University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, California · Public · 34,948 undergraduates · ucsd.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test blind
Scores aren't considered
Admit rate
29%
of 136,750 applicants
Annual cost (2027-28)
$44,580Est.Estimate
$85,260 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at University of California-San Diego
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
29% of applicants admitted
Target
Your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's here.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$85,260
a year in 2027-28, from a $85,260 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1200
Scores aren't considered here
This college doesn't consider SAT or ACT scores, even if you send them.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test blind
SAT and ACT scores aren't considered for admission, even if you send them.
- You can type your scores into the application; official reports come later.
Source: First-Year Student Application Requirements · Checked October 16, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov30Regular Decision · November 30, 2026The standard deadline.
Who gets in
29%
of applicants were admitted: 39,054 of 136,750 for fall 2025.
Wait list
36,709 students were offered a spot; 5,284 were later admitted.
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.88
- 4.031%
- 3.75 to 3.9954%
- 3.50 to 3.7413%
- 3.25 to 3.492%
- 3.00 to 3.240%
- 2.50 to 2.990%
- Below 2.500%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$44,580
a year, in state
$85,260
a year, out of state (tuition $55,290)
- Tuition (in state)$14,610
- Fees$3,900
- Food and housing$21,040
- Books and supplies$1,240
- Transportation and other$3,790
University of California-San Diego published $43,318 in state for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$9,229
- $30,001 to $48,000$9,965
- $48,001 to $75,000$12,147
- $75,001 to $110,000$17,235
- Over $110,000$32,338
Financial aid
84%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$28,634
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
5.3%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $12,722 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
- Aid priority date: 3/2
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
38 of 38
Earn credit with a score of 3
38 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $1,460Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 8 | |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 8 | |
| African American Studies | 3 | 4 | |
| Art History | 3 | 8 | |
| Biology | 3 | 8 | BILD 10 |
| Biology | 4 | 8 | BILD 1, 2 & 3 |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | Math 10A |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 4 | Math 20A or 10A |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 | Math 20A or 10A, 10B |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 8 | Math 20A & 20B or 10A & 10B |
| Calculus BC: AB Subscore | 3 | 4 | MATH 10A |
| Calculus BC: AB Subscore | 4 | 4 | Math 20A or 10A |
| Chemistry | 3 | 8 | Chem 4 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 8 | exempts Chem 6A; may take Chem 6B or CHEM 6AH |
| Chemistry | 5 | 8 | exempts Chem 6A, 6B, 6C; Chem 6AH, 6BH, 6CH encouraged for those continuing in chemistry or for professional school. |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 4 | |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 5 | 4 | POLI 11 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 8 | |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 8 | CSE 8A |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 8 | |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 8 | CSE 3 |
| Drawing | 3 | 8 | |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 8 | meets Entry Level Writing requirement |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 8 | meets Entry Level Writing requirement |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 4 | |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 4 | ESYS 10 |
| European History | 3 | 8 | |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | LIFR/LIGM/LIIT/LISP 1C/ICX. |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 8 | LIFR/LIGM/LIIT/LISP 1D/1DX or LTFR/LTGM/LTSP/LTIT 2A |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 8 | LTFR/LTGM/LIIT/LTSP 2B |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | LIFR/LIGM/LIIT/LISP 1C/1CX |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 8 | LIFR/LIGM/LIIT/LISP 1D/1DX or LTFR/LTGM/LTSP/LTIT 2A |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | 8 | LTFR/LTGM/LIIT/LTSP 2B |
| Human Geography | 3 | 4 | |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | LIFR/LIGM/LIIT/LISP 1C/1CX |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 8 | LIFR/LIGM/LIIT/LISP 1D/1DX or LTFR/LTGM/LTSP/LTIT 2A |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 | 8 | LTFR/LTGM/LIIT/LTSP 2B |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | |
| Latin | 3 | 4 | LTLA 1, LTLA 2, LTLA 3 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 4 | |
| Macroeconomics | 5 | 4 | Econ 3 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 4 | |
| Microeconomics | 5 | 4 | Econ 1 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 8 | |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 8 | PHYS 10 & Elective |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 8 | PHYS 10 & Elective |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | Phys 1B |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 4 | Phys 1B or 2B |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | Phys 1A |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | Phys 1A or 2A |
| Psychology | 3 | 4 | |
| Psychology | 4 | 4 | PSYC 1 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | LISP 1C/1CX |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 8 | LISP 1D/1DX or LTSP 2ALISP 1D/1DX or LTSP 2A |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 8 | LTSP 2B |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 8 | LISP 1D/1DX or LTSP 2A |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 8 | LTSP 2B |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 5 | 8 | LTSP 2C |
| Statistics | 3 | 4 | |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 4 | |
| United States Government and Politics | 5 | 4 | POLI 10 |
| United States History | 3 | 8 | exempts 2 quarters US history; may take HILD 2A, 2B, or 2C. Satisfies American History and Institutions. |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 8 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
86%
Come back for a second year
94%
Typical earnings
$96,197
a year, 10 years after starting here
- University of California-San Diego$173,619
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 45 majors here have earnings data.
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Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with University of California-San Diego. The University of California-San Diego logo is a trademark of the college.