Can you get into University of California-San Diego?
La Jolla, CA · Public · 34,948 students Here is the class that got in, and where your numbers land inside it.
Add your GPA, or a test score, and the read appears here. Nothing you type leaves this page.
The admitted class · 2024
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
optional
2027 cycle
Graduation rate
87%
within six years
Reported by the college
What University of California-San Diego actually reads
Colleges publish which parts of an application they weigh. It is the most useful thing they say about admissions and almost nobody reads it, because knowing that an essay is very important here and class rank is not considered changes where the work should go.
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 you need for University of California-San Diego
Admitted students average around a 3.88 (unweighted, 4.0 scale). A single average hides how compressed the top of an admitted class is, so here is the whole distribution:
- 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 alongside course rigor, so a slightly lower GPA in harder courses can read stronger than the number suggests.
Real cost · 2024 data
What families actually pay
The sticker price is $38,701, but almost nobody pays it. Average net price at University of California-San Diego by family 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 per year for aided first-time students. Your number depends on your family’s finances.
Keep going
More on University of California-San Diego
Harder to get into
About as selective
Common questions
University of California-San Diego admissions, answered
What is 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), and 100% ranked in the top 10% of their high school class. Colleges read GPA alongside course rigor, so a slightly lower GPA in harder courses can read stronger.
Is University of California-San Diego test-optional?
Yes, University of California-San Diego is currently test-optional. Submit a score if it falls inside or above the admitted middle 50%.
What does University of California-San Diego look for in an application?
University of California-San Diego reports that it weighs grades, course rigor, essay, extracurriculars, talent or ability most heavily, in its Common Data Set. Anything it lists as not considered is worth knowing too, because effort spent there does not count here.
How much does University of California-San Diego actually cost?
Sticker price is $38,701, but the average family pays $12,470 after aid. Families earning under $30k pay about $7,525 per year on average.
What Spike does with this
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