UCLA vs. USD

Deciding between University of California Los Angeles and University of San Diego? 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
University of San Diego

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCLA Los Angeles, CA
  • USD San Diego, CA
  • Setting
  • UCLA Large City
  • USD Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCLA 47,335
  • USD 9,714
  • Type
  • UCLA Public 4 Year
  • USD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCLA #66
  • USD
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCLA -
  • USD Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • UCLA Non-profit
  • USD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCLA
  • USD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCLA $15,203
  • USD $59,486
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCLA $49,403
  • USD $59,486
  • Room & Board
  • UCLA $18,369
  • USD $19,918
  • Average Net Price
  • UCLA $14,512
  • USD $37,918
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCLA $25,627
  • USD $40,965
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCLA 49%
  • USD 84%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCLA 146,272
  • USD 17,008
  • Admitted
  • UCLA 13,114
  • USD 8,908
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCLA 9%
  • USD 52.4%
  • Enrolled
  • UCLA 50.4%
  • USD 12.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCLA 1420
  • USD
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCLA 32
  • USD
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCLA 3.92
  • USD 3.95
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCLA A
  • USD A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCLA Elite
  • USD Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCLA Extreme
  • USD Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCLA 29/35
  • USD
  • SAT Range
  • UCLA 1300/1530
  • USD
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCLA Test-free
  • USD Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • UCLA Nov 30, 2026
  • USD Dec 15, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCLA 20:1
  • USD 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCLA
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • History (7%)
  • USD
    • Business (39%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCLA 90%
  • USD 75%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCLA $70,700
  • USD $70,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCLA 78%
  • USD 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCLA $16,300
  • USD $22,904
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCLA $168
  • USD $236

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCLA 43%
  • USD 44%
  • % Women
  • UCLA 57%
  • USD 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCLA Very High
  • USD High
  • HBCU
  • UCLA No
  • USD No
  • % White
  • UCLA 27%
  • USD 53%
  • % Asian
  • UCLA 29%
  • USD 7%
  • % Black
  • UCLA 3%
  • USD 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCLA 21%
  • USD 19%
  • % Native American
  • UCLA 0%
  • USD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCLA 0%
  • USD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCLA 5%
  • USD 6%
  • % International
  • UCLA 13%
  • USD 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCLA 2%
  • USD 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCLA 79%
  • USD 51%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCLA 12%
  • USD 44%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA with University of San Diego 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 USD based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 9,714 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); University of San Diego is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
  • University of California Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Los Angeles 20:1; University of San Diego 13:1.

UCLA vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA or USD? 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 USD ($14,512 vs. $37,918).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Los Angeles are 7.8% lower than at University of San Diego ($18,369 vs. $19,918).
  • University of San Diego is 291.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCLA (about $44,283 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $15,203.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.4% higher at USD than at University of California Los Angeles (about $10,083 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $49,403.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of San Diego than at University of California Los Angeles (84% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 59.9% larger than aid received by University of California Los Angeles students ($40,965 vs. $25,627).

UCLA vs. USD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCLA or USD? 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 USD and UCLA.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 29/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Test-free; USD - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026; USD Dec 15, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at UCLA (3.92).
  • USD has a higher acceptance rate (52.4%) than UCLA (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 12.4% at USD.

UCLA vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCLA and USD? 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 University of San Diego's (75%).
  • Graduates from University of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $500 more per year than USD graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,700 vs. $70,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Los Angeles graduates have a $6,604 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($16,300 vs. $22,904).
  • Among borrowers, UCLA graduates have an estimated $68 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($168 vs. $236).
  • More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCLA students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 78%)

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.