Real costs by school · La Jolla, CA · Public
At University of California-San Diego, families earning $75,000–$110,000 paid an average of $15,199 per year — the published cost of attendance is $38,701. (Federal College Scorecard data, July 2026 refresh.)
| Household income | Avg net price / yr | ≈ four years* |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30k | $7,525 / yr | $31,718 |
| $30–48k | $8,155 / yr | $34,373 |
| $48–75k | $9,942 / yr | $41,906 |
| $75–110k | $15,199 / yr | $64,064 |
| Over $110k | $28,785 / yr | $121,329 |
*Four-year figures grow each year's price by 3.5% — the same method College Compass uses in a family's plan. "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. Federal reporting groups every income above $110k into one band; families well above it often pay closer to the full cost.
Early Decision: when the binding bet is worth it →
Why three likely admits is the floor for a safe season →
| Admit rate | 25% in-state · 39% out-of-state — the school's own Common Data Set |
|---|---|
| Merit | 10% of no-need freshmen · avg $12,722 — the school's own Common Data Set |
| Paperwork | 4 extra essays — school-verified Aug 2026 |
Nine questions, then University of California's odds for your student with the math shown — plus your income band's price and its deadlines. First three schools free.
Run University of California for your student →At $75,000–$110,000 of household income, the distance between University of California-San Diego's published sticker price and what families in that band actually paid is $23,502 a year — a 61% discount off the number on the brochure. That ranks it 16th lowest of the 24 California schools on this site at that income. Graduates report a median $84,943 10 years out — roughly 1.3× the four-year cost at this income band.
Earnings and completion from federal reporting — not the school's own placement survey.
These are averages. Your family isn't average.
Run University of California-San Diego against your student's real GPA, your income band, and your actual high school — odds with the math shown, the paperwork it requires, and its deadlines on one plan. First three schools free.
San Diego State University · California State University-Long Beach · University of California-Los Angeles