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College Comparison

UC San Diego vs Colorado State University-Fort Collins: Which is Better?

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

School

UC San Diego

La Jolla, CA

School

Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO

Head-to-Head Stats

MetricUC San DiegoColorado State
Acceptance Rate24.5%wins89.6%
SAT Range (25th–75th)N/AN/A
ACT Range (25th–75th)N/AN/A
Tuition (Out-of-State)$46,042$33,751wins
Avg Net Price$11,750wins$20,332
Median Earnings (10 yr)$84,943wins$60,543
Graduation Rate87.6%wins66.9%
Retention Rate93.9%wins84.8%
Student–Faculty Ratio19:117:1wins
Total Enrollment33,787wins25,148

Verdict

Based on the data above, UC San Diego edges out Colorado 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.

UC San Diego Strengths

  • Acceptance Rate: 24.5%
  • Avg Net Price: $11,750
  • Median Earnings (10 yr): $84,943
  • Graduation Rate: 87.6%

Colorado State Strengths

  • Tuition (Out-of-State): $33,751
  • Student–Faculty Ratio: 17:1

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