716$18,300
Natural Resources Conservation and Research83$38,323$68,552$14,650
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services0$29,640$66,325—
History78$31,497$65,542$14,519
Psychology, General380$34,384$65,107$11,933
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology214$37,755$60,955$12,731
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies32$40,942$58,542$19,410
Sociology153$41,217$58,530$12,500
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology146$39,836$57,918$15,000
Music22$25,949$57,442$17,360
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other46$27,048$56,133$13,436
Real Estate Development65$55,549—$14,680
Anthropology83$32,509$55,363$13,842
Psychology, Other159$53,416—$13,500
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft68$30,971$48,421$15,000
Visual and Performing Arts, General64$32,584$45,195$12,000
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences832$42,575—$12,000
English Language and Literature, General29$37,026—$14,761
Education, General56$31,163—$12,000
Philosophy25$27,655—$11,000
Fine and Studio Arts65$23,658—$15,500
Area Studies25$22,043——
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas7———
Engineering Physics2———
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering2———
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics3———
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics3———
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities7———
Zoology/Animal Biology1———
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other82———
Religion/Religious Studies2———
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology16———
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences22———
Physical Sciences, Other13———
International Relations and National Security Studies6———
Social Sciences, Other36———
Dance12———
Design and Applied Arts34———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

27%Admission rate
19:1Students per faculty member
38%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

Similar colleges in California

University of California-DavisDavis · net price $14,318 · grad rate 86%University of California-IrvineIrvine · net price $13,866 · grad rate 87%University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles · net price $14,659 · grad rate 93%University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley · net price $14,538 · grad rate 94%Soka University of AmericaAliso Viejo · net price $16,383 · grad rate 88%University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara · net price $16,807 · grad rate 84%

Compare colleges side by side

Quick answers

How much does University of California-San Diego cost per year?
The average net price at University of California-San Diego, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $14,794 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do University of California-San Diego graduates earn?
Former University of California-San Diego students earn a median of $96,197 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-San Diego?
86% of University of California-San Diego students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do University of California-San Diego graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from University of California-San Diego is $13,000. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.