Verified data from IPEDS & College Scorecard

UC Berkeley vs UC San Diego

Berkeley, CA · La Jolla, CA · Source: IPEDS federal database

UC BerkeleyUC San Diego
Acceptance Rate11.0%26.7%
In-State Tuition$16,347$16,758
Out-of-State Tuition$50,547$50,958
Average Net Price$16,538$14,047
Graduation Rate93.0%86.0%
Total Enrollment45,88244,256
Student-Faculty Ratio1819

GradFax Analysis

UC Berkeley accepts 11.0% of applicants. UC San Diego accepts 26.7%. Tuition is close: $16,347 at UC Berkeley, $16,758 at UC San Diego. UC Berkeley graduates 93% of students in 6 years. UC San Diego graduates 86%.

Bottom Line

Both are solid options. Get the actual aid estimates from each school and compare them side by side. The averages above won't tell your specific story.

Source: IPEDS: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System

Full interactive comparison →UC Berkeley profileUC San Diego profile

Common Questions

Which is harder to get into, UC Berkeley or UC San Diego?

UC Berkeley. It accepts 11.0% of applicants, per IPEDS data.

Source: IPEDS

Is UC Berkeley or UC San Diego more affordable?

UC San Diego, on average. After aid, students pay $14,047/year versus $16,538/year. Your number depends on your aid package.

Source: IPEDS

Which has a better graduation rate?

UC Berkeley: 93% of students finish in 6 years. UC San Diego is at 86%.

Source: IPEDS

Data from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System), a federal database maintained by the U.S. Department of Education. Figures represent the most recent available academic year.