University of California, San Diego

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at UC San Diego was $13,752 a year for in-state students and $46,326 a year for out-of-state students.

Usually, college tuition goes up about 3% every year.

Remember, the total cost of tuition isn't the final cost for attending college. Many students owe much less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are awarded. Plus, student loans can make thecost of college feel more doable until after graduation.

Tuition for international students at University of California, San Diego is $46,326 per year.

University of California, San Diego meets 85.4% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student at University of California, San Diego is around $28,830 a year.

Students in the class of 2023 who had taken out student loans graduated with an average of $19,230 of debt.

Does University of California, San Diego Offer In-State and Out-of-State Tuition?

University of California, San Diego is a public, state institution, which means it offers a reduced tuition rate of $13,752 for in-state students who attend full-time.Non-California residents can expect to pay 46,326 per year for tuition.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Attending a college where you qualify for in-state tuition can drastically reduce the cost of tuition, as well as loans and interest owed. Be sure to check your state's criteria for in-state tuition. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. In many states, students must have lived in the state for 12 months before starting school to qualify for in-state tuition. There may be other criteria as well, depending on the state you and your parents currently live in.

Explore other California colleges

Do International Students Pay More to Go to University of California, San Diego?

University of California, San Diego has the same tuition for international students as for those from out of state.

International students at University of California, San Diego can expect to pay around $46,326 per year, before any scholarships or financial aid.

International students are not eligible for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but may qualify for private or University of California, San Diego-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities. International students who demonstrate financial need may qualify for the following types of financial support at University of California, San Diego:

•University of California, San Diego-specific scholarships

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships.

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University of California, San Diego Room, Board, Fees, and More

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Tuition is not the only cost of attending college; room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when budgeting for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at University of California, San Diego.

House and Food Costs at University of California, San Diego

Room and board at University of California, San Diego costs $17,325 a year. This includes the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, plus a meal plan that allows you to eat all or some of your meals the school dining facilities.

Meal-plan costs may vary depending on the number of meals you intend to eat on-campus

How Much Do Books Cost at University of California, San Diego?

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The actual cost of books depends on the courses you take and the materials required. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Yearly Fees

Most schools charge some yearly fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

There may be optional fees associated with participating in special activities, like joining a fraternity or sorority, or playing on an intramural sports team. Many schools have resources for students with financial need to find ways to lower or eliminate these fees.

The Cost of Transportation at University of California, San Diego

The total cost of getting around in college can really vary. Will you drive, fly, or take public transportation to school? Will you need to pay to park on-campus? Is the campus easy to get around on foot? Do you own a car, or are you planning to use public transportation? All of these factors can drastically impact your estimated cost of transportation. Keeping in mind, first-year students are allowed to park a car on campus.

A school's location can impact your transportation budget. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, transportation in a city is usually pricey, but cities may offer more trains, busses or affordable flights to actually get to school. The University of California, San Diego campus is in a suburb in California, near San Diego.

Other Costs

When budgeting for college, don’t forget to take into account personal expenses, like movies, takeouts, furniture or appliances for your dorm or housing, and essentials like laundry detergent, toothpaste and toilet paper.

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Total Tuition and Expenses at University of California, San Diego

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Now, let’s do a rundown of all of the costs associated with college, to get a better idea of the actual cost of attending University of California, San Diego.

Total Cost of University of California, San Diego

What will the cost of attending University of California, San Diego be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
In-state Tuition	$13,752
Out-of-State Tuition	$46,326
Room and Board	$17,325
Other expenses	$1,632

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

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University of California, San Diego Financial Aid

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In 2023, 16,417 of the 33,096 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. University of California, San Diego meets 85.4% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $28,830 a year. Around 39% of University of California, San Diego undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. University of California, San Diego graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $19,230 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$16,790
State Loans	$7,921
University of California, San Diego-Specific Loans	$1,917
Private Loans	$32,887

Most Common Loans for University of California, San Diego Students
Federal Loans	38%
State loans	1%
Institutional Loans	14%
Private loans	2%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on University of California, San Diego financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at University of California, San Diego

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, University of California, San Diego awarded 15,648 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $383.8 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $23.28 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

University of California, San Diego Net Cost

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for University of California, San Diego students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at University of California, San Diego was $28,830 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of University of California, San Diego seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
In-State, On-Campus	$-20,556
Net In-state, Off-campus	$-6,940
Out-of-State, On-Campus	$40,848

Note: a negative number can indicate that a refund will be given to use toward other expenses such as housing, fees, and books. In such cases, be sure to reach out to the school directly for any clarification or questions.

What will attending University of California, San Diego really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families make more informed decisions about the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the University of California, San Diego's net cost calculator on their website.

University of California, San Diego Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

University of California, San Diego offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Does UC San Diego Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes waiver tuition for certain groups, to reduce the total cost of attendance. Some schools offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even with a tuition waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student.

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

University of California, San Diego's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

As of 2022, the total market value of University of California, San Diego's endowment was $2.6 billion. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. The school spends $28,775 for each full-time student enrolled.

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Learn More About University of California, San Diego

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