Admissions · United States
UC San Diego Acceptance Rate: Admissions Statistics and TOEFL & IELTS Requirements
UC San Diego admitted 28.6% of first-year applicants for fall 2025: 39,054 of 136,750, according to its Common Data Set.
UC San Diego (UCSD) TOEFL and IELTS requirements at a glance
| Applying for | TOEFL iBT | IELTS Academic |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate (first-year) | TOEFL iBT4.5 on the 1–6 scale for exams taken from January 2026; 83 on the 0–120 scale for exams completed before January 2026. | IELTS Academic7 (Academic) |
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UC San Diego publishes its admissions figures in the Common Data Set, released by Institutional Research after each class enrolls; the newest covers fall 2025. Below are the last three cycles, the in-state, out-of-state, international, wait-list and transfer figures UCSD has published, and the TOEFL and IELTS minimums UCSD lists for first-year applicants.
Figures read from official sources on · English requirements updated · LingoLeap Admissions Research
UC San Diego (UCSD) acceptance rate by year
UC San Diego acceptance rate by applicant group
| Group | Cycle | Rate | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| California residents | Fall 2025 entering class | 24.7% | 21,677 admitted of 87,584 source |
| Out-of-state (US) | Fall 2025 entering class | 39.7% | 9,881 admitted of 24,912 source |
| International | Fall 2025 entering class | 30.9% | 7,496 admitted of 24,254 source |
| California residents | Fall 2024 entering class | 26.0% | 22,984 admitted of 88,418 source |
| Out-of-state (US) | Fall 2024 entering class | 33.5% | 8,109 admitted of 24,216 source |
| International | Fall 2024 entering class | 22.4% | 4,896 admitted of 21,821 source |
| California residents | Fall 2023 entering class | 24.5% | 20,819 admitted of 84,933 source |
| Out-of-state (US) | Fall 2023 entering class | 31.9% | 7,651 admitted of 23,972 source |
| International | Fall 2023 entering class | 17.9% | 3,933 admitted of 21,940 source |
| Wait list (admitted of those who accepted a place) | Fall 2025 entering class | 20.8% | 5,284 admitted of 25,411 who accepted a place; 36,709 were offered one source |
| Yield (admits who enrolled) | Fall 2025 entering class | 20.0% | 7,801 enrolled of 39,054 admitted source |
| Yield (admits who enrolled) | Fall 2024 entering class | 20.4% | 7,330 enrolled of 35,989 admitted source |
| Yield (admits who enrolled) | Fall 2023 entering class | 21.6% | 7,007 enrolled of 32,403 admitted source |
| Transfer | Fall 2025 | 52.8% | 12,440 admitted of 23,577 source |
| Transfer | Fall 2024 | 54.6% | 12,280 admitted of 22,510 source |
| Transfer | Fall 2023 | 62.5% | 12,499 admitted of 19,986 source |
What the numbers mean
UC San Diego's acceptance rate has risen over the three cycles: from 24.8% for fall 2023 (130,845 applicants) to 28.6% for fall 2025 (136,750). Applications grew by about 6,000, but admits grew by about 6,650, from 32,403 to 39,054. Yield, the share of admits who enrolled, slipped from 21.6% to 20.0%, which is why UCSD admits several times as many students as it enrolls.
UCSD has no early decision or early action plan: its Common Data Set answers No to both questions, so there is no early round rate to quote. It does use a wait list. For fall 2025 it offered 36,709 applicants a place, 25,411 accepted, and 5,284 were later admitted (20.8% of those who accepted).
By residency, fall 2025 admit rates were 24.7% for California residents (21,677 of 87,584), 39.7% for out-of-state US applicants (9,881 of 24,912) and 30.9% for international applicants (7,496 of 24,254). International applicants were admitted at 17.9% for fall 2023 and 22.4% for fall 2024, so the fall 2025 figure is a large rise. The Common Data Set assigns residency by known physical address at the time of application.
Transfer applicants were admitted at 52.8% for fall 2025 (12,440 of 23,577), 54.6% for fall 2024 and 62.5% for fall 2023. UCSD lists first-year English minimums of TOEFL iBT 4.5 for exams taken from January 2026 (83 before then), IELTS 7 and Duolingo 115, described as the minimum necessary to be considered for admission. The page does not explain how the new TOEFL scale maps to the old one.
UC San Diego (UCSD) TOEFL and IELTS requirements
Minimums for international applicants from the university's own pages. Since 21 January 2026 TOEFL iBT reports a 1–6 band score; the notes give the older 0–120 equivalent where the university states one. Convert TOEFL and IELTS scores.
Undergraduate (first-year)
TOEFL iBT: 4.5 on the 1–6 scale for exams taken from January 2026; 83 on the 0–120 scale for exams completed before January 2026.
IELTS Academic: 7 (Academic)
UCSD describes these as the minimum necessary to be considered for admission. Duolingo English Test minimum 115. The page also accepts certain AP and IB English exam scores as alternatives.
UC San Diego Admissions: International (English proficiency minimums) · checked 13 October 2026
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FAQ
What is UCSD's acceptance rate?
UC San Diego admitted 39,054 of 136,750 first-year applicants for fall 2025, an acceptance rate of 28.6%, according to its Common Data Set. The rate was 26.8% for fall 2024 and 24.8% for fall 2023.
What is UCSD's transfer acceptance rate?
UCSD admitted 12,440 of 23,577 transfer applicants for fall 2025 (52.8%), 12,280 of 22,510 for fall 2024 (54.6%) and 12,499 of 19,986 for fall 2023 (62.5%).
What is UCSD's international acceptance rate?
UCSD admitted 7,496 of 24,254 international first-year applicants for fall 2025 (30.9%), 4,896 of 21,821 for fall 2024 (22.4%) and 3,933 of 21,940 for fall 2023 (17.9%).
What is UCSD's out-of-state acceptance rate?
For fall 2025, UCSD admitted 9,881 of 24,912 out-of-state US applicants (39.7%), against 24.7% for California residents (21,677 of 87,584). For fall 2024 the figures were 33.5% out-of-state and 26.0% in-state.
Does UCSD have early decision or early action?
No. UC San Diego's 2025-26 Common Data Set answers No to both the early decision and early action questions, so it publishes no early-round admit rate.
What is UCSD's waitlist acceptance rate?
For fall 2025, UCSD offered 36,709 applicants a place on its wait list, 25,411 accepted, and 5,284 were admitted: 20.8% of those who accepted. The fall 2024 figure was 23.7% (4,539 of 19,156) and fall 2023 was 13.5% (2,616 of 19,373).
What TOEFL score does UCSD require?
UCSD lists a minimum of TOEFL iBT 4.5 for exams taken from January 2026, and 83 for exams completed before January 2026. It also lists IELTS 7 (Academic) and Duolingo English Test 115, and says these are the minimum necessary to be considered for admission.
What IELTS score does UC San Diego (UCSD) require?
Undergraduate (first-year): IELTS Academic 7 (Academic). Check your programme page, as some courses set higher scores.