University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public · offers Graduate degrees

Large city

27%Acceptance rate
$12,470Average net price / year
86%Graduation rate
$84,943Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$15,500Median debt at graduation
34,948Undergraduates

Cost

In-state tuition & fees
$16,758
Out-of-state tuition
$50,958
Total cost of attendance
$38,701
Room & board
$18,970
Books & supplies
$1,286
Average net price
$12,470

Net price by family income

$0–30k
$7,525
$30–48k
$8,155
$48–75k
$9,942
$75–110k
$15,199
$110k+
$28,785

Official net price calculator

Admissions

Acceptance rate
26.7%

Outcomes

Graduation rate
86%
First-year retention
94%
Median earnings (6 yrs)
$65,669
Median earnings (10 yrs)
$84,943
Median debt (graduates)
$15,500
3-year loan default rate
0.0%
Students with Pell grants
34%
Students with federal loans
21%

Programs: what graduates earn

85 of 200 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).

Bachelor's degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Computer Science518$112,006$16,166
Computer Engineering174$96,256$18,414
Mathematics and Computer Science299$89,651$18,887
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering189$80,687$20,000
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology75$76,592$18,000
Mechanical Engineering147$69,555$20,000
Biological/Biosystems Engineering21$67,016$18,716
Civil Engineering93$65,478$16,400
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering87$65,401$20,008
Biomedical/Medical Engineering92$65,045$20,000
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods273$60,973$15,127
Chemical Engineering101$59,508$18,500
Engineering, Other27$56,522$18,954
Mathematics227$52,339$16,250
Economics364$51,192$14,667
Physics60$48,951$18,000
Psychology, Other106$47,672$19,033
Chemistry227$45,310$16,050
International/Globalization Studies511$45,168$15,500
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology137$45,066$17,359
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology61$43,608$13,811
Applied Mathematics132$42,859$15,249
Cognitive Science722$39,839$17,427
Public Health338$39,144$15,000
Natural Resources Conservation and Research73$37,524$18,000
Urban Studies/Affairs33$37,074$15,499
Statistics63$36,676$18,583
Sociology150$36,464$13,000
Biology, General316$34,504$17,450
Visual and Performing Arts, Other—$34,401$19,968
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services53$33,489$19,000
Political Science and Government383$33,345$15,000
Communication and Media Studies244$33,046$13,193
Neurobiology and Neurosciences177$32,081$19,000
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology127$31,088$18,367
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies33$30,984$24,237
Psychology, General350$29,144$15,446
Anthropology71$28,543$13,500
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology218$26,953$15,000
Philosophy39$24,669$15,000
English Language and Literature, General37$24,523$13,555
Research and Experimental Psychology103$23,420$14,814
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other58$21,788$18,000
Fine and Studio Arts57$21,777$14,833
History73$21,713$16,756
Music15$21,592$19,500
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services13$19,809$14,497
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft63$18,026$14,458
Design and Applied Arts20—$16,643
Visual and Performing Arts, General62$31,322$15,000
Area Studies19—$11,000

Master's degree

Doctoral degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Education, General28$122,372—
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration—$109,337$137,223
Chemistry38$93,148—
Physics21$89,022—
Biology, General63$80,294—
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences35$79,645—
Medicine—$67,163—
Music5$68,693—
Biomedical/Medical Engineering37$135,080—
Political Science and Government10$104,566—
Economics16$162,229—
Neurobiology and Neurosciences10$148,833—
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology0$130,000—
History8$79,871—

Students

Undergraduates
34,948
Graduate students
9,664
Part-time
2%
Women / men
55% / 45%
White
17%
Hispanic
27%
Black
2%
Asian
35%
International
11%

Faculty & school

Student–faculty ratio
19:1
Avg faculty salary
$172,053 / year
Full-time faculty
88%
Accreditor
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Website
www.ucsd.edu
Also known as
UCSD UC San Diego

Most popular fields

  • Communication & Journalism – 3% of degrees
  • Computer & Information Sciences – 7% of degrees
  • Engineering – 12% of degrees
  • Biological Sciences – 19% of degrees
  • Mathematics & Statistics – 3% of degrees
  • Interdisciplinary Studies – 18% of degrees

Frequently asked questions

What is the acceptance rate at University of California-San Diego?

26.7% of applicants were admitted.

How much does University of California-San Diego cost?

The average net price after grants is $12,470 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $16,758 and the full cost of attendance is $38,701.

How much do University of California-San Diego graduates earn?

Students who enrolled earn a median of $84,943 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.

What is the graduation rate?

86% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Other colleges in La Jolla

CollegeNet priceAcceptanceGraduationEarnings
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
La Jolla, CA · Private nonprofit
————

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.