Students
Who's on campus
A very large campus of 34,948 undergrads, where 34% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.
Race & ethnicity
Diversity index0.76
Economic access
Campus size
Where first-years come from
7,330 first-time students
9.1% came from other states and 13% from abroad; 78% are from California. Fewer from other states than at 74% of colleges.
- In-state (California)78%
- Other states9.1%
- Abroad13%
Top home states
- California(home state)78% 5,708
- Texas1.2% 89
- Washington1.1% 82
- New York0.7% 49
- New Jersey0.6% 42
From 47 states (counting DC) and 2 from U.S. territories.
Students starting college for the first time, by where they lived when admitted. Colleges report it every other fall.
Transfers in and out
Transferring in, fall 2024
3,751
new transfer students, 34% of new undergraduates. A larger transfer share than at 65% of colleges.
3,703 full-time, 48 part-time.
Going on to another college
3.0%
of students who entered in fall 2016 had left without a degree and were enrolled at another college 8 years later (about 255 students).
Federal data doesn't count students leaving in a given year; this follows one entering class.
Who they are
Almost everyone studies full-time.
55% women
Another gender: 684 undergraduates (2.0%)
Degree-seeking undergraduates. Men and women add up to 100% because federal data has colleges count each student of another or unknown gender as a man or a woman.
Campus life
Housing, sports, faith, Greek life, and LGBTQ+ life
Housing for 19,711 students.
Housing
Beds
19,711
About 56 for every 100 undergrads (median college: 59). Can include graduate housing.
First-years
Not required to live on campus
Many colleges still expect it, with exceptions such as for local students.
Meal plans
Offered
Athletics & programs
Athletics
NCAA Division I · Big West Conference
Of the four sports the federal survey asks about, it plays basketball, baseball, cross country/track (no football).
How the Big West Conference comparesROTC
Not listed
Study abroad
Offered
Undergraduate research
A formal program
Calendar
Quarters
Student services
- Academic and career counseling
- Help finding a job while enrolled
- Job placement after graduating
- On-campus child care for students' children
- 3% or fewer of undergrads registered with disability services· Disability services office
Religious life
Affiliation
No religious affiliation
Campus ministries
Listed among campus activities
Faith communities · 3
- Christian 2
- Nonreligious and secular 1
Christian
Nonreligious and secular
University of California San Diego Secular Student Alliance
Greek life
On the national organizations' own chapter lists.
Among first-years: 8.0% of men, 7.0% of women.
Councils and chapters
2listedPanhellenic sororities (NPC)Show chaptersHide
From each organization's own chapter list.
California Kappa
Zeta Mu
5listedInterfraternity (NIC and IFC)Show chaptersHide
From each organization's own chapter list.
Pi-Psi
Pi-Beta (UC San Diego)
Zeta Beta
Kappa Rho
LGBTQ+ life
Support on campus
Founded 1999
Policies
- Nondiscrimination policy covers gender identity or expression
- Gender-inclusive housing
- Chosen name and pronouns on campus records
- Gender-inclusive restrooms listed online
- Student health plan covers transition-related care
Listed by Trans Policy Clearinghouse, read October 2026; not confirmed by the college.
Undergraduates of another gender, fall 2024
Gender unknown: 1,240
Colleges record gender so differently that these counts can't be compared between colleges.
Sources:College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;College Scorecard, Fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students), Fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level), Fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education), Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;University of California-San Diego Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;University of California-San Diego Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)