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College comparison
UC San Diego vs Illinois
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 |  UC San Diego La Jolla, CA |  Illinois Champaign, IL |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rateUniversity of California-San Diego is more selective | 27% | 42% |
| SAT (25–75) | — | 1310–1520 |
| ACT (25–75) | — | — |
| Undergrad enrollment | 34,948 | 36,258 |
| Avg net price | $12,470 | $14,355 |
| Median earnings (10 yr)UC San Diego reports higher median earnings | $84,943 | $81,054 |
| Graduation rate | 86% | 85% |
| Median debt | $15,500 | $19,500 |
| Economic mobility | 4.8% | — |
| Test policy | — | — |
| Type | Public | Public |
Quick answers
- Is University of California-San Diego or University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign harder to get into?
- University of California-San Diego is more selective: University of California-San Diego's acceptance rate is approximately 27% and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's is approximately 42% (estimates from public and primary sources).
- What SAT score do you need for University of California-San Diego vs University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
- The middle-50% SAT range is — at University of California-San Diego and 1310–1520 at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 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.