UCSD vs. UT Dallas

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California San Diego in La Jolla, CA with The University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California San Diego is larger than UT Dallas based on total student enrollment (44,256 students vs. 29,886 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California San Diego is located in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting); The University of Texas at Dallas is in Richardson, TX (Small City setting).
• University of California San Diego is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at Dallas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California San Diego 19:1; The University of Texas at Dallas 23:1.

UCSD vs. UT Dallas Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSD or UT Dallas? 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 UT Dallas ($14,047 vs. $14,916).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas at Dallas are 23.9% lower than at University of California San Diego ($14,430 vs. $18,970).
• University of California San Diego is 14.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UT Dallas (about $2,114 more per year; $16,758.00 vs. $14,644.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.9% higher at UCSD than at The University of Texas at Dallas (about $10,814 more per year; $50,958.00 vs. $40,144.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Texas at Dallas than at University of California San Diego (64% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California San Diego students is 72.8% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at Dallas students ($25,757 vs. $14,909).

UCSD vs. UT Dallas Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California San Diego (1380) is 90 points higher than at UT Dallas (1290).
• Incoming UCSD students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 28 at UT Dallas).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 1270/1480; The University of Texas at Dallas 1160/1410.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 28/34; The University of Texas at Dallas 24/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSD - Test-free; UT Dallas - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSD Nov 30, 2026; UT Dallas May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UCSD students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at UT Dallas (3.78).
• UT Dallas has a higher acceptance rate (65.1%) than UCSD (26.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at UCSD vs. 20.3% at UT Dallas.

UCSD vs. UT Dallas Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSD and UT Dallas? 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 The University of Texas at Dallas's (61%).
• Graduates from University of California San Diego earn a median of about $8,900 more per year than UT Dallas graduates about ten years after starting college ($67,900 vs. $59,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California San Diego graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than UT Dallas graduates ($18,500 vs. $18,750).
• Among borrowers, UCSD graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UT Dallas graduates ($191 vs. $193).
• More UCSD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Dallas students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 64%)

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.