Head to head · California
Which of these costs less depends on what you earn. At $75–110k and below, University of California-San Diego is the cheaper of the two; from over $110k up, San Diego State University is. Sticker price shows none of this.
| Household income | San Diego State University | University of California | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $30k | $9,910 | $7,525 | $2,385 |
| $30–48k | $10,017 | $8,155 | $1,862 |
| $48–75k | $12,697 | $9,942 | $2,755 |
| $75–110k | $15,891 | $15,199 | $692 |
| Over $110k | $23,821 | $28,785 | $4,964 |
Green marks the cheaper of the two at that income. "Net price" is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education — not a calculator's estimate. Public-school figures reflect in-state families; out-of-state families typically pay more.
Think you make too much for aid? The real income cutoffs, measured →
Why the sticker price is a fiction — and what families actually pay →
Each year's reported net price grown 3.5% — the same method College Compass uses inside a family's plan.
Listed San Diego State University first, then University of California. Acceptance rate is the school's overall published figure — your student's own odds depend on their transcript, scores, and high school.
Again San Diego State University first. The four-year graduation rate matters more than it looks: a fifth year is a fifth year of paying.
These are averages. Your family isn't average.
Run both against your student's real GPA, your income band, and your actual high school — odds with the math shown, and what four years would really cost you, side by side. First three schools free.
San Diego State University — every income band · University of California-San Diego — every income band · All California public colleges