Address: 9500 Gilman Drive, 92093 La Jolla, California, United States
Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Engineering, Oceanography
Established in 1960, UCSD is a public research university in La Jolla, California, part of the University of California system. It is renowned for its strengths in science, engineering, medicine, and oceanography (Scripps Institution of Oceanography).
The University of California, San Diego grew out of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, a marine research station founded in 1903 on the coast at La Jolla. The general campus opened in 1960 on a eucalyptus-covered site above the Pacific, with the chemist Roger Revelle as a key founder, and it was designed from the start as a research university with graduate programmes. It now has about 43,000 students and 10,000 staff, and it belongs to the University of California system.
Undergraduates belong to one of eight colleges, such as Revelle, Muir, Marshall, Warren, Roosevelt and Sixth, each with its own residences, general education requirements and identity. This system is meant to give a large university the feel of a smaller community. The Geisel Library, a concrete building of stacked levels named after Theodor Geisel, known as Dr. Seuss, and his wife Audrey, is the symbol of the campus and appears in many films.
Research is a strength in the life sciences, marine and climate science, engineering, computer science and medicine. The Keeling Curve, the continuous record of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere started in 1958 by Charles David Keeling of Scripps, remains one of the most important datasets on climate change. The San Diego Supercomputer Center serves researchers across the country. Irwin Jacobs, a professor of electrical engineering, co-founded Qualcomm in 1985, and the university helped to seed a technology and biotechnology cluster in the city.
Neighbouring institutions such as the Salk Institute and the Scripps Research Institute are independent, but they work closely with the university. The Jacobs School of Engineering, the Rady School of Management, the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and the School of Medicine are the main professional schools. Admission is through the University of California application. Tuition is higher for non-residents and international students. Check the current tariff. Teaching is in English, and the academic year runs on quarters.
The beaches of La Jolla and Torrey Pines are close, and a trolley line serves the campus.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Bioengineering, Data Analytics, Engineering, Life Sciences, Marine Science, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master, MBA
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Part of University of California system. Home to Scripps Institution of Oceanography and San Diego Supercomputer Center. Strong links with biotech industry (“Biotech Beach”). Member of AAU.
Research:
A leading research university with exceptional strength in biological sciences, medicine, engineering, oceanography, computer science, and cognitive science. Very high research expenditure.
Famous Alumnis:
J. Craig Venter (postdoc), Susumu Tonegawa (faculty), Sally Ride (faculty & alumna), Khaled Hosseini (MD), Bill Atkinson
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
10100
Current students***:
43200
Foreign students***:
20%
Cumulative former students***:
205000
Pros
Top-ranked public university, world leader in oceanography and biological sciences, strong connections to biotech industry, beautiful coastal location, innovative research culture.
Cons
Highly competitive admissions, can feel like a research-focused institution over undergraduate teaching for some, La Jolla is an expensive area, large campus requiring transport.
Best For
Students passionate about science, engineering, or marine studies, seeking a research-intensive environment at a top public university with strong ties to the biotech industry and a stunning coastal setting.
Where this institution leans on marine science, bioengineering and life sciences, University of Washington does the same, and it is slightly larger, at about 60,500 students against roughly 43,200 here, and is also a public institution.
In terms of fields, Johns Hopkins University is the nearest neighbour, with bioengineering, life sciences and data analytics again at the core; it covers project management and materials as well, and is slightly smaller, at about 31,500 students against roughly 43,200 here.
University of California, Davis is the closest domestic counterpart for life sciences, data analytics and AI and machine learning; it covers agriculture and ecology and sustainability as well, and has almost the same size, at about 40,000 students.
The comparison with University of California, Irvine is straightforward on subjects, since both focus on bioengineering, life sciences and data analytics, and it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba, and covers chemistry as well.
University of California, Berkeley works in much the same fields, chiefly life sciences, data analytics and AI and machine learning, and it covers chemistry and physics as well, and has almost the same size, at about 45,300 students.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
For bioengineering, life sciences and data analytics outside the home country, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan is a natural reference; it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba.
University of Galway brings a Ireland setting to the same core fields, marine science, bioengineering and life sciences, and it covers civil engineering as well, and is smaller, enrolling about 19,000 students against roughly 43,200 here.
Shenzhen University in China shares the marine science, life sciences and data analytics orientation of this university, and it is slightly larger, at about 48,865 students against roughly 43,200 here, and is also a public institution.
University of Hong Kong, in Hong Kong, takes a similar route through life sciences, data analytics and AI and machine learning; it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba.
National University of Singapore in Singapore shares the life sciences, data analytics and AI and machine learning orientation of this institution, and it runs the same bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba programmes, and covers finance and chemistry as well.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is UC San Diego?
In La Jolla, a coastal district of San Diego, California.
When did it open?
In 1960, growing out of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, founded in 1903.
How large is it?
About 43,000 students and 10,000 staff.
How are undergraduates organised?
In eight colleges, each with its own residences and general education requirements.
What is the Geisel Library?
The concrete library at the centre of the campus, named after Theodor Geisel, known as Dr. Seuss, and his wife Audrey.
What is the Keeling Curve?
The continuous record of atmospheric carbon dioxide started in 1958 by Charles David Keeling of Scripps.
Which company did a professor co-found?
Qualcomm, co-founded in 1985 by Irwin Jacobs.
Is the Salk Institute part of UCSD?
No. It is independent but works closely with the university.
How does the academic year run?
On quarters.
What does it cost?
Tuition is higher for non-residents and international students. Check the current tariff.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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