UC San Diego vs University of South Florida (USF)

Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant academic landscapes of the University of California-San Diego (UCSD) and the University of South Florida (USF), two esteemed institutions offering distinct educational experiences. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they diverge in several key aspects. UCSD boasts a highly selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 30%, while USF adopts a more open admissions policy, welcoming 48% of applicants. UCSD's student body reflects its rigorous admissions standards, with a higher proportion of students pursuing STEM-related majors. USF, on the other hand, offers a broader range of undergraduate programs, catering to diverse interests. Explore the detailed comparison table to uncover further distinctions between these two exceptional universities, and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
University of California-San Diego logo

University of California-San Diego

University of South Florida logo

University of South Florida

Overview

Location La Jolla, California Tampa, Florida
Campus setting City: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Quarter Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 95.0% 90.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 34.2% 49.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $120
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $30
SAT range N/A 1140 - 1330
ACT range N/A 24 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 70.0%
Students submitting ACT score 30.0%
Total number of applicants 118,386 50,352
Total number of admissions given out 40,493 24,863
Admitted students who chose to enroll 7,544 6,279
Yield rate 18.6% 25.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $35,116

Out of state: $64,870
In state: $21,812

Out of state: $32,726
Average net price $15,632 $11,419
Tuition
In state: $11,442

Out of state: $41,196
In state: $4,559

Out of state: $15,473
Room & board $16,145
Room/dormitory: $8,328

Meal plan: $4,240
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

48.0%
Average amount $18,083
98.0%
Average amount $9,965
Students receiving federal student loan 21.0%
Average amount $4,545
20.0%
Average amount $6,281
Students taking out private loans 7.0%
Average amount $4,851
2.0%
Average amount $11,370

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 33,343
Men 48.7% Women 51.3%
38,011
Men 43.2% Women 56.8%
Graduate students 8,542
Men 57.6% Women 42.4%
11,697
Men 38.6% Women 61.4%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 16.6% 14.9%
International students 21.3% 9.4%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 17,765 7,468
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Washington Texas New York Illinois Florida New Jersey New York Illinois Pennsylvania

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Health Professions
  • Social Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Education
Students to faculty ratio 19:1 22:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 89.4% 74.6%
Dropout rate 9.7% 13.4%
Transferred out N/A 10.2%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $127,768
  • Year 2: $162,463
  • Year 3: $194,475
Computer Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $122,641
  • Year 2: $127,993
  • Year 3: $153,118
Physics (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $94,408
  • Year 3: $124,326
Engineering, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $118,445
  • Year 2: $113,668
  • Year 3: $123,569
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,196
  • Year 2: $94,408
  • Year 3: $113,628
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $112,603
  • Year 2: $101,406
  • Year 3: $109,783
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $106,421
  • Year 3: $108,034
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $87,738
  • Year 2: $86,972
  • Year 3: $105,245
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,610
  • Year 2: $75,706
  • Year 3: $102,296
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,476
  • Year 2: $79,688
  • Year 3: $99,630
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $105,372
  • Year 2: $111,992
  • Year 3: $120,368
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,164
  • Year 2: $109,459
  • Year 3: $115,008
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,251
  • Year 2: $97,850
  • Year 3: $102,723
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $86,867
  • Year 3: $100,013
Computer Systems Analysis (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $85,308
  • Year 2: $87,604
  • Year 3: $99,399
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,147
  • Year 2: $84,100
  • Year 3: $90,501
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,332
  • Year 2: $73,949
  • Year 3: $82,432
Medical Illustration and Informatics (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,033
  • Year 2: $73,321
  • Year 3: $81,165
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,306
  • Year 2: $68,727
  • Year 3: $79,275
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,711
  • Year 2: $66,566
  • Year 3: $79,114

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