University of California, San Diego (UCSD)

The University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego / UCSD) is a public research university founded in 1960, located on 1,200 stunning acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla, California. UC San Diego is ranked among the top 15 public universities in the world and is particularly renowned for its research productivity, biomedical sciences, engineering, and oceanography programs. The campus enrolls approximately 43,000 students across seven residential colleges and 12 schools.

Schools and Colleges

• Jacobs School of Engineering — Top-ranked CS, bioengineering, and nanoengineering
• School of Medicine — Top-20 medical school with leading NIH research funding
• Rady School of Management — Business and innovation programs
• School of Global Policy and Strategy — International relations and policy
• Scripps Institution of Oceanography — World’s leading oceanographic research institution

How to Apply

• Application: UC Application
• Test Scores: Test-free (UC policy)
• Acceptance Rate: ~24%
• In-State Tuition: ~$14,312 | Out-of-State: ~$44,066

Key Deadlines

• Application Window: November 1–30