UCSD vs. John Paul the Great Catholic University

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California San Diego in La Jolla, 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 San Diego is larger than John Paul the Great Catholic University based on total student enrollment (44,256 students vs. 286 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California San Diego is located in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting); John Paul the Great Catholic University is in Escondido, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California San Diego 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 San Diego 19:1; John Paul the Great Catholic University 15:1.

UCSD vs. John Paul the Great Catholic University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSD 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 San Diego than John Paul the Great Catholic University ($14,047 vs. $35,175).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at John Paul the Great Catholic University are 48% lower than at University of California San Diego ($9,868 vs. $18,970).
• John Paul the Great Catholic University is 80.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSD (about $13,507 more per year; $30,265.00 vs. $16,758.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 68.4% higher at UCSD than at John Paul the Great Catholic University (about $20,693 more per year; $50,958.00 vs. $30,265.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at John Paul the Great Catholic University than at University of California San Diego (100% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California San Diego students is 51.7% larger than aid received by John Paul the Great Catholic University students ($25,757 vs. $16,982).

UCSD vs. John Paul the Great Catholic University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSD 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 UCSD.

• John Paul the Great Catholic University reports an open admissions policy.
• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California San Diego (1380) is 260 points higher than at John Paul the Great Catholic University (1120).
• Incoming UCSD students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 24 at John Paul the Great Catholic University).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 1270/1480; John Paul the Great Catholic University 975/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 28/34; John Paul the Great Catholic University 21/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSD - Test-free; John Paul the Great Catholic University - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSD Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UCSD students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) 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 UCSD (26.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at UCSD vs. 43% at John Paul the Great Catholic University.

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

How do outcomes compare for UCSD 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 San Diego graduates have a $7,250 lower median loan debt than John Paul the Great Catholic University graduates ($18,500 vs. $25,750).
• Among borrowers, UCSD graduates have an estimated $75 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than John Paul the Great Catholic University graduates ($191 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.