University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA
University of California-San Diego admitted 39,054 of 136,750 applicants for the fall 2025 entering class (28.6%).
Every figure on this page is published by the college or a federal survey, and carries the source it came from. They describe the fall 2025 entering class, a read on the school, not a prediction about any one applicant.
What stands out at University of California-San Diego
Three things University of California-San Diego published, ranked by how much each could change what you actually do, not by how impressive it looks. Every one describes a class that has already enrolled.
University of California-San Diego reports that test scores are not considered at all.
That is the school’s own answer on the form it fills in every year. A score you send is not read as part of the decision here.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
University of California-San Diego files the essay under “very important”.
That is the top of the scale the form offers, and the only other factors this school puts there are Course rigor and GPA.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
5,284 admitted from a waitlist of 36,709.
25,411 students accepted a place on that list, and 5,284 were admitted from it, 20.8% of the students who waited. A waitlist offer here is not a near-miss anyone can plan around.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
Every figure, in full
The same measured fields on every one of these pages. Nothing is filled in where the school published nothing.
Acceptance rate
28.6%
39,054 admitted of 136,750 applicants
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
Average GPA of admitted students
3.88
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
Where do you actually stand at University of California-San Diego?
The figures above describe a class that already enrolled. GoodGoblin reads them against your own transcript, scores and activities, then builds the balanced list, the essay plan and the deadline calendar around what it finds.
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What University of California-San Diego says it weighs
The school's own words, from the form it fills in every year. Ranked as it ranks them.
- Essayvery important
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Course rigorvery important
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
- GPAvery important
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Class rankconsidered
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
Not considered
- Test scores
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Recommendations
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Legacy
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Demonstrated interest
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
The waitlist, as the school reported it
Published counts, including the ones schools rarely lead with.
- Offered a waitlist place
- 36,709
- Accepted the place
- 25,411
- Admitted from the waitlist
- 5,284
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
What students actually pay
Net price after grants and scholarships: not the sticker price.
Average net price: $12,470 a year.
- Family income under $30k
- $7,525
- $30k–$48k
- $8,155
- $48k–$75k
- $9,942
- $75k–$110k
- $15,199
- Over $110k
- $28,785
Source: the College Scorecard
Essays on this application
8 essay prompts on the application: 4 you would write, 8 optional.
Published deadlines
Each date is read from the college's own materials and re-checked on a schedule.
- Regular DecisionNovember 30, 2026
Verified July 11, 2026 · Source
Guides for University of California-San Diego applicants
More colleges on the record
Every one of these carries the same measured figures, with the same sources.
Other colleges in California
The pages nearest this one on acceptance rate, in the same state.
Colleges with a nearby acceptance rate
Anywhere in the country, ordered by how close the published rate is to this one. A selection rule, not a ranking.
Build the list this school belongs on.
The figures above describe a class that already enrolled. GoodGoblin reads them against your own transcript, scores and activities, then builds the balanced list, the essay plan and the deadline calendar around what it finds.
See where I stand ›3 days free · $0 today · cancel anytime
