The University of Texas at Austin (UT) vs. University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego) Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to UT Austin or UCSD?“
The University of Texas at Austin (UT)
University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego)
Can you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesCan you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesThis complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between The University of Texas at Austin (UT) and University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego). This comparison is particularly valuable at understanding the cultural nuances between the colleges since it uses student videos to capture the “vibes” of campus - these videos are exclusively available on CampusReel :)
Differences between The University of Texas at Austin (UT) and University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego)
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between The University of Texas at Austin (UT) and University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego). The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| The University of Texas at Austin (UT) | University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego) | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $9,806 | $13,530 |
| Net Price | $17,742 | $13,913 |
| Average Financial Aid | $4,890 | $8,462 |
| Total Undergraduates | 39057 | 26584 |
| Average SAT Scores | 1170 - 1410 | 1220 - 1450 |
| Acceptance Rate | 39 | 34 |
| Location | 110 Inner Campus Drive | 9500 Gilman Dr |
| City Name | Austin | La Jolla |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego) is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Austin and La Jolla. UT Austin is in a East South Central and UCSD is in a Mountain - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is The University of Texas at Austin (UT) or University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego) Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego) is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.
Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego) is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, The University of Texas at Austin (UT) is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.
You can use the below college admissions predictor to determine your likelihood of acceptance at either school.
How Do UT Austin Dorms Compare to housing Options at UCSD?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. UT Austin charges for on-campus living, while UCSD charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
UT Austin and UCSD student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| The University of Texas at Austin (UT), % | UCSD,% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 44.269999999999996 | 21.44 |
| Hispanic | 22.27 | 15.58 |
| Black | 4.18 | 1.23 |
| Foreign | 4.8 | 17.330000000000002 |
| Others | 24.5 | 44.4 |
How different is the The University of Texas at Austin (UT) campus compared to University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego) campus?
The UT Austin campus is located in Austin, TX and is characterized as City: Large (population of 250,000 or more). The UCSD campus is located in La Jolla, CA and is characterized as City: Large (population of 250,000 or more).
Which school gives more financial aid?
UT Austin provides $4,890 whereas UCSD provides an average of $8,462.
How does UT Austin academics compare to UCSD?
When analyzing academics between The University of Texas at Austin (UT) and University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego) we’ll look at both what current students are studying and also where they end up after graduation. After all, college should prepare you for a career! Analyzing each school’s outcomes is super valuable to understand the value of the degree.
| Majors | UT Austin | UCSD |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | N/A |
| Natural resources and conservation | N/A | 40 |
| Architecture and related services | 47 | N/A |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | 98 | 30 |
| Communication journalism and related programs | 1155 | 299 |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 477 | 604 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | N/A |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | 1167 | 1262 |
| Education | N/A | 10 |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | N/A | N/A |
Which is better: The University of Texas at Austin (UT) or University of California-San Diego (UC San Diego)?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between UT Austin and UCSD. But, you’re smart enough to know that numbers paint a terrible picture for truly understanding what each college and community is like. And, the real answer to which school is better is: the school that’s right for you. No matter who you ask, if they know what they’re talking about, the answer is the same: the “better” school is whatever is the best fit for you personally. That’s why it’s extremely important to check out all the videos on CampusReel for each school.
How does UT Austin social life compare to UCSD?
It’s tough to understand the nuances of social life with data alone. That’s why we’ve brought in real student videos to show how UT Austin social life differs from UCSD.
Check here.
Check here.