UC Irvine vs UC San Diego: A Data-Driven Comparison
Both universities offer competitive admission with UC Irvine slightly more selective at 21.15% acceptance versus UCSD's 23.71%. UCSD costs marginally more with in-state tuition of $15,265 compared to UCI's $14,237, though UCSD provides better financial aid with an average net price of $11,750 versus UCI's $12,840.
Academically, both schools excel in STEM fields. UCI is particularly strong in computer science, engineering, and business, while UCSD leads in biological sciences, medicine, and research output. UCSD graduates earn higher median salaries at $84,943 compared to UCI's $80,735 after ten years. Both schools maintain similar graduation rates (UCSD 87.60%, UCI 86.00%) and retention rates above 93%.
Campus experiences differ notably. UCI's newer campus in suburban Irvine offers modern facilities and a planned community feel. UCSD's coastal La Jolla location provides ocean proximity and an established research atmosphere. UCI competes in NCAA Division I athletics while UCSD participates in Division II. Student-faculty ratios are comparable at 18:1 and 19:1 respectively.
Both universities produce similar debt loads around $15,000-$15,500. UCI's larger undergraduate focus may appeal to students seeking more attention, while UCSD's research intensity benefits those pursuing graduate studies or research careers.
UCI suits students who prefer a newer campus environment with strong undergraduate programs and Division I sports, while UCSD better fits research-oriented students who value location and slightly higher earning potential.
Both universities offer competitive admission with UC Irvine slightly more selective at 21.15% acceptance versus UCSD's 23.71%. UCSD costs marginally more with in-state tuition of $15,265 compared to UCI's $14,237, though UCSD provides better financial aid with an average net price of $11,750 versus UCI's $12,840.
Academically, both schools excel in STEM fields. UCI is particularly strong in computer science, engineering, and business, while UCSD leads in biological sciences, medicine, and research output. UCSD graduates earn higher median salaries at $84,943 compared to UCI's $80,735 after ten years. Both schools maintain similar graduation rates (UCSD 87.60%, UCI 86.00%) and retention rates above 93%.
Campus experiences differ notably. UCI's newer campus in suburban Irvine offers modern facilities and a planned community feel. UCSD's coastal La Jolla location provides ocean proximity and an established research atmosphere. UCI competes in NCAA Division I athletics while UCSD participates in Division II. Student-faculty ratios are comparable at 18:1 and 19:1 respectively.
Both universities produce similar debt loads around $15,000-$15,500. UCI's larger undergraduate focus may appeal to students seeking more attention, while UCSD's research intensity benefits those pursuing graduate studies or research careers.
UCI suits students who prefer a newer campus environment with strong undergraduate programs and Division I sports, while UCSD better fits research-oriented students who value location and slightly higher earning potential.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| University of California-Irvine | University of California-San Diego | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate | 21.2% | 23.7% |
| Enrollment | 29,494 | 33,787 |
| In-State Tuition | $14,237 | $15,265 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $45,014 | $46,042 |
| Net Price | $12,840 | $11,750 |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 86.0% | 87.6% |
| Retention Rate | 93.8% | 93.9% |
| Median Earnings (10yr) | $80,735 | $84,943 |
| Median Debt | $15,000 | $15,500 |
Top Programs by Earnings
Top 5 bachelor's programs at each school, ranked by median graduate earnings.
| University of California-Irvine | University of California-San Diego | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Program | Earnings | Program | Earnings |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $81,929 | Computer Science. | $86,972 |
| Computer Science. | $73,128 | Computer Engineering. | $79,688 |
| Computer Engineering. | $69,338 | Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology. | $71,015 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | $66,461 | Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | $69,606 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | $65,387 | Mechanical Engineering. | $67,846 |