University of California-San Diego: Cost, Graduate Salary, Acceptance Rate and Return on Investment
University of California-San Diego is a public college in La Jolla, CA. Students pay about $12,470 a year in net price, and the median graduate earns $84,943 ten years after enrolling. By our Degree-ROI measure the degree pays back in about 1.7 years and adds $317,050 over a decade, ranking it #34 of 918 (top 5%) by value added.
What is University of California-San Diego's acceptance rate?
University of California-San Diego has an acceptance rate of 26.7%, which makes it selective. It is a public institution in La Jolla, CA enrolling about 34,948 students, with a 86.8% graduation rate.
How much does University of California-San Diego cost?
University of California-San Diego costs about $12,470 per year in average net price, what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships. Over four years, including typical borrowing, that totals roughly $65,380. Published sticker cost of attendance is $38,701 per year.
How much do University of California-San Diego graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of California-San Diego student earns $84,943 per year. That is $38,243 more than the $46,700 that the typical worker with only a high-school diploma earns.
Is University of California-San Diego worth it? Degree ROI and payback period
University of California-San Diego pays back its roughly $65,380 cost in about 1.7 years, then keeps returning the earnings premium. Over the first decade the degree adds about $317,050 net of cost, a 5.85x return on the money invested. That ranks it #34 of 918 (top 5%) by value added. Its top-tier value is driven mainly by a low net price and strong graduate earnings.
Top 10% value
University of California-San Diego graduation rate and student debt
86.8% of University of California-San Diego students complete their degree, and the median graduate leaves with $15,500 in federal student debt. That debt is about 18% of one year of median graduate earnings.
University of California-San Diego by the numbers (vs the typical college)
How University of California-San Diego compares to the median four-year college in our snapshot. Percentile is its rank among the 918 colleges that report both earnings and cost (higher is better).
| Metric | This school | Median college | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg net price / yr | $12,470 | $20,299 | cheaper than 86% |
| Median earnings (10 yrs) | $84,943 | $54,768 | 94th |
| Graduation rate | 86.8% | 57.0% | 93th |
| Acceptance rate | 26.7% | 75.7% | more selective than 93% |
| 10-yr value added | $317,050 | -$28,192 | 96th |
| ROI multiple (per $1) | 5.85x | 0.73x | 98th |
| Payback period | 1.7 yrs | 8.8 yrs | faster than 98% |
How University of California-San Diego compares with its nearest rivals
University of California-San Diego ranks #34 of 918 by ten-year value added. The five profiled colleges closest to it in that ranking are compared below on the same federal data: none of them costs less per year and 5 of them produce higher median earnings ten years after entry.
University of California-San Diego is a public college in La Jolla, CA with 34,948 undergraduates. Its published cost of attendance is $38,701 a year, but the average aided family pays $12,470, a 68% discount from the sticker price. The median borrower leaves owing $15,500, equal to 18% of one year of median earnings ten years out. University of California-San Diego admits 26.7% of applicants.
- Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD; #33 of 918; 94.2% graduate) costs $6,339 more per year ($18,809 net), and its graduates earn $2,612 more ten years out ($87,555). Johns Hopkins University adds $6,014 more ten-year value than University of California-San Diego. Johns Hopkins University pays back its cost in 2.1 years.
- Kettering University (Flint, MI; #35 of 918; 70.7% graduate) costs $22,190 more per year ($34,660 net), and its graduates earn $9,880 more ten years out ($94,823). University of California-San Diego adds $1,460 more ten-year value than Kettering University. Kettering University pays back its cost in 3.4 years.
- Northeastern University Oakland (Oakland, CA; #32 of 918) costs $12,711 more per year ($25,181 net), and its graduates earn $7,595 more ten years out ($92,538). Northeastern University Oakland adds $16,356 more ten-year value than University of California-San Diego. Northeastern University Oakland pays back its cost in 2.7 years.
- Maine Maritime Academy (Castine, ME; #36 of 918; 59.9% graduate) costs $10,944 more per year ($23,414 net), and its graduates earn $5,021 more ten years out ($89,964). University of California-San Diego adds $5,066 more ten-year value than Maine Maritime Academy. Maine Maritime Academy pays back its cost in 2.8 years.
- Williams College (Williamstown, MA; #31 of 918; 95.1% graduate) costs $5,246 more per year ($17,716 net), and its graduates earn $3,722 more ten years out ($88,665). Williams College adds $18,975 more ten-year value than University of California-San Diego. Williams College pays back its cost in 2 years.
| College | Value rank | Net price / yr | Earnings (10 yrs) | Graduation | 10-yr value added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williams College | #31 | $17,716 | $88,665 | 95.1% | $336,025 |
| Northeastern University Oakland | #32 | $25,181 | $92,538 | n/a | $333,406 |
| Johns Hopkins University | #33 | $18,809 | $87,555 | 94.2% | $323,064 |
| University of California-San Diego | #34 | $12,470 | $84,943 | 86.8% | $317,050 |
| Kettering University | #35 | $34,660 | $94,823 | 70.7% | $315,590 |
| Maine Maritime Academy | #36 | $23,414 | $89,964 | 59.9% | $311,984 |
Paying for University of California-San Diego
Net price is what a family pays after grants, so the aid a student qualifies for moves every figure above. Our sister sites cover that side of the decision: the Pell Grant 2026-2027 guide sets out who qualifies and the maximum award, the education grants guide lists federal, state and institutional grants beyond Pell, and the best AI tools for students compares what is worth paying for once enrolled.
Frequently asked
Is University of California-San Diego worth the cost compared to other colleges?
By value added net of cost, University of California-San Diego ranks #34 of 918 (top 5%) of the 918 four-year colleges we rank, and returns about 5.85x the money invested over a decade.
Is University of California-San Diego expensive compared to other colleges?
Its $12,470 average net price is below the $20,299 median for the colleges in this snapshot, making it cheaper than 86% of them.
Do University of California-San Diego graduates earn more than average?
Median earnings of $84,943 ten years out are above the $54,768 median, higher than 94% of the colleges here.
How hard is it to get into University of California-San Diego compared to other colleges?
Its 26.7% acceptance rate is below the 75.7% median, making it more selective than 93% of the colleges in the snapshot.
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Federal data behind this page
What a programme costs, what its graduates earn, and what aid is available are published by federal statistical agencies rather than by any provider's marketing page, and the sources below are the primary ones. They are linked so a reader can check a figure here directly.
- College Scorecard publishes the federal cost, completion and post-enrolment earnings data used to compare programmes.
- National Center for Education Statistics is the federal statistical agency for education and the source most published figures trace back to.
- IPEDS holds the institution-level survey data behind enrolment, price and completion comparisons.
- Federal Student Aid states what aid exists, who qualifies, and what repayment actually obligates a borrower to.
- CFPB paying for college documents how education financing works and where its common traps are.
- US Department of Education sets the policy framework the accreditation and aid systems operate under.
- Department of Education laws and policy carries the rules that decide whether a provider or credential is recognised.
This page compares programmes on published data. Outcomes vary by student, and a reader's own aid package and circumstances decide what a programme actually costs them.