- Acceptance rate: 27% for fall 2024
- Average high school GPA: 3.88, as reported by the college for 2025–26
- Average net price: $13,293 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Type your GPA to compare it with what University of California San Diego reported: an average GPA of 3.88 (2025–26) and an acceptance rate of 27% for fall 2024.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. University of California San Diego reviews each application.
University of California San Diego average GPA
University of California San Diego reported an average high school GPA of 3.88 for its first-year students who submitted one (94% did), in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether it's weighted or unweighted.
How their high school GPAs were spread:
| High school GPA | Share of first-year students |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | |
| 3.75–3.99 | |
| 3.50–3.74 | |
| 3.25–3.49 |
An average, not a cutoffColleges calculate GPA in different ways, so these figures can't be compared directly with your own GPA.
University of California San Diego acceptance rate
University of California San Diego admitted 35,917 of 134,450 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 27%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
University of California San Diego is a public 4-year university in La Jolla, California, with 34,955 undergraduates.
Admission requirements
What University of California San Diego looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Required |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Not considered |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Not considered |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
University of California San Diego didn't report SAT or ACT scores for its fall 2024 first-year students.
AP credit
University of California San Diego awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $13,293 a year at University of California San Diego in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is it to get into UCSD?
Selective: fewer than half of applicants got in. University of California San Diego admitted 27% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
Can a 3.5 GPA get you into UCSD?
It would be on the low side there: 2% of University of California San Diego's first-year students who submitted a GPA had one below 3.5, as the college reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set, and it admitted 27% of applicants for fall 2024. Colleges calculate GPA in different ways, so compare on the same scale and look at your courses and test scores too.
What GPA does UCSD look for?
University of California San Diego doesn't set a minimum GPA we could verify. Its first-year students averaged 3.88, as reported by the college in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether that average is weighted or unweighted.
What GPA do most UCSD students have?
98% of University of California San Diego's first-year students who submitted a high school GPA had 3.50 or higher, and the largest group (54%) had 3.75–3.99, as the college reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether these GPAs are weighted or unweighted.
What is the acceptance rate at UCSD?
University of California San Diego's acceptance rate was 27% for fall 2024: it admitted 35,917 of 134,450 first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Is UCSD test optional?
Check University of California San Diego's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. University of California San Diego was test blind: it didn't consider SAT or ACT scores, even if you sent them, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024).
How important is GPA for getting into UCSD?
A lot: University of California San Diego requires high school GPA, high school record, college preparatory program and essay or personal statement. It considers work experience if you send them. It doesn't consider high school class rank, recommendations, test scores, other tests, demonstration of competencies and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Does UCSD give credit for AP exams?
Yes. University of California San Diego awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
What do students pay at UCSD after grants?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $13,293 a year at University of California San Diego in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does UCSD consider legacy status?
No. University of California San Diego doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Before you apply, check UCSD's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: University of California-San DiegoU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- University of California San Diego Common Data Set 2025–26University of California San Diego: average high school GPA of first-year students and how their GPAs were spread.
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Similar colleges in California
With a similar acceptance rate and size.
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