🏅 QS World Rank #81
University of California, San Diego (UCSD) — Full Profile & Ranking 2026
A biotech and oceanography powerhouse on the Pacific coast — QS World Rankings 2027 #81
The University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego or UCSD) is a public research university on the Pacific coast in La Jolla. In the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published June 2026) it is 81st in the world. This guide covers programmes, admission, costs, aid, advice for applicants from Pakistan and common questions.
UC San Diego Overview
UC San Diego is part of the University of California system and was founded in 1960. It grew around the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, which dates from 1903, and is known for biosciences, oceanography, engineering and computer science.
The campus is in La Jolla, near the coast, and is close to a cluster of biotechnology and research institutes. Its undergraduate colleges give students a smaller community inside a large university.
UC San Diego Rankings — QS World University Rankings 2027
UC San Diego is 81st in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in June 2026.
This is a QS-specific result, not one universal ranking. Times Higher Education, U.S. News and ARWU use different methods and can order universities differently.
Source: QS TopUniversities (QS World University Rankings 2027, 18 June 2026).
Key Strengths & Programs
UC San Diego is known for:
- Oceanography and earth sciences through Scripps Institution of Oceanography
- Biosciences and medicine, close to San Diego’s biotech cluster
- Engineering (Jacobs School of Engineering)
- Computer science and data science
- Physical sciences and mathematics
- Coastal campus in La Jolla
This page does not quote subject ranks. Check the current QS subject tables for exact positions.
Explore Related Guides & Rankings
Admission Requirements
International freshman applicants apply through the University of California application. Confirm all details on the official pages.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Application | University of California application, usually submitted in the autumn before entry. Check the current window on UC pages |
| Tests | The UC system does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admissions, so the old “test-optional” label is not accurate. Check UC policy |
| English | Accepted tests include TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo, depending on the current UC rules. Check the official page |
| Selection | Based on grades, course rigour, essays and activities |
| Visa | F-1 student visa after admission and enrolment |
UC San Diego Acceptance Rate
For the Fall 2026 first-year class, UC reports 141,767 applicants and 38,571 admits at UC San Diego, an overall admit rate of 27.2%. This figure covers all first-year applicants and is not specific to international applicants. Admit rates vary by major.
Practical Application Checklist
- Choose your programme and read its entry and language requirements
- Check the application deadline for your intake
- Book an English (or other required) language test
- Prepare transcripts, identification and any required documents
- Apply and accept your offer
- Meet the visa or residence-permit conditions for your destination
- Plan funding for tuition and living costs
- Verify every date, fee and requirement on UC San Diego’s official website before submitting
Tuition & Costs
UC San Diego’s financial-aid pages list 2025-26 costs for new non-California-resident undergraduates (Fall 2025 cohort):
- California-resident tuition and fees: $20,505 (including the UC systemwide charge, campus fees and the health fee, which can be waived with equivalent insurance)
- Non-resident supplemental tuition: $37,602
- Total tuition and fees for a non-resident: about $58,107 (our sum of the two official figures)
Housing, food and other costs are extra. Check the cost-of-attendance page for the current year.
Source: UC San Diego 2025-26 costs. Fees, dates and rules change each year.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
- Need-based aid: U.S. federal and California state aid are generally limited to citizens and eligible non-citizens, so international students should check UC San Diego’s international financial-aid page. We could not confirm institutional aid for international freshmen.
- External funding: see our guide to fully funded scholarships for 2027 and look at sponsor or government programmes in Pakistan.
UC San Diego for Pakistani Students
Pakistani applicants follow the standard international process:
- Records: prepare transcripts and course details for A Levels, IB or the Pakistani system
- English: prepare IELTS, TOEFL or an accepted test. Our IELTS preparation guides can help.
- Money: plan for the full cost of attendance and look for external funding
- Visa: an F-1 student visa is required
Campus & Student Life
- The campus is in La Jolla near the Pacific coast
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography is part of UC San Diego and has its own coastal site
- Undergraduates belong to residential colleges
- San Diego is a major technology, biotech and defence centre with a warm climate
Research & Career Opportunities
- UC San Diego is research-intensive, with strong biosciences and engineering
- San Diego has a large biotech, technology and defence sector
- Graduates also work in health, finance and education across the U.S. and abroad
- UC San Diego does not guarantee employment, salary or visa outcomes
Notable Alumni
- Roger Revelle, oceanographer and Scripps director, was a key founder of UC San Diego
- Harold Urey, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1934, joined the UC San Diego faculty
- Check the UC San Diego alumni pages for current notable alumni
Contact & Location
University of California, San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
Official website: ucsd.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
UC San Diego is ranked 81st in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026.
No. The University of California system does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admissions.
For the Fall 2026 first-year class, UC reports 27.2% (38,571 admits from 141,767 applicants). It covers all applicants, not only international ones.
It is best known for biosciences, oceanography through Scripps, engineering and computer science.
UC San Diego lists about $58,107 in 2025-26 tuition and fees for a non-resident undergraduate (our sum of the official $20,505 and $37,602). Housing and food are extra.
U.S. federal and California aid is generally limited, so international students should check UC San Diego’s international aid page and external funding.
It was founded in 1960 and grew around the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, which dates from 1903.
Yes. Pakistani applicants apply as international freshmen through the University of California application.
Accepted tests have included TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo. Check the current UC and UC San Diego pages.
Check UC San Diego’s official pages at admissions.ucsd.edu. Fees, deadlines and rules can change.
Compare UC San Diego With Other Top Universities
Disclaimer: This page is based on the QS World University Rankings 2027, UC San Diego’s official pages, and other publicly available sources, last checked in October 2026. Fees, rankings, deadlines, and admission rules change, and no admission, funding, visa, or employment outcome is guaranteed. Always verify current details directly with the university before applying.