CAMPUS · LA JOLLA, CA · PUBLIC

UC San Diego

University of California-San Diego

24.5%

01Acceptance 02Tuition 03Transfer 04ROI 05AP Credit 06Majors 07Housing 08International

Sticker Price vs What You Actually Pay

33% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating UCSD enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Full Cost Breakdown

Room & Board	$17,198
Total Cost of Attendance	$38,701

What You'll Actually Pay (Net Price by Income)

After financial aid, the real cost depends on your family's income. These are average net prices for students receiving aid.

Family Income	Annual Net Price	4-Year Total
$0-30k	$7,525	$30,100
$30-48k	$8,155	$32,620
$48-75k	$9,942	$39,768
$75-110k	$15,199	$60,796
$110k+	$28,785	$115,140

Financial Aid & Student Debt at UC San Diego

33.0%

Pell Grant Recipients

$15,500

Median Debt at Graduation

Is UC San Diego Worth the Cost? (ROI Analysis)

$84,943

Median Earnings (10yr)

$15,500

Median Debt

5.5x

Earnings-to-Debt Ratio

A ratio above 2x generally means the investment pays off. UC San Diego — 5.5x ratio is excellent — graduates earn well relative to their debt burden.

UC San Diego True Cost by Family Income

33% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating UCSD enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Family Income	Annual Net Price	4-Year Total
$0-30k	$7,525	$30,100
$30-48k	$8,155	$32,620
$48-75k	$9,942	$39,768
$75-110k	$15,199	$60,796
$110k+	$28,785	$115,140

Cost Breakdown

Room & Board	$17,198
Total Cost of Attendance	$38,701

Financial Aid & Student Debt

33.0%

Pell Grant Recipients

Students from low-income families

$15,500

Median Debt at Graduation

Federal loans only

$65,669

Median Earnings (6yr)

6 years after enrollment

UC San Diego Tuition & Cost FAQs

How much does UC San Diego actually cost per year?

UC San Diego's sticker price (cost of attendance) is $38,701/yr — that includes tuition, room and board, and fees. After financial aid, the average family pays just $13,921/yr, a 64% discount off sticker price.

Does UC San Diego offer good financial aid?

33% of UC San Diego students receive Pell Grants (federal need-based aid). Most US colleges including UC San Diego also award institutional grants on top of federal aid — apply via FAFSA, plus the CSS Profile if UC San Diego requires it.

What income bracket pays the least at UC San Diego?

Families earning under $30,000/yr typically pay around $7,525/yr at UC San Diego after financial aid, while families earning over $110,000/yr pay closer to $28,785/yr. The full breakdown by income bracket is in the True Cost table above.

Is UC San Diego worth the cost?

UC San Diego graduates earn a median of $84,943 10 years post-graduation. Against a 4-year sticker cost of about $154,804 (less for most families with aid), grads typically recoup the investment within several years of work.