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College Comparison

NYU vs UC San Diego: Which is Better?

Side-by-side comparison of acceptance rates, SAT scores, tuition, earnings, and more, updated with the latest College Scorecard data.

School

NYU

New York, NY

School

UC San Diego

La Jolla, CA

Head-to-Head Stats

MetricNYUUC San Diego
Acceptance Rate9.4%wins24.5%
SAT Range (25th–75th)1480–1570winsN/A
ACT Range (25th–75th)33–35N/A
Tuition (Out-of-State)$60,438$46,042wins
Avg Net Price$35,035$11,750wins
Median Earnings (10 yr)$82,509$84,943wins
Graduation Rate88.5%wins87.6%
Retention Rate95.5%wins93.9%
Student–Faculty Ratio8:1wins19:1
Total Enrollment29,43033,787wins

Verdict

Based on the data above, NYU edges out UC San Diego on 5 of 9 measurable categories, including key factors like acceptance rate, earnings, and graduation rate. That said, the right choice depends heavily on your major, financial situation, and campus culture fit.

NYU Strengths

  • Acceptance Rate: 9.4%
  • SAT Range (25th–75th): 1480–1570
  • Graduation Rate: 88.5%
  • Retention Rate: 95.5%

UC San Diego Strengths

  • Tuition (Out-of-State): $46,042
  • Avg Net Price: $11,750
  • Median Earnings (10 yr): $84,943
  • Total Enrollment: 33,787

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