Key differences on Cost & aid
- 1
U. California-San Diego's grants cover 34% of its full price on average, vs. 15% at San Diego State
Aid generosity - 2
U. California-San Diego costs about $1.6K less per year on average than San Diego State ($29,689 vs. $31,319, all students)
Average cost, all students
Cost & aid
Cost & aid
Average cost, aid generosity, net price by family income, sticker prices, and grants.
What students pay
Grants
Sticker prices
On one scale, so the bars read against each other.
Up to $110K: the average net price per year for students receiving federal aid, 2023–24; families who didn't file the FAFSA aren't included. Above it the published data end. For your own number, use the college's net price calculator .
Family income per year $150K
- U. California-San DiegoLittle need-based aid above $110K
Merit possible; averaging $13K
- San Diego StateLittle need-based aid above $110K
Published (federal figure, up to $110K) EstimateBars share one scale: the largest full price.
Where need-based aid ends, merit, and published promises
| Metric | U. California-San Diego | San Diego State |
|---|---|---|
| Need-based aid up to | Little need-based aid above $110K | Little need-based aid above $110K |
| Merit for students without need | 5.3% got merit aid, averaging $13K | – |
| Published promise | – | – |
A college's own promise is stated for a typical family and changes yearly; where a promise and our estimate disagree, the promise wins. Merit has no income limit, so it can lower the price above the point where need-based aid ends.
Tuition guarantee & Promise program
| Metric | U. California-San Diego | San Diego State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition guarantee | No | No |
| Promise program | No | No |
From the colleges' Common Data Sets
| Metric | U. California-San Diego | San Diego State |
|---|---|---|
| Aid forms | FAFSA | FAFSA |
| Aid priority date or deadline | March 2 (priority) | – |
| Need met, first-years | 84% | 73% |
| Average aid package, first-years | $32,474 | $17,270 |
| College grant dollars given as merit | 11% | 6% |
| Aid for international students | 214 students, average $10.3K | 73 students, average $29.5K |
Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;University of California-San Diego Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 entrants;University of California-San Diego Common Data Set 2025–26, 2024–25;College Scorecard, most recent release;Common Data Set, most recent release;San Diego State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 entrants;San Diego State University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2024–25;San Diego State University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why