University of California, San Diego (UCSD) (2024)

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University of California, San Diego (UCSD), San Diego United States

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University of California, San Diego (UCSD) (11)

# 72QS World University Rankings

University of California, San Diego (UCSD) (12)

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About University of California, San Diego (UCSD)

The University of California, San Diego (also known as UC San Diego), is one of the top 20 universities in the United States, according to the 2018 edition of the QS World University Rankings. The seventh oldest of the 10 campuses which comprise the University of California, UC San Diego is home to approximately 22,700 undergraduates and 6,300 postgraduates. The university is split into six different residential colleges, as well as three graduate schools and two professional medical schools. The campus is decorated by over a dozen public art projects, providing the university with a distinctive look unlike other institutions in the state of California.

The University of California San Diego is located in the neighborhood of La Jolla in northern San Diego, California, where it’s bordered by the communities of La Jolla Shores, Torrey Pines, and University City. The main campus consists of 761 buildings that occupy a huge 1,152 acres, with natural reserves covering about 889 acres.
Around 37,000 students attend UC San Diego, the lion’s share of which are undergraduates, with the school offering over 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The origins of UC San Diego go back to the early 20th century and the founding of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the first permanent marine science facility in the Western hemisphere and a pioneer in climate change theory.


UC San Diego is a public research university organized into six undergraduate residential colleges, five academic divisions (arts and humanities, biological sciences, engineering, physical sciences and social sciences), and five graduate and professional schools (Rady School of Management, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, School of Global Policy and Strategy, UC San Diego School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences).
UC San Diego has been ranked in the top five best public universities in the world, and of its current academic staff, 29 have been elected to the National Academy of Engineering, 70 to the National Academy of Sciences, 45 to the Institute of Medicine and 110 to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Students can get involved in all the cultural activities, clubs, societies, and sports that you would expect from a top-ranking US university. There are over 550 student organizations and 38 national and local Greek organizations hosted on campus, with 20 percent of students joining fraternities and sororities.
Highlights of student life include the Price Center (PC), a social hub comprising multiple restaurants, the central bookstore, a cinema, and office space. The Ché Café is a student worker cooperative, social center and vegan café which is also a prominent underground music venue. In the past, bands including Green Day, Bon Iver, and Bright Eyes have played here.

About University of California, San Diego (UCSD)

The University of California, San Diego (also known as UC San Diego), is one of the top 20 universities in the United States, according to the 2018 edition of the QS World University Rankings. The seventh oldest of the 10 campuses which comprise the University of California, UC San Diego is home to approximately 22,700 undergraduates and 6,300 postgraduates. The university is split into six different residential colleges, as well as three graduate schools and two professional medical schools. The campus is decorated by over a dozen public art projects, providing the university with a distinctive look unlike other institutions in the state of California.

The University of California San Diego is located in the neighborhood of La Jolla in northern San Diego, California, where it’s bordered by the communities of La Jolla Shores, Torrey Pines, and University City. The main campus consists of 761 buildings that occupy a huge 1,152 acres, with natural reserves covering about 889 acres.
Around 37,000 students attend UC San Diego, the lion’s share of which are undergraduates, with the school offering over 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The origins of UC San Diego go back to the early 20th century and the founding of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the first permanent marine science facility in the Western hemisphere and a pioneer in climate change theory.


UC San Diego is a public research university organized into six undergraduate residential colleges, five academic divisions (arts and humanities, biological sciences, engineering, physical sciences and social sciences), and five graduate and professional schools (Rady School of Management, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, School of Global Policy and Strategy, UC San Diego School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences).
UC San Diego has been ranked in the top five best public universities in the world, and of its current academic staff, 29 have been elected to the National Academy of Engineering, 70 to the National Academy of Sciences, 45 to the Institute of Medicine and 110 to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Students can get involved in all the cultural activities, clubs, societies, and sports that you would expect from a top-ranking US university. There are over 550 student organizations and 38 national and local Greek organizations hosted on campus, with 20 percent of students joining fraternities and sororities.
Highlights of student life include the Price Center (PC), a social hub comprising multiple restaurants, the central bookstore, a cinema, and office space. The Ché Café is a student worker cooperative, social center and vegan café which is also a prominent underground music venue. In the past, bands including Green Day, Bon Iver, and Bright Eyes have played here.

Available programs

  • MasterPG
  • MBA

UC San Diego currently offers 35 masters programs, as well as 47 doctoral programs, five professional programs and nine joint doctoral programs run in association with San Diego State University and other University of California campuses. Professional schools at the university include:

  • Scripps Institution of Oceanography
  • Jacobs School of Engineering
  • Skaggs School of Pharmacy
  • School of Global Policy and Strategy
  • School of Medicine

Business and Management(1)

Master of Quantitative Finance

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Executive MBA(1)

Executive MBA

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University information

  • Admission

Bachelor

1390+

3+

7+

83+

Master

668+

3+

7+

85+

40,836

79%

21%

8,277

55%

45%

4,752

79%

21%

Tuition fee and scholarships

  • Scholarships

One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.

In this guide you will find:

University of California, San Diego (UCSD) (13)

Where to look for scholarship opportunities

University of California, San Diego (UCSD) (14)

How to apply to scholarships relevant to you

University of California, San Diego (UCSD) (15)

A list of available scholarships around the world

University of California, San Diego (UCSD) (16)

A scholarship application checklist

University of California, San Diego (UCSD) (17)

Download Scholarship Guide

Rankings & ratings

  • RANKINGS

University of California, San Diego (UCSD) is one of the top public universities in San Diego, United States. It is ranked #72 in QS World University Rankings 2025.

University of California, San Diego (UCSD) (19)

  • #72QS World University Rankings
  • #10QS WUR Ranking By Subject
  • #=349QS Sustainability Ranking

University of California, San Diego (UCSD) (20)

QS World University Rankings

  • Chart
  • Data
  • 2012

    #70

  • 2014

    #63

  • 2015

    #59

  • 2016

    #44

  • 2017

    #40

  • 2018

    #=38

  • 2019

    #41

  • 2020

    #45

  • 2021

    #54

  • 2022

    #48

  • 2023

    #53

  • 2024

    #62

  • 2025

    #72

View all rankings data

Campus locations

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University of California, San Diego (UCSD) (2024)

FAQs

Why is UCSD so hard to get into? ›

The UCSD acceptance rate is low—UCSD is a competitive school for both in-state and out-of-state students. Because of the UCSD GPA requirements and the average GPA of admitted students, you must have a stellar academic record. You must also show yourself to be a dynamic, thoughtful individual.

What is the lowest GPA accepted to UC San Diego? ›

GPA (Grade-Point Average)

To be eligible for admission, the minimum GPA is 3.0, but students admitted to UC San Diego often have GPAs that exceed the minimum.

Does UCSD look at essays? ›

3. Personal essays: UCSD uses the University of California's Personal Insight Questions to learn more about who you are, so make sure to highlight your unique experiences, challenges, and what makes you stand out as an applicant. A strong essay shares a compelling story that shows your personality and unique qualities.

Does UCSD look at test scores? ›

GPA range reflects the middle 50%. Demonstration of English proficiency is required for international students, please visit our webpage to learn more. UC San Diego is test free and will not consider SAT or ACT test scores for admissions purposes.

Is UCSD or UCLA harder to get into? ›

Is University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego) or UCLA Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into? If you're looking at acceptance rate alone, then UCLA is more difficult to get into.

What is the easiest major to get into at UCSD? ›

10 Easiest Majors to Transfer into UC San Diego (2023)
MAJORADMIT RATE
1.Int'l Studies: Anthropology (see notes)85%
2.Sociology: Science and Medicine86%
3.Human Deveopment Sciences83%
4.Speculative Design77%
6 more rows

How likely am I to get into UCSD? ›

The acceptance rate at UCSD is 23.8%.

In other words, of 100 students who apply, 24 are admitted. This means the school is quite selective. If you have strong academic scores, you have a great shot at getting in.

Can I get into UCSD with a 2.9 GPA? ›

California applicants must earn at least a 3.0 GPA and nonresidents must earn a minimum 3.4 GPA in all A-G or college-preparatory courses to meet this requirement.

Can I get into a UC with a 3.3 GPA? ›

UC requires a 3.0 GPA for admission, but the lowest GPA on the Statewide Index is 3.6. Does that mean UC will not admit students with GPAs below 3.6? No. Meeting minimum requirements to qualify for admission is not the same as meeting eligibility for guaranteed admission.

What kind of student is UCSD looking for? ›

Personal Qualities

We're looking for students who demonstrate exceptional characteristics like leadership, motivation, tenacity, initiative, originality, creativity, intellectual independence, responsibility, insight and maturity. We also value students who demonstrate concern for others and for their community.

Does UCSD admit based on major? ›

Note: UCSD Does not admit by major, but admits into the university. Student demand for some of the programs including biology and certain majors in engineering, exceeds capacity. For these programs, students are considered for admission directly into the major for admission into the pre-major.

Does UCSD look at letters of recommendation? ›

All application materials, including letters of recommendation, must be submitted by the application deadline. Do you accept professional letters of recommendation? Academic references are always preferred, since they will best indicate your ability to succeed in graduate school.

What is the hardest major to get into UCSD? ›

Generally, majors in STEM fields, particularly engineering majors like computer science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering, tend to have lower acceptance rates due to a higher volume of applicants and the competitive nature of these fields.

Is UCSD or SDSU better? ›

Academics: UC San Diego is generally considered to have stronger academic programs, particularly in STEM fields. If you're planning to major in science, engineering, or a related field, UCSD might be the better choice.

What is the easiest UC to get into? ›

Easiest UC Schools to Get Into

Even if UCLA and Berkeley are reaches, there's still hope of attending a UC school. The easiest UC schools to get into include UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, and UC Merced, all of which have acceptance rates over 50%.

Can I get into UCSD with a 3.7 GPA? ›

You're required to receive a minimum of a 3.0 GPA in these courses, with no grade lower than a letter “C.” Non-residents are required to have a minimum GPA of 3.4. However, the majority of successful UCSD applicants have a weighted GPA between 4.12 to 4.30, which equates to about a 3.5 to 3.7 unweighted GPA.

What is the most accepted major at UCSD? ›

Most Popular Majors
  • Biology. 880 Graduates.
  • Cognitive Science. 759 Graduates.
  • Computer Science. 591 Graduates.
  • International Studies. 537 Graduates.
  • Psychology. 473 Graduates.
  • Economics. 430 Graduates.
  • Computational and Applied Mathematics. 415 Graduates.
  • Political Science and Government. 366 Graduates.

Is UCSD considered prestigious? ›

The university was ranked as the nation's sixth-best public university in the U.S. News & World Report 2024 Best Colleges rankings.

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