YOURS FOR THE MAKING
At UC San Diego, you’ll thrive in and out of the classroom. With hundreds of student organizations, supportive community centers, and much more, each day is a chance to learn something new and have fun along the way.
CAMPUS SNAPSHOT
45,000 Total Campus Enrollment
35,400 Undergraduates
LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE
Attend Annual Events
• Sun God Festival
• Hullabaloo Festival
• Triton Weeks of Welcome
Get Involved
• 700+ Student Organizations
• 24 Division I Teams | 30 Sports Clubs
• 46 Social Fraternity & Sororities
Embrace Your Appetite
There are 50+ on-campus dining locations, including residential dining halls, quick-serve favorites, graband-go markets and cafes, a weekly farmer’s market and more.
SUPPORT & RESOURCES
• Asian Pacific Islander Middle Eastern Desi American Programs & Services
• Black Resource Center
• Cross Cultural Center
• Intertribal Resource Center
• LGBT Resource Center
• Raza Resource Centro
• Student Veterans Resource Center
• Triton Transfer Hub
• Undocumented Student Services
• Women’s Center
REVELLE
Est. 1964
Sciences, arts, and humanities.
UC San Diego’s college system allows you to pursue any major within any college. You’ll have the option to rank your top four colleges on the UC application in order of preference based on each college’s themes, course requirements for graduation, advising, support services and more.
Scan the QR code on the back page and select “Colleges” to learn more.
SIXTH
Est. 2002 Arts and technology.
THURGOOD MARSHALL
Est. 1970
Shaping student scholars and citizens.
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT
Est. 1988
Developing world citizens.
EIGHTH
Est. 2022
Engagement and community.
JOHN MUIR
Est. 1967
Individuality and independent spirit.
EARL WARREN
Est. 1974
Responsible citizenship in a global society.
SEVENTH
Est. 2019
Confronting the challenges of our changing planet.
Live on-campus in your college neighborhood or transfer community. admissions.ucsd.edu/visit/housing
AREAS OF STUDY
Explore our academic programs, taught by leading industry experts who help prepare students to stand out in their chosen fields and lead worldwide change.
Scan the QR code on the back page and select “Majors” to learn more.
Aerospace Engineering* ° ⏉
Anthropology° ᴹ
Applied Mathematics ⏉
Artificial Intelligence* ⏉
Astronomy & Astrophysics ᴹ ⏉
Biochemistry ⏉
Bioengineering* ° ⏉
Biological Anthropology ⏉
Biology° ⏉
Black Diaspora & African American Studies
Business Economics ᴹ ⏉
Business Psychology
Chemical Engineering* ⏉
Chemistry ᴹ ⏉
Chicanx & Latinx Studies ᴹ
Chinese Studies ᴹ
Cinematic Arts ᴹ
Classical Studies ᴹ
Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience
Cognitive Science° ᴹ
Communication ᴹ
Computer Engineering* ᴹ ⏉
Computer Science* ° ᴹ ⏉
Computing & the Arts
BE AN ENGINEER BE A SCENE-STEALER
BE A SCIENTIST-SLASH-AMATEUR
BE ANYTHING BUT STATIC
Critical Gender Studies ᴹ
Dance ᴹ
Data Science* ᴹ ⏉
Ecology, Behavior & Evolution ⏉
Economics ᴹ
Education Sciences ᴹ
Electrical Engineering* ᴹ ⏉
Electrical Engineering & Society* ⏉
Engineering Physics* ᴹ ⏉
Environmental Anthropology ᴹ
Environmental Chemistry ⏉
Environmental Systems° ᴹ ⏉
Ethnic Studies ᴹ
General Biology ᴹ ⏉
Geosciences ᴹ ⏉
Global Health ᴹ
Global South Studies ᴹ
SCIENTIST-SLASH-AMATEUR SURFER
BE INSATIABLE
History ᴹ
Human Biology ⏉
Human Developmental Sciences° ᴹ
International Studies° ᴹ
Japanese Studies ᴹ
Jewish Studies ᴹ
Latin American Studies° ᴹ
Linguistics° ᴹ
Literary Arts ᴹ
Literatures in English ᴹ
Literatures in Spanish ᴹ
Marine Biology ⏉
Mathematical Biology
Mathematics° ᴹ ⏉
Mathematics & Economics (Joint Major) ⏉
Mechanical Engineering* ° ⏉
Media Industries & Communication
Microbiology ⏉
Molecular & Cell Biology ⏉
Molecular Synthesis ⏉
Music° ᴹ
NanoEngineering ⏉
Neurobiology ⏉
Oceanic & Atmospheric Sciences ⏉
Pharmacological Chemistry ⏉
Philosophy ᴹ
Physics ᴹ ⏉
Political Science° ᴹ
Probability & Statistics
Psychology° ᴹ
Public Health* ° ⏉
Real Estate & Development ᴹ ⏉
Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies ᴹ
Sociology° ᴹ
Structural Engineering ⏉
Study of Religion ᴹ
Theatre ᴹ
Urban Studies & Planning ᴹ
Visual Arts° ᴹ
World Literature & Culture
------
* Selective major
° Major specializations offered ᴹ Minor available
⏉ Requires Transfer Major Prep
PURSUING A LAW, MEDICAL OR BUSINESS CAREER?
Explore UC San Diego’s many academic and preprofessional programs to ensure you’re prepared for graduate study and beyond. majors.ucsd.edu
FIRST-YEAR ADMISSION
COURSEWORK
Complete 11 of the 15 A-G requirements by the end of your junior year.
A. History: 2 years
B. English: 4 years
C. Mathematics: 3 years (4 recommended)
D. Laboratory Sciences: 2 years (3 recommended)
E. Language other than English: 2 years (3 recommended)
F. Visual and Performing Arts: 1 year
G. College-Preparatory Elective: 1 year
MINIMUM GPA
For 10th and 11th grade A-G courses. Additional weight is added to advanced UC-approved honors courses, etc.
• 3.0 or better (CA residents)
• 3.4 or better (non-CA residents)
*Please note: Students competitive for admission to our campus exceed the minimum requirements listed here.
OTHER FACTORS
HOLISTIC REVIEW
• Overall GPA
• Achievement in high school and college coursework
• Academic accomplishments and rigor
• Special talents, achievements, and awards
• Personal qualities
• Portfolio review
Applicants to arts majors can submit an optional portfolio or audition for faculty review.
UC San Diego does not consider SAT or ACT scores as a factor in admissions decisions.
PERSONAL INSIGHT QUESTIONS
• Answer 4 of 8 questions.
• Share your life experience, interests, ambitions, etc.
• Responses limited to 350 words each.
TRANSFER ADMISSION
COURSEWORK & UNITS
Complete a minimum of 60 UC-transferable semester (90 quarter) units.
MINIMUM GPA
• 2.4 or better (CA residents)
• 2.8 or better (non-CA residents)
*Please note: Students competitive for admission to our campus exceed the minimum requirements listed here.
COMPLETE THE 7-COURSE PATTERN
• 2 English composition
• 1 Mathematical concepts & quantitative reasoning
• 4 courses from at least 2 of the following: arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, or physical and biological sciences
Scan the QR code on the back page and select “Transfer Admissions” to learn more.
OTHER FACTORS
MAJOR PREPARATION
• Certain majors require completion of minimum major preparation coursework to be eligible for admission to the major. Visit admissions.ucsd.edu/majorprep for a list of majors with this requirement.
• All transfer applicants are strongly encouraged to complete major preparation coursework outlined on assist.org to accelerate their time-to-degree.
PERSONAL INSIGHT QUESTIONS
• Answer 1 required question and 3 of 7 remaining questions.
• Share your life experience, interests, ambitions, etc.
• Responses limited to 350 words each.
PORTFOLIO REVIEW
• Applicants to arts majors can submit an optional portfolio or audition video, for faculty review.
TRANSFER TOOLS
• Track and plan your coursework through UC Transfer Admission Planner (UC TAP) | uctap.universityofcalifornia.edu.
• CA Community College students can view UC-transferable courses at assist.org.
• Compare Cal-GETC requirements for UC San Diego’s colleges at compare.ucsd.edu | IGETC also accepted for transfers who began their community college study prior to fall 2025.
PAYING FOR COLLEGE
APPLY FOR AID
Submit the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application during the priority filing period: October 1 - March 2.
UC TUITION STABILITY PLAN
Systemwide tuition rates remain the same for up to six years of undergraduate study.
NET PRICE CALCULATOR
Visit fas.ucsd.edu/calculator for an estimate of your full-time cost of attendance and financial aid eligibility at UC San Diego.
ESTIMATED COST OF ATTENDANCE
This breakdown reflects estimated expenses for attending UC San Diego during the 2026-27 academic year by living arrangement.
This estimate was developed in accordance with state law and the UCOP housing audit checklist.
TRITON SUCCESS
RESEARCH & INNOVATION
$1.7 BILLION in annual research funding.
16 NOBEL LAUREATES have taught at UC San Diego.
FACULTY AWARDS
Pulitzer Prize, Nobel Prize, Academy Award, Tony Award, Fields Medal.
$96,000 AVERAGE BASE SALARY of new UC San Diego graduates.
TOP CAREER FIELDS
Arts & Entertainment, Consulting, Design, Educational Services, Engineering, Finance, Medicine, Manufacturing, Publishing, Research, Telecommunications.
TRITON ALUMNI
268,000+ TRITON ALUMNI
pursuing their dreams and changing the world for the better!
NOTABLE ALUMNI
Hayden Gray 2025
Shooting guard for the Utah Jazz, and the first UC San Diego Triton to make it to the NBA.
Alicia Garza 2002
Civil rights activist and writer whose first book “The Purpose of Power” was published in 2020.
STUDENT STORY
Brandon (he/him) 4th Year
Math-Computer Science major
“I came to college because I wanted the connections that it would bring. It was important to be able to meet and talk to people who I find interesting and who I can learn from. All the alumni I’ve met are always happy to talk to and help students. To me, that’s where the value of being at a school like UC San Diego comes from.”
IMPORTANT DATES
AUGUST 1
UC application opens
OCTOBER 1 - NOVEMBER 30
UC application submission period
OCTOBER 1 - MARCH 2
FAFSA or California Dream Act Application priority submission period (deadline subject to change)
BY JANUARY 31
Transfer applicants log in to their UC Application and complete the Transfer Academic Update
BY MARCH 31
First-year application decisions released and College Financing Plan available (if applicable)
BY APRIL 30
Transfer application decisions released and College Financing Plan available (if applicable)
MAY 1
First-year deadline to accept offer of admission
JUNE 1
Transfer deadline to accept offer of admission
