Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
USD San Diego State UCSB Penn State JMU UCI NC State UCLA UC Davis Purdue UW-Seattle Clemson| University of California San Diego | Virginia Tech | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
UCSD | Virginia Tech | ||
| Location | La Jolla, CA | Blacksburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 42,376 | 38,294 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #88 | #145 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ucsd.edu | vt.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UCSD | Virginia Tech | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,834 | $12,698 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $42,611 | $33,310 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,198 | $14,888 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,293 | $22,205 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $24,176 | $8,542 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 64% | 55% |
Admission |
UCSD | Virginia Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 130,771 | 47,208 | ||
| Admitted | 32,062 | 26,923 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 24.5% | 57% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21.8% | 26.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.82 | 3.97 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 28/34 | 27/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1270/1480 | 1240/1420 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Nov 30, 2025 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
UCSD | Virginia Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 17:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
UCSD | Virginia Tech | ||
| Graduation Rate | 85% | 82% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $67,900 | $65,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 82% | 81% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,500 | $23,966 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $191 | $247 |
Diversity |
UCSD | Virginia Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 11% | 11% | ||
| % Women | 9% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 21% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 17% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 3% |
Students |
UCSD | Virginia Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 79% | 61% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 10% | 33% | ||
Campus |
UCSD | Virginia Tech | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of California San Diego is larger than than Virginia Tech based on total student enrollment (42,376 students vs. 38,294 students)
UCSD vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UCSD or Virginia Tech?
- Virginia Tech is 7.3% more expensive to attend than UCSD for in-state tuition ($12,698.00 vs. $11,834.00)
- Out of state tuition is 27.9% higher at UCSD than Virginia Tech ($42,611.00 vs. $33,310.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California San Diego than Virginia Tech ($13,293 vs. $22,205)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Tech are 15.5% lower than costs at University of California San Diego ($14,888 vs. $17,198)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of California San Diego than Virginia Tech (64% vs. 55%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of California San Diego students is 183% larger than aid received Virginia Tech ($24,176 vs. $8,542)
UCSD vs. Virginia Tech Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UCSD or Virginia Tech? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Virginia Tech or UCSD .
- The average SAT score at University of California San Diego (1344) is 134 points higher than at Virginia Tech (1210)
- Accepted freshman Virginia Tech students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at UCSD (3.82)
- Virginia Tech has a higher acceptance rate (57%) than UCSD (24.5%)
UCSD vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UCSD or Virginia Tech? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Virginia Tech and UCSD.
- The graduation rate at UCSD is higher than Virginia Tech (85% vs. 82%)
- Graduates from University of California San Diego earn on average $2,900 more per year than Virginia Tech graduates after ten years. ($67,900 vs. $65,000)
- University of California San Diego students graduate with a $5,466 lower median federal student loan debt than Virginia Tech graduates. ($18,500 vs. $23,966)
- UCSD graduates are paying $56 less per month on federal student loans than Virginia Tech graduates. ($191 vs. $247)
- More UCSD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Virginia Tech students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 81%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/