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The real 4-year cost of University of California-San Diego in California
Over the 18 years from 2008 to 2026, published tuition and required fees at University of California-San Diego went from $8,062 to $17,633, an average of 2.4% a year. The 2026–27 figure is the school's own announced rate.
2026–27 rate announced: $17,6332026-27 UC systemwide undergraduate tuition, entering (AY 2026-27) cohort: $14,202 resident; nonresident adds $39,270 supplemental tuition. Student Services Fee and campus-based fees carried forward from IPEDS.source
Read with care: this school's history shows a sharp one-year increase, so a smooth projection may not hold.
2008–2030: history and projection
| Year | Published | Projected estimate | Estimate range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $8,062 | – | – |
| 2009 | $9,437 | – | – |
| 2010 | $11,306 | – | – |
| 2011 | $13,200 | – | – |
| 2012 | $13,217 | – | – |
| 2013 | $13,271 | – | – |
| 2014 | $13,427 | – | – |
| 2015 | $13,530 | – | – |
| 2016 | $13,645 | – | – |
| 2017 | $14,018 | – | – |
| 2018 | $14,167 | – | – |
| 2019 | $14,415 | – | – |
| 2020 | $14,648 | – | – |
| 2021 | $14,700 | – | – |
| 2022 | $14,906 | – | – |
| 2023 | $15,265 | – | – |
| 2026 | $17,633 | $17,633 | – |
| 2027 | – | $18,063 | $16,915–$19,211 |
| 2028 | – | $18,503 | $16,226–$20,930 |
| 2029 | – | $18,954 | $15,565–$22,802 |
| 2030 | – | $19,416 | $14,931–$24,843 |
If you pay full sticker
Projected tuition + fees, entering fall 2026.
| Year 1 | $17,633 |
| Year 2 | $18,063 |
| Year 3 | $18,503 |
| Year 4 | $18,954 |
| 4-year total | $73,152 |
Two aid scenarios
4-year out-of-pocket total.
- $10,000/yr flat scholarship
- $33,152
- Flat aid doesn't grow, so it covers less each year.
- 50%-of-tuition scholarship
- $43,693
- Percentage aid keeps pace with tuition.
On-campus housing & meals
Room & board (housing plus the standard meal plan), on top of tuition.
- Latest (2023)
- $17,198/ yr
- rising 3.8% / yr
- Projected 4-year add-on
- $81,569
Books & supplies typically add ~$1,200 a year (national median, not included).
Housing here is rising faster than tuition.
Run your own numbers
Enter your actual scholarship offer to see your real 4-year total.
See my 4-year cost at University of California-San Diego4-year schools with similar prices in California
Closest to University of California-San Diego by published tuition and fees. Similar sticker prices can still compound very differently.
- University of California-Santa Barbara$17,673
- Alliant International University-San Diego$17,949
- University of California-Santa Cruz$17,232
- University of California-Davis$18,078
- University of California-Berkeley$18,214
- Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary$16,900
- University of California-Riverside$16,745
- Sofia University$18,575
Use this data
Published figures for University of California-San Diego from federal IPEDS data through 2023, free to download or embed with attribution. The embed stays current as the data updates.