University of California (UCSD), San Diego : Overview, Courses, Scholarships & Rankings
About University of California
Sea breezes and eucalyptus groves frame a campus known for serious science and engineering, ocean studies, and strong work in the social sciences and arts. Learning leans on research and collaboration with approachable faculty and hands-on labs. A striking library anchors study spaces, while advising, tutoring, wellness care, and cultural centers support students. A distinctive college system creates smaller communities.
Life swings from surf club mornings to late-night rehearsals and intramurals. Public art surprises, including a small house perched on a roof. The vibe is curious and a little quirky. Career prep taps San Diego's tech and biotech scene through internships and research. La Jolla adds tide pools and relaxed cafes. Alum Mike Judge hints at a knack for mixing science with storytelling.
Key Institutional Details
Contact & Profile
Academic & Institutional
Academic Programs & Fields of Study
University of California (UCSD), San Diego offers 133 degree programs across 23 major academic fields, graduating approximately 12,710 students annually. The most popular fields by graduate volume are Biological Sciences (17 programs, 2,152 graduates), Engineering (17 programs, 1,901 graduates), Interdisciplinary (6 programs, 1,704 graduates), Computer & IT (4 programs, 1,128 graduates) and Social Sciences (12 programs, 1,112 graduates). Explore program details, award levels, and graduate demographics below.
Biological Sciences (17 programs, 2,152 graduates)
Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Biomedical Research
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anatomy | 601 |
|
Bachelor's
|
26.0403 |
| Biology and Biological Sciences | 478 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0101 |
| Cell and Molecular Biology | 231 |
|
Bachelor's
|
26.0406 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 187 |
|
Bachelor's
|
26.1599 |
| Biochemistry | 179 |
|
Bachelor's
|
26.0202 |
| Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography | 162 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.1302 |
| Bioinformatics | 120 |
|
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.1103 |
| Microbiology | 57 |
|
Bachelor's
|
26.0502 |
| Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | 47 |
|
Bachelor's
|
26.1399 |
| Neuroscience | 25 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.1501 |
| Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 22 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0299 |
| Biomedical Sciences | 16 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0102 |
| Biostatistics | 13 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.1102 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences | 6 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.9999 |
| Biophysics | 4 |
|
Bachelor's
|
26.0203 |
| Epidemiology | 3 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
26.1309 |
| Animal Physiology | 1 |
|
Bachelor's
|
26.0707 |
Engineering (17 programs, 1,901 graduates)
Engineering Sciences and Applied Technology Solutions
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biomedical Engineering | 322 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0501 |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering | 283 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.1001 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 278 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.1901 |
| Computer Engineering | 274 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0901 |
| Structural Engineering | 164 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0803 |
| Aerospace Engineering | 115 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0201 |
| Chemical Engineering | 114 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0701 |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering | 105 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.1099 |
| Engineering | 91 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.9999 |
| Materials Engineering | 52 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.1801 |
| Systems Engineering | 31 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.2701 |
| Biological and Biosystems Engineering | 23 |
|
Bachelor's
|
14.4501 |
| Engineering Science | 18 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.1301 |
| Computer Hardware Engineering | 17 |
|
Master's
|
14.0902 |
| Engineering Physics | 10 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.1201 |
| Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering | 2 |
|
Master's
|
14.0802 |
| Environmental Health Engineering | 2 |
|
Bachelor's
|
14.1401 |
Interdisciplinary (6 programs, 1,704 graduates)
Cross-Disciplinary Studies and Integrated Research Programs
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Science | 762 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
30.2501 |
| Global Studies | 413 |
|
Bachelor's
|
30.2001 |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | 358 |
|
Bachelor's
|
30.0801 |
| Multi- and Interdisciplinary Studies | 82 |
|
Bachelor's
|
30.9999 |
| Data Science | 74 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
30.7001 |
| Computational Science | 15 |
|
Master's
|
30.3001 |
Computer & IT (4 programs, 1,128 graduates)
Computer Science, Information Technology and Cybersecurity
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 854 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
11.0701 |
| Information Technology | 239 |
|
Bachelor's
|
11.0103 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, Other | 18 |
|
Master's
|
11.0199 |
| IT Project Management | 17 |
|
Master's
|
11.1005 |
Social Sciences (12 programs, 1,112 graduates)
Sociology, Anthropology and Political Science Studies
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Political Science and Government | 323 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
45.1001 |
| Econometrics and Quantitative Economics | 290 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
45.0603 |
| Sociology | 161 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
45.1101 |
| International Relations | 93 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
45.0901 |
| Anthropology | 66 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
45.0201 |
| Urban Studies and Affairs | 54 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.1201 |
| Political Science and Government | 50 |
|
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
|
45.1099 |
| Social Sciences | 36 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.9999 |
| Anthropology | 28 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.0299 |
| International Economics | 8 |
|
Master's
|
45.0605 |
| Economics | 2 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.0699 |
| Sociology | 1 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
45.1199 |
Psychology (9 programs, 887 graduates)
Psychological Sciences, Mental Health and Behavioral Studies
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Psychology | 380 |
|
Bachelor's
|
42.0101 |
| Clinical Psychology | 167 |
|
Bachelor's
|
42.2801 |
| Psychology | 160 |
|
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
|
42.9999 |
| Health Psychology | 47 |
|
Bachelor's
|
42.2810 |
| Developmental and Child Psychology | 43 |
|
Bachelor's
|
42.2703 |
| Social Psychology | 40 |
|
Bachelor's
|
42.2707 |
| Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics | 30 |
|
Bachelor's
|
42.2701 |
| Experimental Psychology | 13 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
42.2704 |
| Experimental Psychology | 7 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
42.2799 |
Business (2 programs, 736 graduates)
Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 592 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
52.1399 |
| Management Science | 144 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
52.1301 |
Health (13 programs, 690 graduates)
Healthcare Professions, Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Health | 160 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
51.2299 |
| Medicine | 143 |
|
Doctorate (P)
|
51.1201 |
| International Public Health | 140 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
51.2210 |
| Public Health | 80 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
51.2201 |
| Pharmacy | 66 |
|
Doctorate (P)
|
51.2001 |
| Drug Development | 34 |
|
Master's
|
51.2006 |
| Community Health and Preventive Medicine | 22 |
|
Bachelor's
|
51.2208 |
| Medical Science | 19 |
|
Master's
|
51.1401 |
| Health Behavior | 8 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
51.2212 |
| Audiology | 6 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
51.0202 |
| Health Administration and Management | 6 |
|
Master's
|
51.0701 |
| Substance Abuse Counseling | 4 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
51.1501 |
| Environmental Health | 2 |
|
Bachelor's
|
51.2202 |
Mathematics (7 programs, 605 graduates)
Mathematical Sciences, Statistics and Computational Analysis
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 146 |
|
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
|
27.0199 |
| Applied Mathematics | 138 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
27.0301 |
| Financial Mathematics | 133 |
|
Master's
|
27.0305 |
| Mathematics | 129 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
27.0101 |
| Statistics | 48 |
|
Bachelor's
|
27.0599 |
| Statistics | 9 |
|
Master's
|
27.0501 |
| Computational Mathematics | 2 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
27.0303 |
Physical Sciences (9 programs, 499 graduates)
Chemistry, Physics and Earth Sciences Research
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | 164 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
40.0501 |
| Chemistry | 91 |
|
Bachelor's
|
40.0599 |
| Physics | 74 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
40.0801 |
| Geology and Earth Science | 51 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
40.0601 |
| Chemical and Physical Oceanography | 43 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
40.0607 |
| Physics | 43 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
40.0899 |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | 16 |
|
Bachelor's
|
40.0499 |
| Physical Sciences | 16 |
|
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
|
40.9999 |
| Geophysics and Seismology | 1 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
40.0603 |
Admission Requirements & Test Scores
Comprehensive overview of admission criteria, standardized test score ranges, and application requirements for prospective students at University of California (UCSD), San Diego.
Application Requirements
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Test score ranges represent the middle 50% of admitted students (25th-75th percentile). Requirements may vary by program.
Tuition, Fees & Estimated Costs
Overview of tuition rates, housing, and other annual education expenses for undergraduate and graduate students
Financial Aid & Student Support
Summary of scholarships, grants, student loans, and financial aid statistics for undergraduate students
Student Success Metrics
Graduation rates and post-graduation earnings to help assess student outcomes and long-term value of education.
Loan Burden & Repayment Outcomes
Breakdown of loan repayment rates and student debt levels by income and dependency status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about University of California (UCSD), San Diego
How much does it cost to attend University of California (UCSD), San Diego?
The annual tuition at University of California (UCSD), San Diego is $15,265 for in-state students and $46,042 for out-of-state students. When including room and board, books, and other expenses, the total estimated cost is approximately $38,505 for in-state students and $69,282 for out-of-state students. Additional costs include room and board $17,198 (on) / $15,566 (off) and books and supplies $1,307.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2022-2023 academic year. Tuition and cost estimates are approximate and may not include all fees, personal expenses, or transportation costs.
What academic programs and degree levels does University of California, San Diego offer?
University of California (UCSD), San Diego offers 133 academic programs across 23 major fields of study, with available degree levels: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate (Research), Doctorate (Professional).
Most popular program areas include:
- Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Biomedical Research (17 programs)
- Engineering Sciences and Applied Technology Solutions (17 programs)
- Cross-Disciplinary Studies and Integrated Research Programs (6 programs)
- Computer Science, Information Technology and Cybersecurity (4 programs)
- Sociology, Anthropology and Political Science Studies (12 programs)
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated, not all offered programs.
What is the acceptance rate for University of California, San Diego?
University of California (UCSD), San Diego has an 24.5% acceptance rate and a 21.8% yield rate, making it highly selective.
Admission statistics breakdown:
- Total applicants: 130,771
- Students admitted: 32,062
- Students enrolled: 7,005
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Admission statistics may vary by program and application cycle.
What financial aid and scholarships are available at University of California, San Diego?
University of California (UCSD), San Diego provides financial aid to 20% of first-time, full-time students, with average grants of $24,176 and average loans of $5,294.
Average financial aid amounts by type:
- Pell grants: $5,730
- State/Local grants: $11,710
- Institutional grants: $11,334
- Federal loans: $4,057
The university supports 4,147 students with grants and 1,888 students with loans annually.
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Financial aid amounts and percentages may vary by program, enrollment status, and individual circumstances.
What is the average salary for University of California, San Diego graduates?
University of California (UCSD), San Diego graduates earn a median salary of $65,669 after 6 years and $84,943 after 10 years.
The salary range 10 years after graduation spans from $57,071 (25th percentile) to $127,245 (75th percentile).
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Salary data reflects graduates who received federal financial aid (approximately 60% of all graduates). Actual earnings may vary significantly based on program, location, and individual circumstances.
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