UCSD vs. Hunter

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California San Diego in La Jolla, CA with CUNY Hunter College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California San Diego is larger than Hunter based on total student enrollment (44,256 students vs. 22,538 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California San Diego is located in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting); CUNY Hunter College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• University of California San Diego is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California San Diego 19:1; CUNY Hunter College 14:1.

UCSD vs. Hunter Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSD or Hunter? 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 CUNY Hunter College than UCSD ($4,431 vs. $14,047).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 37.6% lower than at University of California San Diego ($11,832 vs. $18,970).
• University of California San Diego is 127% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $9,376 more per year; $16,758.00 vs. $7,382.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 232.4% higher at UCSD than at CUNY Hunter College (about $35,626 more per year; $50,958.00 vs. $15,332.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at University of California San Diego (87% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California San Diego students is 164% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($25,757 vs. $9,755).

UCSD vs. Hunter Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSD or Hunter? 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 Hunter and UCSD.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California San Diego (1380) is 120 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 1270/1480; CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSD - Test-free; Hunter - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSD Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UCSD students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Hunter (3.7).
• Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (53.8%) than UCSD (26.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at UCSD vs. 16.7% at Hunter.

UCSD vs. Hunter Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSD and Hunter? 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 San Diego's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
• Graduates from University of California San Diego earn a median of about $19,100 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($67,900 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $6,952 lower median loan debt than UCSD graduates ($11,548 vs. $18,500).
• Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSD graduates ($119 vs. $191).
• More UCSD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 56%)

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.