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Side-by-side

University of California-Irvine vs University of California-San Diego

The numbers that actually decide it — net price after aid, how hard each is to get into, and how many students finish — compared straight across. Net price beats sticker price every time.

Both admit around 29% of applicants, with 30k undergrads and a s campus — a close selectivity match.

University of California-IrvineUniversity of California-San Diego
Acceptance rate29%27%
Net price (in-state)

what the average family actually pays after aid

$15,722$16,758
Net price (out-of-state)$49,922$50,958
Sticker tuition (in-state)$15,722$16,758
Sticker tuition (out-of-state)$49,922$50,958
Graduation rate86%87%
Total enrollment30,19734,948

Net price = sticker price minus the average grant aid for that school (IPEDS / Dept. of Education data). Real numbers vary by family income and student stats — verify each school's own Net Price Calculator before committing. Canonical: /compare/university-of-california-irvine-vs-university-of-california-san-diego.

KidToCollege is free to use and editorially independent. Data sourced from public records including IPEDS, Common Data Sets, College Board and FAFSA.gov. Always verify deadlines and requirements directly with institutions. Not a guarantee of admission or financial aid.