UC San Diego Acceptance Rate

The University of California, San Diego (UCSD), located in La Jolla, California, is known for its competitive admissions process. For the most recent admission cycle (Class of 2028), UCSD reported an overall acceptance rate of approximately 24.7%, reflecting a highly selective process. This rate is influenced by a growing applicant pool, with over 130,000 applications received annually in recent years, driven by the university's strong reputation in STEM fields and its status as a top public institution. UCSD publishes transparent admission statistics through its official website and the University of California system's data portals, providing detailed insights into applicant demographics and outcomes.

• Overall Acceptance Rate: 24.7% for the Class of 2028, with approximately 32,000 students admitted out of 130,000 applicants, consistent with prior years.
• Early Action/Decision Rate: Data unavailable. UCSD does not offer Early Action or Early Decision options as part of the UC system's unified application timeline, so all applicants are considered in the regular decision pool.
• International Student Rate: Estimated at 17.0%, based on historical trends. UCSD typically admits a smaller percentage of international applicants due to limited spots and high demand, with over 20,000 international applications annually.

Over the past decade, UCSD's acceptance rate has trended downward, reflecting increasing competitiveness as application numbers surge, particularly from out-of-state and international students. Unlike institutions with Early Decision programs that can boost yield rates, UCSD's selectivity is uniform across its applicant pool due to the UC system's policies. Compared to peer institutions like UCLA (acceptance rate around 8.8%) or UC Berkeley (around 11.6%), UCSD remains slightly less selective but still ranks among the most competitive public universities in the nation. For prospective students, understanding these trends highlights the importance of strong academic profiles and well-crafted applications. More details can be found on the official UCSD admissions website at admissions.ucsd.edu.