University of Southern California vs University of California-San Diego

Side-by-side comparison

Choosing between University of Southern California and University of California-San Diego depends on your specific needs and priorities. Overall, University of Southern California leads in 3 out of 5 comparable metrics, while University of California-San Diego has the edge in 3.

When it comes to admission rate, University of Southern California offers 10% compared to University of California-San Diego's 24.5%. When it comes to in-state tuition, University of Southern California offers 68,237 compared to University of California-San Diego's 15,265. When it comes to enrollment, University of Southern California offers 20,817 compared to University of California-San Diego's 33,787.

Below is a detailed side-by-side breakdown to help you make an informed decision between these two colleges.

Admission Rate
University of Southern California
10.0%
University of California-San Diego
24.5%
In-State Tuition
University of Southern California
$68,237
University of California-San Diego
$15,265
Enrollment
University of Southern California
20,817
University of California-San Diego
33,787
Median Earnings (10yr)
University of Southern California
$92,498
University of California-San Diego
$84,943
Completion Rate
University of Southern California
92.2%
University of California-San Diego
87.7%

University of Southern California

The University of Southern California is a private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in...

University of California-San Diego

The University of California, San Diego is a public land-grant research university in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States. Established in 1960, it is the southernmost of...

Metrics

MetricUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of California-San Diego
Acceptance Rate10.0%24.5%
In-State Tuition$68,237$15,265
Out-of-State Tuition$68,237$46,042
Enrollment20,81733,787
Median Earnings (10yr)$92,498$84,943
Graduation Rate92.2%87.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is harder to get into, University of Southern California or University of California-San Diego?

University of Southern California is harder to get into with an acceptance rate of 10.0% vs 24.5%.

Which is cheaper, University of Southern California or University of California-San Diego?

University of California-San Diego is cheaper for in-state students at $15,265 vs $68,237, a difference of $52,972 per year.

Do University of Southern California or University of California-San Diego graduates earn more?

Graduates of University of Southern California earn more, with median earnings of $92,498 vs $84,943 10 years after enrollment.