University of California - San Diego Campus

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University of California - San Diego Campus Courses 2026: Popular UG, PG, & Certificate Courses

Q: Is San Diego a Tier 1 school?

Yes, UC San Diego is a Tier 1 university. This university has received a status of R1: Very High Research Activity. It is basically a leader in research and USD 1.73 billion sponsored research funding was there for FY24. Also, this university was ranked at 9th position in the world for the most highly cited / most influential researchers, according to Clarivate. Additionally, the university's research programme generated 400 new invention disclosures and over 90 new U.S. patents.

Q: What is the fee for international students at the University of California San Diego?

The University of California San Diego fees for international students vary by program from INR 22 L to INR 57 L. The below table includes the first-year cost of studying at UC San Diego for international students: Courses 1st Year Tuition Fees MS (42 courses) INR 22 L - 31 L MBA/PGDM (1 course) INR 47 L BE/BTech (34 courses) INR 36 L - 37 L BSc (61 courses) INR 29 L - 37 L BA (65 courses) INR 36 L - 37 L BBA (8 courses) INR 37 L MIM (7 courses) INR 28 L - 57 L MFA (8 courses) INR 27 L MA (7 courses) INR 27 L - 35 L MEng (1 course) INR 27 L MArch (1 course) INR 28 L Executive MBA/PGDM (1 course) INR 50 L PhD (1 course) INR 22 L BArch (2 courses) INR 37 L BEd (1 course) INR 37 L MPH (1 course) INR 27 L Check the Cost of Studying in the USA for International Students

San Diego, California, USA

2.8 /5

(4 Reviews)

78 Student Q&A

Shiksha popularity ranking

#36 in World

#18 in USA

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1292 Scholarships for studying in USA

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1200 acre campus
Estd. 1960

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Last updated on 15 Oct '25

UC San Diego Overview

Table of contents

University of California - San Diego Campus Courses & Fees 2026
UC San Diego Popular Courses
UC San Diego Popular Programs
University of California - San Diego Campus Fee Breakdown 2026
UC San Diego Students reviews

University of California - San Diego Campus Courses & Fees 2026

University of California - San Diego Campus offers 237 courses for Indian students. Whether you are exploring options at the UG and graduate level, the university has courses in Engineering, Business & Management Studies, Medicine & Health Sciences, Science and Humanities & Social Sciences. The specialisations at this University include Public Policy, Civil Engineering, Direction, Geology and Marine Engineering. The first-year tuition fee of UG courses at University of California - San Diego Campus is USD 32,574 - 53,874 (INR 29,39,478 - 48,61,590) and for graduate courses it is USD 25,007 - 78,880 (INR 22,56,632 - 71,18,132). The tuition fee of University of California - San Diego Campus is USD 25,007 - 78,880 (INR 22,56,632 - 71,18,132), while the hostel fees is USD 4,770 - 23,984 (INR 4,30,445 - 21,64,317).

If you are planning to get admission to the university, here's a list of courses and their duration, fees and eligibility.

(1 USD = Rs. 90.24)

Courses	1st Year Tuition Fees	Duration & Eligibility
MS(45 courses)	INR 24 L - 71 LGet Fee Details	Duration: 9 months-3 years Exam Accepted: IELTS: 7 & Above, TOEFL: 85 - 107, PTE: 65 & Above, Duolingo, GRE, GMAT
B.Sc.(62 courses)	INR 29 L - 49 LGet Fee Details	Duration: 4-5 years Exam Accepted: IELTS: 7 & Above, TOEFL: 83 & Above, PTE, Duolingo: 115 & Above, SAT
MBA/PGDM(8 courses)	INR 31 L - 71 LGet Fee Details	Duration: 9 months-3 years Exam Accepted: IELTS: 7 & Above, TOEFL: 85 - 107, PTE: 65 & Above, Duolingo, GMAT: 600 & Above, GRE

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Commonly asked questions
On Fees and Eligibility

Q: Why is UCSD so hard to get into?

According to an unofficial source, the University of California San Diego acceptance rate is 27%. The low percentage show that the university is tough to enter. The university offers popular programs and ranked under top 20 popular research university that makes it hard to get into.

Q: How prestigious is UC San Diego?

UCSD has retained its overall ranking as No. 21 in Forbes’ annual list, that showcases 500 private and public school that ‘produce successful, high-earning and influential graduates from all economic backgrounds, with less-student debt”. In the Academic Ranking of World Universities, UC San Diego ranks as No. 18 in its list of the top universities in the world.

Q: What is University of California San Diego known for?

University of California San Diego is known as one of the world’s leading public research universities. UCSD has the finest labs and resources to offer quality education to international students at an affordable tuition cost.

UCSD is located in one of the best 100 student cities in the world i.e. San Diego
Great faculty as 16 Nobel Laureates have taught at UC San Diego
A diverse and supportive community for students

Q: Which famous people went to the University of California San Diego?

The names of the people who studied at UCSD are Nick Woodman, Khaled Hosseini, Geoff Abrams, Ricardo Chavira, etc. Below is the list of the other notable people who studied at the university-

Names
Nathan East
DJ Patil
J. Craig Venter
Kate Rubins
Mike Judge
Milana Vayntrub
Kim Stanley Robinson
Khaled Hosseini
Nick Woodman

UC San Diego
Popular Courses

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Showing 237 Courses

Master of Science in Data Science

18 months

1st year Tution Fees

₹25 L

Get Fee Details

Exams Accepted

Shiksha Ranking

– / –

No. of Scholarship

– / –

Master of Science in Computer Engineering

3.018 months

1st year Tution Fees

₹25 L

Get Fee Details

Exams Accepted

Shiksha Ranking

#17

No. of Scholarship

– / –

Economics Major B.A.

4 years

1st year Tution Fees

₹29 L

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Exams Accepted

Shiksha Ranking

– / –

No. of Scholarship

– / –

Showing 14 Programs

MS

45 Courses

3.0(1)9 months - 3 years

1st year Tution Fees

₹24 L - 71 L

Get Fee Details

Shiksha Ranking

#15

B.Sc.

62 Courses

1 Course2 years

1st year Tution Fees

₹54 L

Get Fee Details

Shiksha Ranking

– / –

University of California - San Diego Campus Fee Breakdown 2026

University of California - San Diego Campus fee structure plays an important role for Indian students to decide on their budget. Of the total fees charged, tuition cost is the major part, but expenses like housing, food and grocery and travel are critical, too.

Want to know how it would cost you to study at University of California - San Diego Campus as an Indian student? Check out the table below:

Courses	Tuition Range	Insurance Range	Transportation Range	Hostel Range
B.A.	INR 41,54,831 - 48,61,590	INR 1,77,864	INR 46,835	INR 13,40,606 - 15,51,948
B.Arch	INR 41,54,831	-	-	INR 15,51,948
B.E. / B.Tech	INR 29,39,478 - 47,40,849	INR 1,87,339 - 2,03,853	INR 66,598 - 77,426	INR 12,35,206 - 21,64,317
B.Ed	INR 41,54,831	-	-	INR 15,51,948
B.Sc.	INR 29,39,478 - 48,61,590	INR 1,77,864 - 2,43,107	INR 46,835 - 83,653	INR 12,35,206 - 21,64,317
BBA	INR 29,39,478 - 47,40,849	INR 2,03,853	INR 77,426	INR 12,35,206 - 21,64,317
Executive MBA/PGDM	INR 54,27,936	-	-	-
M.A.	INR 22,56,632 - 43,28,904	INR 3,97,959	INR 1,55,664	INR 4,30,445 - 8,76,772

Commonly asked questions
On Fees Breakdown

Q: Is San Diego a Tier 1 school?

Yes, UC San Diego is a Tier 1 university. This university has received a status of R1: Very High Research Activity. It is basically a leader in research and USD 1.73 billion sponsored research funding was there for FY24. Also, this university was ranked at 9th position in the world for the most highly cited / most influential researchers, according to Clarivate. Additionally, the university's research programme generated 400 new invention disclosures and over 90 new U.S. patents.

Q: How much is the application fee for UC San Diego for international students?

For UCSD admissions, international students must meet all the admission requirements. University of California San Diego application fee for international students is listed below-

Particulars	Application Fee
UG	USD 95 (8,604)
PG	USD 155 (INR 14,039)

Q: What is the fee for international students at the University of California San Diego?

The University of California San Diego fees for international students vary by program from INR 22 L to INR 57 L. The below table includes the first-year cost of studying at UC San Diego for international students:

Courses	1st Year Tuition Fees
MS (42 courses)	INR 22 L - 31 L
MBA/PGDM (1 course)	INR 47 L
BE/BTech (34 courses)	INR 36 L - 37 L
BSc (61 courses)	INR 29 L - 37 L
BA (65 courses)	INR 36 L - 37 L
BBA (8 courses)	INR 37 L
MIM (7 courses)	INR 28 L - 57 L
MFA (8 courses)	INR 27 L
MA (7 courses)	INR 27 L - 35 L
MEng (1 course)	INR 27 L
MArch (1 course)	INR 28 L
Executive MBA/PGDM (1 course)	INR 50 L
PhD (1 course)	INR 22 L
BArch (2 courses)	INR 37 L
BEd (1 course)	INR 37 L
MPH (1 course)	INR 27 L

Check the Cost of Studying in the USA for International Students

Q: How much is University of California San Diego tuition fee for international students?

The University of San Diego tuition fees range between INR 27L and INR 45L for undergraduate programs and INR 22L and INR 66L for postgraduate programs. The students can expect the tuition fees between INR 27 and INR 39L for B tech and INR 22L and INR 66L for MBA. International students can check the table below for tuition costs of popular programs:

Courses	1st Year Tuition Fees
B.E. / B.Tech (34 courses)	INR 27 L - 39 L
MS (39 courses)	INR 23 L - 32 L
MBA/PGDM (8 courses)	INR 29 L - 66 L
B.Sc. (62 courses)	INR 27 L - 45 L
B.E.8 (65 courses)	INR 39 L - 45 L
MIM (7 courses)	INR 29 L - 66 L
BBA (8 courses)	INR 27 L - 39 L

UC San Diego
Students Ratings & Reviews

2.8/5

2 Verified Reviews Info Icon

Student Views (Based on Reviews)

0% students never faced discrimination in this university

Vibe of Campus

Stressful

Multi-dimensional

Academically oriented

Internships2.5

Part time work2

Post study jobs2

Quality of faculty3

Student Life2

Value for money2

Public transportation4

Safety5

Indian Food4

Permanent Immigration1.5

Shrivaths Shyam

M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering - Batch of 2024

4.9

Friendly faculty and staffs.

Tips: I have become more independent and have learnt to survive but the cultural shift was easy to manage for me because of the friends I made here. I got a research assistantship in a lab and was able to pay for my expenses throughout my second year of master's. I am very satisfied with the university, course and country.

Likes (Quality of faculty): Professors are friendly and they have a variety of materials with which they teach. They are easily approachable either via email or even during their office hours and sometimes in person as well. Professors are from different countries and the diversity is big here.

Dislikes (Permanent Immigration): The chance to settle in this country is a little less given the different rules and regulations, but once an employer sponsors an H-1B visa and does your permanent residency processing you can continue to live as long as you have a job. If given the chance I would like to permanently immigrate to this country.

Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 1000

Prepping time for classes40 hours/Week

Expected Annual SalaryUSD 100000

Reviewed on 31 Dec 2025Read more

Deepak Sridhar

MS in Signal and Image Processing - Batch of 2027

4.2

Good courses, faculty, research and career options make UCSD a top choice

Tips: Students should look at the cost of living and financial aid options before joining the campus as it is generally expensive to live around San Diego area. Students should clearly be prepared in choosing their track either industry or academic research and start preparing for it from day one. The courses require prior requisites and so students have to carefully look at the track they choose relevant to their interests and put in efforts to achieve their goals. Teaching assistantships are very competitive but might be available during the second year of your program. You'll have to do well on the courses and maintain good contact with the professor if you are looking to get one. Some students get TAs outside their department which is an option to consider. Courses are rigorous and the quarter system is fast-paced. So one has to adapt to this structure.

Likes (Safety): The college administration considers safety to be of utmost importance with annual safety reviews happening every year. Any safety is immediately published to make you aware of the incidents. The campus has security officers to report to even at night times. The area around campus is filled with student population, so there is no concern for safety.

Dislikes (Permanent Immigration): Due to the H1B immigration system, permanent immigration system is convoluted although it might take longer than expected. There are no specifics to the university, this is general for all US universities. Given a chance I would immigrate to this country especially considering the state-the-art work done at many companies

Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 1400

Prepping time for classes25 hours/Week

Expected Annual SalaryUSD 150000

Reviewed on 11 Feb 2024Read more

Anonymous

B.S. in Economics - Batch of 2027

2.6

San Diego is one of the safest cities in the US.

Tips: I would recommend coming abroad for Masters. I became more independent living abroad and I did not unnecessarily face any cultural shock since I came from an international school. People here definitely like to do a lot of the stuff by themselves. I like more of a sense of community.

Likes (Safety): San Diego is one of the safest cities in the US. There is campus security, but the dorms do not have security guards. There's a helpline number that can be contacted at any point of the day and the San Diego police are usually quick with the way they approach things. I have never had to use any of the services personally.

Dislikes (Post study jobs): The job market is not doing well right now and it's hard to build a network. There are career fair but no one really guides you through the process and you need to figure it out for urself. If you avail all of the university help, then it could be worthwhile but you really need to put yourself out there.

Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 350

Prepping time for classes3 hours/Week

Expected Annual SalaryUSD 80025

Reviewed on 2 Feb 2026Read more

Anonymous

Master of Science in Computer Engineering - Batch of 2027

The college has its pros and cons.

Tips: The college is academically oriented and the social life here is very less. The quarter system moves very fast and it is hard to learn something new given the very little time we get. Students barely get time to study or do things that will make them learn and implement something new, unless you hyper specialize in a particular area.

Likes (Safety): The area around the campus is pretty much safe with very few homeless people. There's public transport like shuttle buses from student housing and campus, but the frequency of that reduces after 6 and stops after 9 or 10 PM. It's safe to walk back to the graduate student housing in the night, although I haven't heard many bad experiences doing so, it's still advisable not to walk back alone in the night and have at least another person with you.

Dislikes (Student Life): The college is not very socially active and there are barely any student gatherings or meet-ups, so it's socially dead and it's not like other colleges in the East Coast, where students get time to party and chill. This is a pretty rigorous and fast paced college, so student life takes a hit.

Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 1500

Prepping time for classes23 hours/Week

Expected Annual SalaryUSD

Reviewed on 25 Nov 2025Read more

View All 4 Reviews

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UC San Diego

Student Forum

Anything you would want to ask experts?

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What is the ranking of University of California San Diego in the world?

Answered a week ago

University of California San Diego is one of the top ranked universities for higher education in the world. According to Shiksha Popularity Rankings, University of California San Diego is ranked at #36 in world and #18 in the USA. Top ranking bodies worldwide ranks UCSD that are listed below-

Ranking Authorities	Rank
Shiksha Popularity Rankings	#36 in world and #18 in the USA
Times Higher Education 2026	#47 in World University Rankings
QS Rankings 2026	#66 in QS World University Rankings
US News and World Report 2026	#29 in Best National Universities

Mohit Thapa

Contributor-Level 10

Who are the top employers for UC San Diego MBA graduates?

Answered 7 months ago

UCSD offers various career services such as dedicated career coaches, customized workshops and programs, career website with curates resources and content, access to Rady alumni and employers. The top employers of UC San Diego MBA Class of 2024 graduates were:

Analog Devices
Boston Consulting Group (B

Chandra Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Is UC San Diego hard to get into?

Answered 9 months ago

With an acceptance rate of 26.7% for the class of 2028, the University of California San Diego is a relatively difficult university to enter. However, with a well-rounded profile and a good academic background, students can improve their chances of admission at UCSD

UC San Diego has a GPA requiremen

Ridhi

Contributor-Level 10

What GPA do you need to get into the UC San Diego MS in Electrical Engineering?

Answered 9 months ago

To take admission to UCSD MS in Electrical & Computer Engineering course, the applicants are required to have a BS/MS degree in Engineering, Physical Sciences, or Mathematics from an accredited university. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. Other admission requirements are given below:

GRE test, not r

Himanshi Shekhar

Contributor-Level 10

How much is the UC San Diego tuition fee for Graduate students?

Answered 9 months ago

The total University of California San Diego for Non-California residents is USD 73,000 (Around INR 62.3 lakh). The fees for on-campus students are:

Particulars	Fees
Tuition and fees	Around USD 21,375
Food & housing	USD 30,264
Books, course materials, supplies, & equipment	USD 696
Misc. personal expenses	USD 2,460
Transportation expenses	USD 3,813

Akanksha Malhotra

Contributor-Level 10

About the author

Kartik Bisht

Study Abroad Expert

A tech enthusiast, Kartik has graduated with a Bachelor of Computer Application from the IMS Ghaziabad 2023 batch. Kartik loves to learn about Cybersecurity and Cybercrime. Also, his hobbies are such as traveling, trekking, cooking, and more. Moreove...Read Full Bio