University of California, San Diego, popularly known as UC San Diego, was founded in 1960. UC San Diego is recognized as one of the top public universities in the United States; in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, it was named the nation’s sixth-best public university. It has eight undergraduate residential colleges and 11 academic, professional, and graduate schools. Its challenging academic programs and research-focused environment make it highly attractive to international students.
UC San Diego provides admission information and resources for international students, including details on first-year and transfer requirements, English proficiency, and secondary school credentials. However, before you send an application to this school, it is important to understand its requirements and note its current admit rate.
This article will discuss this university’s acceptance rate and what you need to know about it, so be sure to read to the end.
University of California, San Diego Acceptance Rate
For fall 2025, the University of California, San Diego’s overall first-year admit rate was 28.4%, with 38,846 admits from 136,740 applicants. This makes the university competitive. However, UC notes that this admit data should be used as a general guide to selectivity and not as a predictor of an individual applicant’s chances of admission to UC San Diego.
UC San Diego continues to receive a large number of first-year applications. For fall 2025, it received more than 136,000 first-year applications, so applicants should aim to present academic and personal profiles that are stronger than the minimum admission requirements.
UC San Diego receives applications for many majors, and some majors are more selective than others. The university currently lists Data Science, Engineering, and Public Health as selective majors with limited enrollment, and it strongly recommends that students applying to a selective major choose an alternate non-selective major on the UC application.
Preparing for the University of California, San Diego
Before applying to the University of California, San Diego, knowing the acceptance rate and how it affects your admission chances can be helpful. Other important factors to prepare for include the school’s tuition fees, scholarships, and admission process. Read below to learn more!
Admission Requirements
Learning the requirements for UC San Diego is essential for preparing a strong application. First-year applicants must earn a high school diploma or equivalent, satisfy UC first-year subject requirements, meet the required GPA, and answer four of eight personal insight questions. Non-California residents, including international applicants, must earn at least a 3.4 GPA in the required college-preparatory courses with no grade lower than a C. UC San Diego does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admissions or scholarship decisions, but international applicants may need to show English proficiency if their native language is not English and their secondary education was in a country where English was not the language of instruction.
Tuition Fees
Once you are admitted into this university, you should review the official cost page before each academic year because costs vary by entry cohort and housing choice. For 2025–26, UC San Diego lists tuition and mandatory fees plus nonresident supplemental tuition for a continuing nonresident undergraduate at about $54,024 before living and personal expenses. The estimated total cost of attendance for a nonresident undergraduate living on campus is $78,429. International students may also be billed a one-time $150 International Student Visa Administration fee.
Scholarships
Scholarships and other funding sources are also important to research early. UC San Diego states that international students are not eligible for federal or state financial aid. However, the university points international students to outside agency scholarships, fellowships, grants, and private loan options. Coverage and eligibility vary by award, so review each scholarship’s official conditions carefully.
The University of California, San Diego admits students from around the world, making it an excellent choice for many international students. To improve your admission chances, make sure you meet or exceed its requirements and understand its current acceptance rate before applying.
We hope that this article on the acceptance rate at the University of California, San Diego was helpful. Check out the Available Courses for International Students or read our Guide to Studying in the USA to learn more about studying your chosen program in the United States.
