UCLA vs. John Paul the Great Catholic University

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA with John Paul the Great Catholic University in Escondido, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Los Angeles is larger than John Paul the Great Catholic University based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 286 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); John Paul the Great Catholic University is in Escondido, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. John Paul the Great Catholic University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Los Angeles 20:1; John Paul the Great Catholic University 15:1.

UCLA vs. John Paul the Great Catholic University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA or John Paul the Great Catholic University? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Los Angeles than John Paul the Great Catholic University ($14,512 vs. $35,175).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at John Paul the Great Catholic University are 46.3% lower than at University of California Los Angeles ($9,868 vs. $18,369).
• John Paul the Great Catholic University is 99.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCLA (about $15,062 more per year; $30,265.00 vs. $15,203.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 63.2% higher at UCLA than at John Paul the Great Catholic University (about $19,138 more per year; $49,403.00 vs. $30,265.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at John Paul the Great Catholic University than at University of California Los Angeles (100% vs. 49%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Los Angeles students is 50.9% larger than aid received by John Paul the Great Catholic University students ($25,627 vs. $16,982).

UCLA vs. John Paul the Great Catholic University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCLA or John Paul the Great Catholic University? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between John Paul the Great Catholic University and UCLA.

• John Paul the Great Catholic University reports an open admissions policy.
• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Los Angeles (1420) is 300 points higher than at John Paul the Great Catholic University (1120).
• Incoming UCLA students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 24 at John Paul the Great Catholic University).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530; John Paul the Great Catholic University 975/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 29/35; John Paul the Great Catholic University 21/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Test-free; John Paul the Great Catholic University - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UCLA students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at John Paul the Great Catholic University (3.56).
• John Paul the Great Catholic University has a higher acceptance rate (79.6%) than UCLA (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 43% at John Paul the Great Catholic University.

UCLA vs. John Paul the Great Catholic University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCLA and John Paul the Great Catholic University? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Los Angeles graduates have a $9,450 lower median loan debt than John Paul the Great Catholic University graduates ($16,300 vs. $25,750).
• Among borrowers, UCLA graduates have an estimated $98 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than John Paul the Great Catholic University graduates ($168 vs. $266).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.