College comparison

UC San Diego vs Washington & Lee

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	Washington & Lee Lexington, VA
Acceptance rateWashington and Lee University is more selective	27%	14%
SAT (25–75)	—	1430–1540
ACT (25–75)	—	—
Undergrad enrollment	34,948	1,881
Avg net price	$12,470	$23,781
Median earnings (10 yr)Washington & Lee reports higher median earnings	$84,943	$94,810
Graduation rate	86%	94%
Median debt	$15,500	$19,500
Economic mobility	4.8%	0.6%
Test policy	—	—
Type	Public	Private (nonprofit)

Quick answers

Is University of California-San Diego or Washington and Lee University harder to get into?

Washington and Lee University is more selective: University of California-San Diego's acceptance rate is approximately 27% and Washington and Lee University's is approximately 14% (estimates from public and primary sources).

What SAT score do you need for University of California-San Diego vs Washington and Lee University?

The middle-50% SAT range is — at University of California-San Diego and 1430–1540 at Washington and Lee University. 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.