Established in 1960, the University of California San Diego is a public land-grant research university in California. The university is a Public Ivy and is classified among ‘R1 Doctoral Universities: high research activity’. The university is renowned for its excellent UCSD programs that it provides through 12 professional schools and eight residential colleges.
When it comes to UC San Diego ranking it ranked #29 in National Universities, #6 in Top Public Schools and #182 in Best Value Schools. Check details on UCSD acceptance rate below-
University of California San Diego Acceptance Rate 2025
In Fall 2024, the no. UG applications received by UC San Diego has increased by about 2.7% from previous year, whereas the no. of students admitted has gone up by 11.07%. Overall the university's acceptance rate has increased by 8.1% this year. The UC San Diego acceptance rate is currently at 26.7%, making the admission criteria very selective. Check the enrollment stats below-
|
Particulars
|
Class of 2027
|
Class of 2028
|
|---|
|
Student Applications Received
|
130,845
|
134,455
|
|
Students Admitted
|
32,403
|
35,989
|
|
Acceptance Rate
|
24.76%
|
26.77%
|
|
Students Enrolled
|
7,007
|
7330
|
|
Yield Rate
|
21.6%
|
20.4%
|
University of California San Diego Acceptance Rate for International Students
The University of California, San Diego received almost 22,000 applications from international students for the Class of 2028 of which 4,900 were offered admission by the uni. This makes the UC San Diego acceptance rate for international students just as selective. The distribution of the international student admissions is mentioned below-
|
Particulars
|
Headcount
|
|---|
|
International Student Applications
|
21,821
|
|
International Students Admitted
|
4,896
|
|
International Students Enrolled
|
811
|
|
Acceptance Rate
|
22.44%
|
For the Class of 2028 there were 7,428 international students admitted as per official sources. The total number of international UG students enrolled at the UC San Diego campus amounts to over 3,800. The ethnic breakdown of UCSD's UG students is given below-
|
Ethnic/Racial Group
|
Headcount
|
|---|
|
Native Hawaiin or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic
|
20
|
|
American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic
|
25
|
|
Black or African American, non-Hispanic
|
569
|
|
Race and/or ethnicity unknown
|
812
|
|
Two or more races, non-Hispanic
|
2,258
|
|
Nonresidents
|
3,891
|
|
White, non-Hispanic
|
6,005
|
|
Hispanic Latino
|
9,267
|
|
Asian, non-Hispanic
|
12,108
|
|
Total
|
34,955
|
University of California San Diego Acceptance Rate Trends
The no.of applications received by UC San Diego has increased by 13.5% in the last four years whereas the no. of students admitted by the university has decreased by -11.4%. As a result, the University of California San Diego acceptance rate has decreased by -22.1% since 2021. This points towards highly decreasing leniency in the admission criteria. Check the UC San Diego admission trends below-
|
Year
|
Application Received
|
Students Admitted
|
Acceptance Rate
|
|---|
|
2024-2025
|
134,455
|
35,989
|
26.7%
|
|
2023-2024
|
130,845
|
32,403
|
24.76%
|
|
2022-2023
|
131,254
|
31,274
|
23.83%
|
|
2021-2022
|
118,410
|
40,629
|
34.31%
|
University of California San Diego Requirements for International Students
Students need to pay the UC San Diego fees in a timely manner and fulfil the admission requirements. Entry requirements for undergraduate and graduate admission are different and students can check them below:
UCSD Undergraduate Admission Requirements
- Must complete your standard XII years of education
- Achieve at least a GPA of 4.11 on a scale of 4.29
- Meet the English language requirements
- Submit additional test scores for ACT/SAT (if required)
UCSD Graduate Admission Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline
- Test scores of English Proficiency exams
- Minimum of 3, Letters of Recommendation
- Statement of Purpose
- Resume/CV
- Writing Sample
University of California San Diego Average GPA, SAT & ACT Scores
University of California San Diego is highly selective with an acceptance rate of 25%. Students admitted to Northwestern University must have the mentioned scores:
High School GPA minimum 4.11 - 4.29
*UCSD doesn’t require SAT/ ACT.
Tips to get selected at University of California San Diego
To secure an enrollment, the candidate must be an all-rounder. Some of the best initiatives that students can take to maximise their chances of selection are given as follows:
- Don't limit your research to quick statistics like the acceptance rate at UCSD or straightforward explanations of how to apply to UCSD. Instead, familiarize yourself with the intellectual, social, and cultural offerings of UCSD.
- Get involved in extracurricular activities that highlight your passions, capacity for leadership, and engagement with the community.
- Compose insightful and engaging essays that showcase your goals, experiences, and personality.
University of California San Diego Acceptance Rate vs University of San Diego Acceptance Rate
The University of San Diego acceptance rate is 52% Compared to the University of California San Diego acceptance rate of 26.7%, UCSD is considered to be more selective in its admission process as compared to the University of San Diego.
University of San Diego admissions are less selective though students must be all-rounder to get admitted for pursuing their higher studies. Candidates who are excellent in academics, as well as activities outside class, are more likely to secure admission.
Comments