UCSD vs. Saint Mary's College of California

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California San Diego in La Jolla, CA with Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California San Diego is larger than Saint Mary's College of California based on total student enrollment (44,256 students vs. 2,734 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California San Diego is located in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting); Saint Mary's College of California is in Moraga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• University of California San Diego is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's College of California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California San Diego 19:1; Saint Mary's College of California 10:1.

UCSD vs. Saint Mary's College of California Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSD or Saint Mary's College of California? 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 Saint Mary's College of California ($14,047 vs. $35,332).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's College of California are 7.2% lower than at University of California San Diego ($17,600 vs. $18,970).
• Saint Mary's College of California is 244.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSD (about $41,045 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $16,758.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.4% higher at Saint Mary's College of California than at University of California San Diego (about $6,845 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $50,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College of California than at University of California San Diego (100% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College of California students is 64.6% larger than aid received by University of California San Diego students ($42,407 vs. $25,757).

UCSD vs. Saint Mary's College of California Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSD or Saint Mary's College of California? 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 Saint Mary's College of California and UCSD.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California San Diego (1380) is 220 points higher than at Saint Mary's College of California (1160).
• Incoming UCSD students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 24 at Saint Mary's College of California).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 1270/1480; Saint Mary's College of California 1070/1253.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 28/34; Saint Mary's College of California 21/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSD - Test-free; Saint Mary's College of California - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSD Nov 30, 2026; Saint Mary's College of California Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UCSD students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Saint Mary's College of California (3.6).
• Saint Mary's College of California has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than UCSD (26.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at UCSD vs. 9.5% at Saint Mary's College of California.

UCSD vs. Saint Mary's College of California Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSD and Saint Mary's College of California? 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 Saint Mary's College of California's (61%).
• Graduates from University of California San Diego earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than Saint Mary's College of California graduates about ten years after starting college ($67,900 vs. $66,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California San Diego graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($18,500 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, UCSD graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($191 vs. $258).
• More UCSD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saint Mary's College of California students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 71%)

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.