University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego
9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093
The University of California, San Diego is a public university in CA, founded in 1959 and offers Bachelor’s degrees for undergraduates and Master’s and Doctoral degrees for graduate students. The undergraduate enrollment is 31,842, and the graduate enrollment is 7,195. The University of California, San Diego is a highly selective school, receiving 100,073 applications and accepting 38.3% of applicants. The University of California, San Diego’s athletics teams compete at the club, intramural, and varsity levels. Additionally, the University of California, San Diego employs 1,296 full-time instructional staff (90% of whom hold doctorate degrees) and has a 19:1 student to faculty ratio.
Empowerly Score®
73
University Score
- School Performance
- Extracurriculars
- Standardized Tests
- Essays
Empowerly Score®
At Empowerly, we prioritize data to customize our approach to student counseling. College admissions is becoming more selective by the year, so it’s never been more important than now to prepare in advance and give yourself the best chance for success.
Take the Empowerly QuizESSAYS
Applicants applying to the University of California, San Diego will apply through the University of California UC Application. Applicants will be required to write four responses of their choosing from the eight prompts provided. Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.
Deadlines For Submitting Applications
Regular Application Deadline
November 30th
ATTENDANCE FACTORS
- Extracurricular Activities - Important
- Application Essay - Very Important
- Academic GPA - Very Important
- Rigor of Secondary School Record - Very Important
- Talent/Ability - Important
Average Acceptance Rate
38.30%
Empowerly Acceptance Rate
39.00%
STUDENT LIFE
The University of California, San Diego, is only one of the 10 University of California campuses scattered across the state. The university is also a member of the distinguished Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). UC San Diego admits students into its undergraduate program every year and offers degrees in various nationally recognized fields. Undergraduates in the University have also attested that the school provides immense benefits for students. The liberal arts college introduced by the school has been one of the many stand-out facilities provided by the school board for their students.
The University of California, San Diego offers majors in over 200 undergraduate and graduate degrees to its 31,842 undergraduate students and 8,631 graduate students. The University is known for the diversity of its students, and rightly so—the UC San Diego student base consists of a global student population.
Housing
- 38% of students live on campus
- Guaranteed housing for freshmen
The University of California, San Diego covers 2,178 acres, with the main campus taking up approximately 1,152 acres. The school provides as much accommodation as possible within the school premises for students. Although the new intakes and transfer students are always considered a priority for housing, returning students also have a chance to acquire a spot as long as they register and apply within the speculated time. The University is also working to provide more accommodation for students that wish to live on the campus.
Life as a Student
Life at the University of California, San Diego goes beyond just academics, as the school offers so many extracurricular activities to help enhance student experiences. Additionally, students are also provided opportunities to improve their social lives with the various social organizations available on the campuses. The school has an excellent athletics tradition that has attracted several honors locally and nationally; the athletic teams are the UC San Diego Tritons. They have over 136 individual national championships to their name. Not to mention, a world-class beach is within walking distance of campus for the public to enjoy. It is safe to say that students have a balanced academic, sports, and social life at the University of California, San Diego.
TOP MAJORS
Computational and Applied Mathematics
International Studies
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Cognitive Science
Economics
Computer Science
SERVICES
Health and Safety
- 24-hour trained security on campus
- Student security patrol
- Late night ride/safe escort service available
- Crime prevention programs
Student Services
- Health Center
- Legal Advice
- Psychological Counseling
- Women's Center
Athletics
Varsity
Varsity
Baseball
Basketball
Crew
Fencing
Golf
Soccer
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball
Water Polo
Cross-Country Running
Basketball
Crew
Fencing
Soccer
Softball
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball
Water Polo
Cross-Country Running
Club
Club
Equestrian Sports
Football
Lacrosse
Sailing
Skiing (Downhill)
Ultimate Frisbee
Equestrian Sports
Football
Lacrosse
Sailing
Skiing (Downhill)
Ultimate Frisbee
Intramural
Intramural
Bowling
Basketball
Ice Hockey
Racquetball
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Table Tennis
Volleyball
Water Polo
Bowling
Basketball
Racquetball
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Table Tennis
Volleyball
Water Polo
FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
The University of California, San Diego is need-blind and financial status will not affect admission decisions. Additionally, UCSD provides access to the UC Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan in which undergraduates with a family income of up to $80,000 who meet other eligibility requirements receive grants and/or scholarships to cover in-state base tuition and fees.
*All costs below are estimates and may differ based on your circumstances.
- Tuition (Resident) - $11,442, (Out-of-State) - $41,196
- Books and Supplies - $1,124
- Other Fees - $3,206
- Room and Board - $15,336
- Misc. - $4,203
- Total Average Estimated Cost of Attendance (Resident) - $35,311, (Out-of-State) - $65,065
HISTORY
The University of California, San Diego, was founded and established in 1960 as a public land-grant research institute. It is located in San Diego, California, close to the old Scripps Institution of Oceanography in the southern part of California. The University of California San Diego idea was conceived in 1956 by the Regents of the University of California. Initially, the founders intended it to be a University of California campus in San Diego, serving as a graduate and research institution. Thus, they were tasked with providing instructions for sciences, including mathematics and engineering.
Although the first set of undergraduates wasn’t registered at the University of California, San Diego, until later in 1964, the origin of the University traces as far back as the late 18th century. Around this time, the zoologists at the Berkeley campus of the University of California sought an ideal location for a marine field station operation. They found the La Jolla region of San Diego suitable for their research due to the unique underwater features of the terrain, and the site was accepted for the project. The facility was later established, and in 1912, it was adopted as part of the University of California. Later, the facility would become known as the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
The Regent of the University of California approved La Jolla to be the site for the new university campus in May of 1959 and declared it was to be called the University of California, La Jolla. But when the University was finally established on November 18, 1960, it was named the University of California, San Diego, to satisfy the San Diego city donors. In 1961, Herbert York was named the University’s first chancellor in addition to his already impressive record (Herbert York was renowned for the part he played in the development of the atomic bomb). Although he was replaced as the chancellor of the University by Professor John Galbraith in 1964, the school still recognizes him as the founding chancellor of the University of California, San Diego.