UC San Diego vs U of U

Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant atmosphere of two esteemed institutions: the University of California-San Diego (UCSD) and the University of Utah (U of U). While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they offer distinct experiences that cater to diverse student aspirations. UCSD, nestled along the scenic Pacific coast, boasts a highly selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 30.4%, while U of U, located in the heart of the Wasatch Mountains, welcomes a broader range of applicants, reflected in its 81.4% acceptance rate. Explore the nuances of each university's popular majors, student demographics, and graduation rates, meticulously presented in the comparison table below, to discern the institution that best aligns with your academic pursuits and personal preferences.
University of California-San Diego logo

University of California-San Diego

University of Utah logo

University of Utah

Overview

Location La Jolla, California Salt Lake City, Utah
Campus setting City: Large City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Quarter Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 95.0% 87.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 34.2% 95.0%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $120
Undergraduate: $55

Graduate: $55
SAT range N/A 1180 - 1390
ACT range N/A 22 - 30
Students submitting SAT score 13.0%
Students submitting ACT score 54.0%
Total number of applicants 118,386 18,302
Total number of admissions given out 40,493 17,381
Admitted students who chose to enroll 7,544 5,361
Yield rate 18.6% 30.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $35,116

Out of state: $64,870
In state: $26,579

Out of state: $46,031
Average net price $15,632 $12,972
Tuition
In state: $11,442

Out of state: $41,196
In state: $7,749

Out of state: $27,201
Room & board $16,145
Room/dormitory: $5,997

Meal plan: $4,665
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

48.0%
Average amount $18,083
86.0%
Average amount $9,431
Students receiving federal student loan 21.0%
Average amount $4,545
19.0%
Average amount $7,729
Students taking out private loans 7.0%
Average amount $4,851
4.0%
Average amount $19,449

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 33,343
Men 48.7% Women 51.3%
25,826
Men 51.8% Women 48.2%
Graduate students 8,542
Men 57.6% Women 42.4%
8,638
Men 49.9% Women 50.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 16.6% 39.6%
International students 21.3% 8.5%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 17,765 6,250
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Washington Texas New York Illinois Utah California Colorado Idaho Washington

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Health Professions
  • Social Sciences
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Social Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 19:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 89.4% 67.2%
Dropout rate 9.7% 25.0%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $127,768
  • Year 2: $162,463
  • Year 3: $194,475
Computer Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $122,641
  • Year 2: $127,993
  • Year 3: $153,118
Physics (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $94,408
  • Year 3: $124,326
Engineering, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $118,445
  • Year 2: $113,668
  • Year 3: $123,569
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,196
  • Year 2: $94,408
  • Year 3: $113,628
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $112,603
  • Year 2: $101,406
  • Year 3: $109,783
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $106,421
  • Year 3: $108,034
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $87,738
  • Year 2: $86,972
  • Year 3: $105,245
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,610
  • Year 2: $75,706
  • Year 3: $102,296
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,476
  • Year 2: $79,688
  • Year 3: $99,630
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $93,022
  • Year 2: $104,192
  • Year 3: $126,415
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,759
  • Year 2: $98,213
  • Year 3: $112,201
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $96,943
  • Year 2: $100,213
  • Year 3: $111,490
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $77,996
  • Year 2: $76,998
  • Year 3: $93,342
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,226
  • Year 2: $74,307
  • Year 3: $88,739
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,036
  • Year 2: $66,821
  • Year 3: $84,431
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,451
  • Year 2: $67,995
  • Year 3: $81,580
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,753
  • Year 2: $60,689
  • Year 3: $75,773
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,225
  • Year 2: $65,894
  • Year 3: $73,917
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,458
  • Year 2: $54,035
  • Year 3: $72,228

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