University of California, San Diego (UCSD)

United States

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University of California San Diego is considered one of the best public research institutes which is ranked 7th globally in the list of highly cited researchers by Clarivate. University of California San Diego has been able to consistently maintain 10 positions as the top public university for over a decade. As of 2023 fall, there are more than 43,000 students enrolled at the University of California San Diego. 

University of California San Diego has been ranked 72 as per the QS World University Rankings 2025. With an acceptance rate of about 25% University of California, San Diego provides more than 130 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate programs. A few of the most popular courses that international students prefer include but are not limited to Computer Science and Engineering, Bio-Engineering, Data Science, MBA, and more.

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University of California San Diego Ranking

The University of California San Diego has shown good ranking in the past few years not only in the USA but globally. Below is a table that shows the University of California San Diego ranking trends for the past few years -

Agency 2025 2024 2023  2022

QS

72

62

53

48

THE

N/A

34

32

34

US NEWS

N/A

28

34

28

CWUR

N/A

34

34

34

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University of California San Diego Top Courses

University of California San Diego offers more than 250 programs as a combination of graduate and undergraduate programs. Some of the most popular courses at University of California San Diego are - 

Course  Duration Application Deadline Tuition Fees per Year (Average)

MS in Data Science

2 Years

Mar 15, 2025

USD 34,053

MS in Computer Science & Engineering

2 Years

Dec 20, 2024

USD 34,053

MS in Business Analytics

1 Year

Jan 15, 2025

USD 34,053

MS in Machine Learning & Data Science

1 Year

Mar 15, 2025

USD 34,053

MBA

2 Years

Oct 5, 2024 (Intake 1) 

Jan 5, 2025 (Intake 2)

Apr 1, 2025 (Intake 3)

USD 46,000

Master of Engineering in Bioengineering

2 Years

29 Nov, 2024

USD 34,053

MA in Economics

2 Years

06 Dec, 2024

USD 34,053

MS in Finance

1 Year

Rolling Basis

USD 34,053

BS in Biochemistry

2 Years

30 Nov, 2024

USD 53,874

B.S in Bioengineering - Biotechnology

2 Years

Nov 29, 2024

USD 32,574

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Jobs & Placement by University of California San Diego

Ranked 36th in the USA and 174th globally, the University of California San Diego has secured a spot in the Times Higher Education Employability Rankings for 2023-24. As per Payscale.com the average salary that a graduate from the University of California San Diego gets is about USD 89,000 annually. A few of the top placement opportunities that you may get include -

Here’s a table representing job placement and average annual salary for graduates with an MS degree from the University of California, San Diego:

Company Name Industry Designation Average Annual Salary

Google

Technology

Software Engineer

USD 130,000 - USD 150,000

Qualcomm

Telecommunications

Hardware Engineer

USD 120,000 - USD 140,000

Pfizer

Pharmaceuticals

Research Scientist

USD 110,000 - USD 130,000

Intel

Semiconductors

Electrical Engineer

USD 115,000 - USD 135,000

Amazon

E-commerce/Technology

Data Scientist

USD 125,000 - USD 145,000

Illumina

Biotechnology

Bioinformatics Analyst

USD 110,000 - USD 130,000

Northrop Grumman

Aerospace & Defense

Systems Engineer

USD 120,000 - USD 140,000

Cisco Systems

Networking & Technology

Network Engineer

USD 115,000 - USD 135,000

Deloitte

Consulting

Management Consultant

USD 105,000 - USD 125,000

Microsoft

Technology

Product Manager

USD 130,000 - USD 150,000

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Campus Life at University of California San Diego

Campus life at the University of California, San Diego offers a vibrant and diverse environment for students. With over 600 student organizations, there are countless opportunities to get involved and make connections. The campus is home to numerous cultural, academic, and recreational events throughout the year, providing a lively atmosphere for personal growth and community engagement.

  • list items Student Organizations: 600+ clubs ranging from cultural to academic interests.
  • list items Recreational Activities: Access to beaches, hiking trails, and outdoor adventures.
  • list items Events: Regular cultural festivals, guest lectures, and student-run performances.
  • list items Housing: Modern residential facilities with living-learning communities for enhanced student interaction.

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University of California San Diego Campus Infrastructure 

Situated on 1200 acres, the University of California San Diego is among the top university campuses in the United States. Including nine other semi-autonomous public schools, it is the largest campus. The 761 buildings on the University of California, San Diego campus are utilized for a variety of purposes, including offices, classrooms, research centers, medical facilities, sports facilities, residential buildings, labs, libraries, and studios. The university's six undergraduate schools, three graduate schools, two medical centers, and the world-famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography—the largest institute for marine and geological science in the world—are all part of it. There are nine sports facilities on the campus, including a 5,000-seat arena and a cutting-edge athlete training facility.

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Accommodation by University of California San Diego

At the University of California San Diego, you can apply for the accommodation once your admission is accepted. The approximate cost of different room type for the session 2024-25 is shown below - 

Residence

Room Type

Annual Cost 

Residence Halls

Single Room

USD 19,109

Double Room

USD 17,611

Triple Room

USD 16,513

Apartments

Single Room

USD 19,664

Double Room

USD 18,142

Triple Room

USD 17,044

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Below is a table that shows a comparative analysis of the University of California San Diego with other prominent universities in the USA. 

University Name QS Ranking 2025 Acceptance Rate Average MS Annual Fee (USD)

University of California, San Diego

54

34%

28,000 - 32,000 USD

University of California, Los Angeles

29

14%

31,000 - 35,000 USD

University of Southern California

112

12%

35,000 - 40,000 USD

University of California, Berkeley

27

15%

29,000 - 33,000 USD

University of Washington

85

52%

28,000 - 32,000 USD

 
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