University of California - San Diego Campus

The University of California San Diego and <a href="https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/usa/universities/university-of-california-los-angeles-campus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of California Los Angeles </a>both are some of the most prominent universities in the world. As per Shiksha Popularity Ranking, UCSD and UCLA are ranked as follows-

Shiksha Popularity Ranking

UCSD

UCLA

World level

#37 in world

#20 in world

Country Level

#18 in USA

#13 in USA

As per above comparison, UCLA has an upper in hand in terms of Shiksha Popularity Rankings.

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

Yes, UC San Diego is quite expensive, although the total annual cost of attendance depends heavily on residency and housing choice. 

For International UG students, the total costs range between USD 78,000 and USD 80,000 (INR 74.3L and INR 76.24L).

The base UCSD tuition fee is USD 16K to 19K (INR 15.2L to INR 18.1L) for all students. 

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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.

The admission requirements for the UCSD Master of Finance program are given below:

• An undergraduate degree in Finance / Economics / Computer Science / Engineering / Mathematics / Physics or Statistics is required. Other majors are also considered
• Post-university work, research experience or internships in a Quantitative discipline is also considered
• An official GMAT / GRE score
• Application materials like academic transcripts, two recommendations, statement of purpose, resume or CV, etc.

Yes, the GRE General Test is required for admission to UC San Diego MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering. A bachelor's or MS degree in Physical Sciences, Engineering, or Mathematics from an accredited university or college is required. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. Here are the other application requirements:  

• TOEFL with a score of 85 on iBT / IELTS with a score of 7
• Statement of Purpose
• 3 Letters of Recommendation
• Official transcripts
• Resume / CV
• Application fee

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 required (recommended)
• English language proficiency test (TOEFL / IELTS / PTE)
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• Three Letters of Recommendation
• Scanned unofficial transcripts
• Resume / CV

UC San Diego is a highly competitive university. It is consistently ranked as one of the top public universities in the US. When it comes to admission, the University of California San Diego acceptance rate is between 25% - 27%. The acceptance rate justifies that it is a fairly competitive university to get into. A large number of highly qualified students apply to this university, and the university follows a holistic admission process to grant admission. In short, every application, including the personal insight questions is thoroughly reviewed. The factors considered for granting admission are:

• Academic performance
• Performance in standardized tests
• Personal qualities
• Creative, Intellectual, Social or Professional Achievement
• Handling of challenges, Hardships, Unusual circumstances

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.

To get into the University of California San Diego from India, the applicants are required to have passed high school. For the first-year applicants, a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. The acceptance rate for Fall 2024 is 25%. This acceptance rate justifies that the university is very selective at the time of admission. Indian applicants at the UG level must have passed Class 10 and 12 board / state examinations. At the graduate level, the applicants should hold a Bachelor's degree or equivalent. Additionally, at the PG level, standardized test scores may also be required. Also, submit an English language proficiency score.

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

Some of the industries where UC San Diego MBA alumni work are: 

Employment by Industry

Industry

%

Consulting

22.2%

Healthcare

22.2%

Financial Services

16.7%

Technology 

11.1%

Non-Profit / Education

11.1%

The average salary for UC San Diego graduates is USD 93,000 per year (Around INR 80 lakh). A few of the job titles on which the graduates are employed are Mechanical Engineer, Software Engineer, Data Scientist, Data Analyst, etc. The average salary as per the job titles is given below:

Job Titles

Average Salary

Software Engineer

USD 112,757

Mechanical Engineer

USD 92,186

Data Scientist

USD 111,425

Senior Software Engineer

USD 156,297

Data Analyst

USD 74,363

Popular employers of this university’s graduates are Northrop Grumman Corporation, Intel Corporation, Raytheon Co., Johnson & Johnson, etc.

For the MBA Class of 2024 graduates, the University of San Diego graduates have an average salary of USD 116,430 (Around INR 99 lakh). A total of 72% received offers within 3 months of graduation. The industries where the graduates are included are Consulting, Healthcare, technology, Financial Services, etc. A few of the job functions on which the MBA graduates of this university are employed are Finance / Accounting, Consulting, Marketing / Sales, Operations / Logistics, etc.

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 (BCG), Japan
• AGS
• Morgan Stanley
• Kearney (Japan)
• Engage Stack LLC
• YPOG
• EY-Parthenon

The placement rate of UCSD graduates was 72% (within 3 months of graduation). Top industries where the graduates were employed include Consulting, Financial Services, Healthcare, Technology, Manufacturing, Non-Profit / Education, etc.

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)

For UG admissions, UC San Diego releases admission decisions almost 4 months after the application deadline. In the case of PG programs, the admission decisions releasing process varies by department. The applications are released throughout the year. The application status page will be updated as soon as the decisions are released.

University of California San Diego requirements for international students vary by programme in which applicants apply. Entry requirements for UG and PG admission is different and students can check it below-

Undergraduate Requirements

• Standard XII years of education
• <!--- [if !supportLists]---><!--- [endif]--->A GPA of 3.4 on a scale of 4.0
• English language requirements
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International students who wish to study at the University of California San Diego must have at least score of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0. for graduate admission. For undergraduate admission, students must have must earn a GPA of 3.4 (or better) with no grade lower than a "C." The UCSD GPA requirements vary by programme and applicants have to meet it to get admission to the university. 

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

The University of California San Diego is among the top choice of Indian students to pursue higher education in the USA. UC San Diego offers programs at both UG and PG levels for its Indian students. The University of California San Diego annual tuition fee for Indian students is listed below-

According to the statistics of UCSD, the top 5 majors at the UG level are Biology, Psychology, Mathematics, Economics, and Cognitive Science. According to the student population, the most popular UG study field is Social Sciences. Some of the popular study fields are given below-

• Engineering
• Biology
• Arts and Humanities
• Physical Sciences

Yes, <a href="https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/usa/universities/university-of-california-san-diego-campus/master-of-science-in-business-analytics-msba">UC San Diego MS-BA course</a> is STEM-designated. This course features an AI-assisted curriculum that incorporates Large Language Models (LLMs) in every face of the Business Analytics process, from problem definition, to coding, data cleaning, analysis, and presentation. The duration of this course is 11-months.

The University of California San Diego is among the top choice of Indian students to pursue higher education in the USA. UC San Diego offers MBA programme for the duration of 9 months to 3 years. University of California San Diego MBA programme first year tuition fee ranges from INR 33 L – INR 76 L. Apart from this, University of California San Diego offers 200+ programs at UG and PG levels.

The University of California San Diego programs features more than 200 programs at UG and PG levels for Indian students. The top programs opted by University of California San Diego alumni are listed below-

• Computer Science
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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 #37 in world and #18 in the USA. Top ranking bodies worldwide ranks UCSD that are listed below-

Ranking Authorities

Rank

Shiksha Popularity Rankings

#37 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

The University of California San Diego ranking is among the top 100 universities in the world as per a top-ranking publisher in 2027. 

Look at the UCSD Rankings given below -

• In the QS rankings, this university ranks at #81 in 2026 and #66 in 2026.
• As per Times Higher Education rankings 2026, this university ranks at #47 position. 

Once again the University of San Diego has strengthened its reputation as a global academic institution, rising one spot to No. 3 among public U.S. Universities in the 2024 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). Also, the university advanced to No. 14 among the public colleges overall and No. 18 in the world in the annual list. This ranking is a testament to the university's groundbreaking research, transformative, innovation, and world-class education. Furthermore, UC San Diego has recently been named as the No. 3 public university in the nation by Forbes in the 2025 America's Top Colleges list. In the world rankings released by Times Higher Education, UC San Diego ranks at #34 in 2025.

UC San Diego became a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I in 2020. There are 23 sports team at the university, 12 men’s and 11 women’s competitive sports team. The university’s scholar-athletes earn degrees at a 90% graduation rate, the highest-rated public institution among all NCAA Division I and II. In total, 30 NCAA national team championships earned.

Life at UC San Diego is about activating your passions. There are 500+ student organizations at the university. A few of the categories of the student organizations are academic, cultural, media, political, spiritual, social, etc. A number of on-campus sports facilities are offered by UC San Diego such as:

• Swimming pools
• Multiple gyms / workout spaces
• Track and field complex
• Tennis / handball courts
• Conference rooms

In case of the recreation, a number of facilities are offered via aquatics, intramural sports, rec classes, sports clubs, wellness services (personal training, free student fitness programs and more).