University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093
858-534-2230
The University of California, San Diego is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, in the United States. The university occupies 2,141 acres (866 ha) near the coast of the Pacific Ocean with the main campus resting on approximately 1,152 acres (466 ha). Established in 1960, UC San Diego is the seventh-oldest of the 10 University of California campuses and offers over 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, enrolling approximately 30,000 undergraduates and 8,500 graduate students. UC San Diego is organized into six undergraduate residential colleges, five academic divisions, and two professional schools.
The university operates 19 organized research units (ORUs), including the San Diego Supercomputer Center and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, as of October 2017. UC San Diego is also home to the University of California Television station. The university offers bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, doctoral degrees, and professional degrees through its six academic divisions and five professional schools. The university has affiliations with 19 research institutes and facilities, including the Salk Institute, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute.
UC San Diego is classified as a research university with very high research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The university was the site of multiple scientific discoveries, including the first self-sustained nuclear reaction, the first artificial heart transplant, and the first human genome editing. As of October 2019, 15 Nobel laureates, four Fields Medalists, and three Turing Award winners have been affiliated with UC San Diego as alumni, faculty members, or researchers. In the 2018–19 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, UC San Diego ranked 37th globally and 5th in the United States. In the 2016–17 QS World University Rankings, UC San Diego ranked 45th globally and 5th in the United States. In the 2019 Academic Ranking of World Universities, UC San Diego ranked 14th globally and 4th in the United States. In the 2020 Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings, UC San Diego ranked 18th globally and 4th in the United States.
The University of California, San Diego was established in 1960 as the San Diego Campus of the University of California and later became an independent institution in 1961. The university was one of the nation's first eight campuses that were established during the California Master Plan for Higher Education. The campus was designed by the architectural firm of A. Quincy Jones and Frederick E. Emmons and was built on the site of the former Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The campus was dedicated on September 20, 1964, with the main campus quadrangle named after Roger Revelle, the campus's first chancellor.
The university's initial enrollment was 1,379 undergraduates and 563 graduate students, and the first classes were held on September 18, 1964. The university's first chancellor was Roger Revelle, who served from 1964 to 1968. In 1970, the university awarded its first doctorate degrees. In 1971, the campus was transferred from the control of the University of California to the newly created California State University system. In 1974, the University of California, San Diego Medical School was established. In 1978, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography was affiliated with UC San Diego.
The university has grown rapidly in the ensuing years, with the establishment of numerous research institutes and professional schools, and the addition of undergraduate and graduate programs. The student body reached 21,000 by 1973 and 26,000 by 1978. In 1988, the university's School of Medicine moved to La Jolla, and the campus was expanded with the construction of the ERC and the Salk Institute. In 1997, UC San Diego was the site of the first human genome editing experiment. In 2001, the university opened the San Diego Supercomputer Center. In 2003, the university established the University of California Television station. In 2005, the university opened the Scripps Seaside Forum. In 2006, the university opened the San Diego Nanotechnology Center. In 2007, the university opened the UC San Diego School of Medicine in La Jolla. In 2008, the university opened the RIMAC arena. In 2010, the university opened the Atkinson Hall. In 2011, the university opened the Stuart Collection. In 2012, the university opened the Price Center. In 2013, the university opened the UC San Diego School of Medicine in La Jolla. In 2014, the university opened the Warren College. In 2015, the university opened the Sixth College. In 2016, the university opened the Seventh College. In 2017, the university opened the Eighth College.
Quick Facts
Enrollment: 39576
Acceptance Rate: 36.61%
Type: Public, 4-year or above
Main Website: https://www.ucsd.edu/
Financial Aid: https://fas.ucsd.edu/
Annual Costs
Total Cost In-State On-Campus: $35311
Total Cost Out-State On-Campus: $65065
Return on Investment Rating
The estimated cost for four years as an undergraduate at University of California-San Diego is $128815.64. This includes the average cost of attendance for four years plus the interest on the average loan over a ten year repayment minus the average of grants and scholarships per student.
We then contrast this figure with average early-career and mid-career average incomes of graduates of four year programs at University of California-San Diego. For graduates of University of California-San Diego, we saw an average early-career income of $69300.00 and mid-career income of $135300.00. We then ranked the school's value based on how many years of mid-career income it takes to repay the educational costs.