UCSD vs. UConn

Deciding between University of California San Diego and University of Connecticut? 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 San Diego
University of Connecticut

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSD La Jolla, CA
  • UConn Storrs, CT
  • Setting
  • UCSD Large City
  • UConn Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSD 44,256
  • UConn 28,306
  • Type
  • UCSD Public 4 Year
  • UConn Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSD #87
  • UConn #106
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSD -
  • UConn -
  • Status
  • UCSD Non-profit
  • UConn Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSD
  • UConn

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSD $16,758
  • UConn $21,044
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSD $50,958
  • UConn $43,712
  • Room & Board
  • UCSD $18,970
  • UConn $14,380
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSD $14,047
  • UConn $25,310
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSD $25,757
  • UConn $16,503
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSD 59%
  • UConn 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSD 134,450
  • UConn 55,479
  • Admitted
  • UCSD 35,917
  • UConn 29,065
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSD 26.7%
  • UConn 52.4%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSD 20.4%
  • UConn 15.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSD 1380
  • UConn 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSD 31
  • UConn 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSD 3.82
  • UConn 3.74
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSD A-
  • UConn A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSD Exceptional
  • UConn Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSD High
  • UConn Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSD 28/34
  • UConn 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • UCSD 1270/1480
  • UConn 1210/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSD Test-free
  • UConn Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSD Nov 30, 2026
  • UConn Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSD 19:1
  • UConn 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSD
    • Biology (23%)
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • UConn
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSD 85%
  • UConn 83%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSD $67,900
  • UConn $62,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSD 82%
  • UConn 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSD $18,500
  • UConn $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSD $191
  • UConn $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSD 47%
  • UConn 45%
  • % Women
  • UCSD 53%
  • UConn 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSD Very High
  • UConn Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCSD No
  • UConn No
  • % White
  • UCSD 21%
  • UConn 61%
  • % Asian
  • UCSD 37%
  • UConn 10%
  • % Black
  • UCSD 1%
  • UConn 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSD 16%
  • UConn 9%
  • % Native American
  • UCSD 0%
  • UConn 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSD 0%
  • UConn 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSD 5%
  • UConn 3%
  • % International
  • UCSD 17%
  • UConn 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSD 2%
  • UConn 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSD 78%
  • UConn 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSD 9%
  • UConn 42%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California San Diego in La Jolla, CA with University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California San Diego is larger than UConn based on total student enrollment (44,256 students vs. 28,306 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California San Diego is located in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting); University of Connecticut is in Storrs, CT (Town Fringe setting).
  • University of California San Diego is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Connecticut is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California San Diego 19:1; University of Connecticut 17:1.

UCSD vs. UConn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSD or UConn? 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 UConn ($14,047 vs. $25,310).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Connecticut are 24.2% lower than at University of California San Diego ($14,380 vs. $18,970).
  • University of Connecticut is 25.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSD (about $4,286 more per year; $21,044.00 vs. $16,758.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 16.6% higher at UCSD than at University of Connecticut (about $7,246 more per year; $50,958.00 vs. $43,712.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Connecticut than at University of California San Diego (81% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California San Diego students is 56.1% larger than aid received by University of Connecticut students ($25,757 vs. $16,503).

UCSD vs. UConn Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California San Diego (1380) is 50 points higher than at UConn (1330).
  • Incoming UCSD students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at UConn).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 1270/1480; University of Connecticut 1210/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 28/34; University of Connecticut 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSD - Test-free; UConn - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSD Nov 30, 2026; UConn Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UCSD students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at UConn (3.74).
  • UConn has a higher acceptance rate (52.4%) than UCSD (26.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at UCSD vs. 15.4% at UConn.

UCSD vs. UConn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSD and UConn? 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 University of Connecticut's (83%).
  • Graduates from University of California San Diego earn a median of about $5,900 more per year than UConn graduates about ten years after starting college ($67,900 vs. $62,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California San Diego graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than UConn graduates ($18,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UCSD graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UConn graduates ($191 vs. $222).
  • More UCSD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UConn students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.