Can you get into University of California-San Diego?
La Jolla, CA · Public · 34,948 students Here’s the class that got in. See where your numbers land in it.
Add your GPA, or a test score, and the read appears here. Nothing you type leaves this page.
The admitted class · 2024
Here’s what it took to get in.
Acceptance rate
26.7%
Admitted GPA
~3.88
unweighted, 4.0 scale
Top 10% of class
100%
of admitted students
Testing
Not considered
2027 cycle
Graduation rate
87%
within six years
Reported by the college
What does University of California-San Diego actually read?
Colleges publish which parts of an application they weigh. It’s the most useful thing they say about admissions. Almost nobody reads it. Say the essay counts a lot here and class rank doesn’t count at all. That tells you where to put your work.
Very important
The parts of an application this school weighs most heavily.
- Grades
- Course rigor
- Essay
Important
Weighed, though below the factors above.
- Extracurriculars
- Talent or ability
- Character and personal qualities
- State residency
- Volunteer work
Considered
Looked at, but not decisive on its own.
- Class rank
- First-generation status
- Where you live
- Work experience
Not considered
Reported as playing no part in the decision.
- Test scores
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Demonstrated interest
- Legacy
- Religious affiliation
From University of California-San Diego’s Common Data Set, 2025, section C7, where colleges report how heavily they weigh each part of an application.
Admitted GPA · 2024
What GPA do you need for University of California-San Diego?
Admitted students average around a 3.88 (unweighted, 4.0 scale). One average hides how tight the top of an admitted class is. Here’s the whole spread:
- 3.75 and above85%
- 3.50 to 3.7413%
- 3.25 to 3.492%
- 3.00 to 3.240%
- 2.50 to 2.990%
- 2.00 to 2.490%
- Below 2.000%
Share of admitted students in each band, from University of California-San Diego’s Common Data Set. Colleges read GPA next to course rigor. A slightly lower GPA in harder classes can read stronger than the number suggests.
Real cost · 2024 data
What do families actually pay?
The sticker price is $38,701. Almost nobody pays it. Here’s what families pay at University of California-San Diego by income, after grants and scholarships:
- Under $30k$7,525
- $30k–$48k$8,155
- $48k–$75k$9,942
- $75k–$110k$15,199
- Over $110k$28,785
U.S. Department of Education data: average net price a year for first-time students who got aid. Your own number depends on your family’s finances.
Keep going
Keep reading about University of California-San Diego.
Harder to get into
About as selective
Common questions
What do students ask about University of California-San Diego?
What’s University of California-San Diego’s acceptance rate?
University of California-San Diego admits 26.7% of applicants (latest reported cycle: 2024).
What GPA do you need for University of California-San Diego?
Admitted students average around a 3.88 GPA (unweighted, 4.0 scale). 100% of them ranked in the top 10% of their class. Colleges read GPA next to course rigor. A slightly lower GPA in harder classes can read stronger.
Is University of California-San Diego test-optional?
University of California-San Diego doesn’t consider test scores at all.
What does University of California-San Diego look for in an application?
University of California-San Diego says it weighs grades, course rigor, essay, extracurriculars, talent or ability most heavily, in its Common Data Set. What it lists as not considered is worth knowing too. Work you put there doesn’t count here.
How much does University of California-San Diego actually cost?
The sticker price is $38,701. The average family pays $12,470 after aid. Families earning under $30k pay about $7,525 a year on average.
What Spike does with this
Use the University of California-San Diego read in your plan.
Spike ties your numbers to your courses, testing, essays, and activities. It does the same for the rest of your college list.
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