College comparison

Baylor vs UC San Diego

A side-by-side of acceptance rate, test scores, and cost — source-cited estimates, not guarantees. Want the number that actually matters for your student? Model your admit odds at each.

Metric	Baylor Waco, TX	UC San Diego La Jolla, CA
Acceptance rateUniversity of California-San Diego is more selective	51%	27%
SAT (25–75)	1200–1400	—
ACT (25–75)	—	—
Undergrad enrollment	14,785	34,948
Avg net price	$41,104	$12,470
Median earnings (10 yr)UC San Diego reports higher median earnings	$65,793	$84,943
Graduation rate	80%	86%
Median debt	$23,000	$15,500
Economic mobility	1.4%	4.8%
Test policy	—	—
Type	Private (nonprofit)	Public

Quick answers

Is Baylor University or University of California-San Diego harder to get into?

University of California-San Diego is more selective: Baylor University's acceptance rate is approximately 51% and University of California-San Diego's is approximately 27% (estimates from public and primary sources).

What SAT score do you need for Baylor University vs University of California-San Diego?

The middle-50% SAT range is 1200–1400 at Baylor University and — at University of California-San Diego. Scores outside these bands are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

Figures are estimates compiled from public datasets (College Scorecard / IPEDS) and primary sources; verify with each institution before relying on them.

These outputs are estimates from a baseline model — not guarantees of admission, cost, or outcome.