UCSD vs. UMass

Deciding between University of California San Diego and University of Massachusetts Amherst? 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 Massachusetts Amherst

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSD La Jolla, CA
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Setting
  • UCSD Large City
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSD 44,256
  • UMass 31,726
  • Type
  • UCSD Public 4 Year
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSD #87
  • UMass #169
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSD -
  • UMass -
  • Status
  • UCSD Non-profit
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSD
  • UMass

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSD $16,758
  • UMass $17,772
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSD $50,958
  • UMass $40,449
  • Room & Board
  • UCSD $18,970
  • UMass $16,710
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSD $14,047
  • UMass $22,948
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSD $25,757
  • UMass $13,110
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSD 59%
  • UMass 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSD 134,450
  • UMass 50,261
  • Admitted
  • UCSD 35,917
  • UMass 30,020
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSD 26.7%
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSD 20.4%
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSD 1380
  • UMass 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSD 31
  • UMass 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSD 3.82
  • UMass 3.99
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSD A-
  • UMass A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSD Exceptional
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSD High
  • UMass Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSD 28/34
  • UMass 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • UCSD 1270/1480
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSD Test-free
  • UMass Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSD Nov 30, 2026
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSD 19:1
  • UMass 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSD
    • Biology (23%)
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSD 85%
  • UMass 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSD $67,900
  • UMass $55,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSD 82%
  • UMass 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSD $18,500
  • UMass $24,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSD $191
  • UMass $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSD 47%
  • UMass 48%
  • % Women
  • UCSD 53%
  • UMass 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSD Very High
  • UMass Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCSD No
  • UMass No
  • % White
  • UCSD 21%
  • UMass 67%
  • % Asian
  • UCSD 37%
  • UMass 9%
  • % Black
  • UCSD 1%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSD 16%
  • UMass 5%
  • % Native American
  • UCSD 0%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSD 0%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSD 5%
  • UMass 3%
  • % International
  • UCSD 17%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSD 2%
  • UMass 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSD 78%
  • UMass 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSD 9%
  • UMass 22%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of California San Diego is larger than UMass based on total student enrollment (44,256 students vs. 31,726 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UCSD vs. UMass Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSD or UMass? 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 UMass ($14,047 vs. $22,948).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 11.9% lower than at University of California San Diego ($16,710 vs. $18,970).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is 6.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSD (about $1,014 more per year; $17,772.00 vs. $16,758.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 26% higher at UCSD than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $10,509 more per year; $50,958.00 vs. $40,449.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst 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 96.5% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($25,757 vs. $13,110).

UCSD vs. UMass Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Massachusetts Amherst (1410) is 30 points higher than at UCSD (1380).
  • Incoming UCSD students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 31) as students at UMass (31).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 1270/1480; University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 28/34; University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSD - Test-free; UMass - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSD Nov 30, 2026; UMass Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at UCSD (3.82).
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than UCSD (26.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at UCSD vs. 17.9% at UMass.

UCSD vs. UMass Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSD and UMass? 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 Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from University of California San Diego earn a median of about $12,700 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($67,900 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California San Diego graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($18,500 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, UCSD graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($191 vs. $248).
  • More UCSD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 76%)

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.