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College Comparison

UCLA vs San Diego State University: Which is Better?

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

School

UCLA

Los Angeles, CA

School

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA

Head-to-Head Stats

MetricUCLASan Diego State
Acceptance Rate8.7%wins34.4%
SAT Range (25th–75th)N/AN/A
ACT Range (25th–75th)N/AN/A
Tuition (Out-of-State)$44,524$20,170wins
Avg Net Price$14,013wins$16,174
Median Earnings (10 yr)$82,511wins$64,909
Graduation Rate92.7%wins78.3%
Retention Rate96.8%wins90.3%
Student–Faculty Ratio18:1wins22:1
Total Enrollment33,04033,654wins

Verdict

Based on the data above, UCLA edges out San Diego State on 6 of 8 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.

UCLA Strengths

  • Acceptance Rate: 8.7%
  • Avg Net Price: $14,013
  • Median Earnings (10 yr): $82,511
  • Graduation Rate: 92.7%

San Diego State Strengths

  • Tuition (Out-of-State): $20,170
  • Total Enrollment: 33,654

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