Best colleges in San Diego

The University of California San Diego (UCSD) is a public institution founded in 1960, and the total undergraduate enrollment for the class of 2021 was just over 35,000 students. UCSD is situated in urban San Diego and is the only campus in the United States that is located on the beach. Students at UCSD take classes on a semester-based academic calendar, and tuition for in-state students is roughly a quarter of the cost that out-of-state students pay, making it a very attractive option for California residents. UCSD tends to offer large, lecture-style undergraduate classes and boasts a graduation rate that exceeds 90%. 

UCSD has a variety of student organizations and clubs for current attendees to choose from, and many of the activities are hosted in the centrally-located Price Center, where students can shop for books at the university bookstore, or watch movies at the student movie theatre. 

The university is split into seven undergraduate colleges and organizes its scholastic departments into four distinct academic divisions. The school also has over 15 research units or ORU’s that specialize in fields like medicine, computer science, and oceanography. UCSD has many modern buildings on campus compared to its older counterparts in Berkeley and Los Angeles, including the noteworthy Geisel Library. Notable alumni include jazz musician Nathan East, scientist Susumu Tonegawa, and political activist Angela Davis.

San Diego State University (SDSU) is a public research university founded in 1897 as the San Diego Normal School. Located just south of Lake Murray in the San Diego metro, SDSU now has over 14 colleges including the Fowler College of Business and the School of Theatre, Television, and Film. The graduation rate at SDSU is 83%, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 25:1, meaning the 33,000 students can anticipate large lecture-format classes.

SDSU has an endowment of about $300 million and a philanthropic partner in The Campanile Foundation that oversees funding for internal and affiliated university interest groups. The school has cultivated corporate partnerships with companies like Intel, Microsoft, and KPMG for funding and post-graduation job placement options for qualifying students. Those interested in studying abroad should note that SDSU has partner programs in Brazil, Mexico, India, and China.  

Students at SDSU have many options for activities outside of the classroom and can support their Aztec athletic teams that compete in Division 1 football, baseball, and soccer. In town, students can visit the San Diego Zoo, tour the USS Midway Museum, and explore the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Notable alumni include actor Gregory Peck, basketball player Kawhi Leonard, and the face of Apollo Creed, Carl Weathers.