UCLA vs. San Diego State

Deciding between University of California Los Angeles and San Diego State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of California Los Angeles
San Diego State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCLA Los Angeles, CA
  • San Diego State San Diego, CA
  • Setting
  • UCLA Large City
  • San Diego State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCLA 47,335
  • San Diego State 41,137
  • Type
  • UCLA Public 4 Year
  • San Diego State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCLA #66
  • San Diego State #353
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCLA -
  • San Diego State -
  • Status
  • UCLA Non-profit
  • San Diego State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCLA
  • San Diego State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCLA $15,203
  • San Diego State $8,728
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCLA $49,403
  • San Diego State $21,328
  • Room & Board
  • UCLA $18,369
  • San Diego State $23,030
  • Average Net Price
  • UCLA $14,512
  • San Diego State $14,704
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCLA $25,627
  • San Diego State $12,053
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCLA 49%
  • San Diego State 47%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCLA 146,272
  • San Diego State 89,972
  • Admitted
  • UCLA 13,114
  • San Diego State 32,561
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCLA 9%
  • San Diego State 36.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UCLA 50.4%
  • San Diego State 20.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCLA 1420
  • San Diego State 1200
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCLA 32
  • San Diego State 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCLA 3.92
  • San Diego State 3.82
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCLA A
  • San Diego State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCLA Elite
  • San Diego State Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCLA Extreme
  • San Diego State High
  • ACT Range
  • UCLA 29/35
  • San Diego State 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • UCLA 1300/1530
  • San Diego State 1090/1300
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCLA Test-free
  • San Diego State Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • UCLA Nov 30, 2026
  • San Diego State Nov 30, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCLA 20:1
  • San Diego State 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCLA
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • History (7%)
  • San Diego State
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCLA 90%
  • San Diego State 66%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCLA $70,700
  • San Diego State $53,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCLA 78%
  • San Diego State 65%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCLA $16,300
  • San Diego State $15,349
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCLA $168
  • San Diego State $158

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCLA 43%
  • San Diego State 43%
  • % Women
  • UCLA 57%
  • San Diego State 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCLA Very High
  • San Diego State Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCLA No
  • San Diego State No
  • % White
  • UCLA 27%
  • San Diego State 34%
  • % Asian
  • UCLA 29%
  • San Diego State 14%
  • % Black
  • UCLA 3%
  • San Diego State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCLA 21%
  • San Diego State 31%
  • % Native American
  • UCLA 0%
  • San Diego State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCLA 0%
  • San Diego State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCLA 5%
  • San Diego State 7%
  • % International
  • UCLA 13%
  • San Diego State 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCLA 2%
  • San Diego State 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCLA 79%
  • San Diego State 74%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCLA 12%
  • San Diego State 23%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UCLA Yes
  • San Diego State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UCLA No
  • San Diego State No
  • Meal Plan
  • UCLA Yes
  • San Diego State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UCLA No
  • San Diego State No
  • Daycare Facility
  • UCLA Yes
  • San Diego State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA with San Diego State University in San Diego, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Los Angeles is larger than San Diego State based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 41,137 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); San Diego State University is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
  • University of California Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. San Diego State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Los Angeles 20:1; San Diego State University 27:1.

UCLA vs. San Diego State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA or San Diego State? 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 San Diego State ($14,512 vs. $14,704).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Los Angeles are 20.2% lower than at San Diego State University ($18,369 vs. $23,030).
  • University of California Los Angeles is 74.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego State (about $6,475 more per year; $15,203.00 vs. $8,728.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 131.6% higher at UCLA than at San Diego State University (about $28,075 more per year; $49,403.00 vs. $21,328.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Los Angeles than at San Diego State University (49% vs. 47%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Los Angeles students is 112.6% larger than aid received by San Diego State University students ($25,627 vs. $12,053).

UCLA vs. San Diego State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCLA or San Diego State? 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 San Diego State and UCLA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Los Angeles (1420) is 220 points higher than at San Diego State (1200).
  • Incoming UCLA students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 25 at San Diego State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530; San Diego State University 1090/1300.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 29/35; San Diego State University 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Test-free; San Diego State - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026; San Diego State Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UCLA students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at San Diego State (3.82).
  • San Diego State has a higher acceptance rate (36.2%) than UCLA (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 20.4% at San Diego State.

UCLA vs. San Diego State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCLA and San Diego State? 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).

  • University of California Los Angeles's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than San Diego State University's (66%).
  • Graduates from University of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $17,300 more per year than San Diego State graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,700 vs. $53,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego State University graduates have a $951 lower median loan debt than UCLA graduates ($15,349 vs. $16,300).
  • Among borrowers, San Diego State graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCLA graduates ($158 vs. $168).
  • More UCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego State students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 65%)

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.