UC San Diego vs Stanford
Nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, Stanford University and the University of California-San Diego (UCSD) stand as two beacons of academic excellence, each offering a distinct educational experience. While Stanford boasts a lower acceptance rate and a higher graduation rate, UCSD offers a more diverse student body and a wider range of undergraduate majors. With Stanford's focus on engineering and UCSD's strength in biological sciences, both universities provide ample opportunities for students to pursue their passions and achieve their goals. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into the specifics and discover which institution aligns best with your aspirations and preferences.
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![]() Stanford University |
![]() University of California-San Diego |
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Overview |
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Location | Stanford, California | La Jolla, California |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | Quarter | Quarter |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 98.0% | 95.0% |
![]() |
No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 3.9% | 34.2% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$90
Graduate:
$125
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Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$120
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SAT range | 1470 - 1570 | N/A |
ACT range | 34 - 35 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 15.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 11.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 55,471 | 118,386 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,190 | 40,493 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,757 | 7,544 |
Yield rate | 80.2% | 18.6% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $78,898 |
In state:
$35,116
Out of state:
$64,870
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Average net price | $14,402 | $15,632 |
Tuition | $55,473 |
In state:
$11,442
Out of state:
$41,196
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$11,166
Meal plan:
$6,694
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$16,145 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
61.0%
Average amount $56,211 |
48.0%
Average amount $18,083 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
5.0%
Average amount $5,151 |
21.0%
Average amount $4,545 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $17,186 |
7.0%
Average amount $4,851 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
7,645
Men 49.4% Women 50.6% |
33,343
Men 48.7% Women 51.3% |
Graduate students |
10,035
Men 56.5% Women 43.5% |
8,542
Men 57.6% Women 42.4% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 58.5% | 16.6% |
International students | 24.4% | 21.3% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 14,621 | 17,765 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Texas Washington New York Illinois | California Washington Texas New York Illinois |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 5:1 | 19:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 95.5% | 89.4% |
Dropout rate | 1.7% | 9.7% |
Transferred out | 0.6% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Physics (Doctoral Degrees)
Engineering, Other (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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