Location
- University of Chicago
- Chicago, IL
- University of California-San Diego
- La Jolla, CA
University of Chicago vs University of California-San Diego
Chicago, IL · La Jolla, CA · largest Scorecard gap: acceptance rate
Scorecard match plate
Pair IL:CA
MIXED-SECTOR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-GAP · NET-SPLIT · EARN-PAR · DEBT-PAR · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-ACCEPT
- MIXED-SECTOR Mixed sector
- CROSS-STATE IL × CA
- ACCEPT-GAP Admission gap
- NET-SPLIT Net-price split
- EARN-PAR Earnings near-par
- DEBT-PAR Debt near-par
- COMPLETE-HIGH High completion
- GAP-ACCEPT Largest gap · Acceptance Rate
Instrument codes from this pair's College Scorecard ownership, geography, acceptance, net price, earnings, debt, and completion, plus the ENROLL-RACE · single · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.
Decade path · College Scorecard
Both enrollments grew, different paces
ENROLL-RACE · single · 2013–2023
Undergraduate headcount rose at both University of Chicago and University of California-San Diego across 2013–2023 on similar paces, while acceptance rates tightened on both sides, a growth-under-squeeze pattern rather than a pure size race.
- University of California-San Diego: enrollment grew +42.0% over 2013–2023; fitted +1,028 students/yr fitted, r² 0.97.
- University of Chicago: enrollment grew +32.4% over 2013–2023; fitted +218 students/yr fitted, r² 0.96.
- University of Chicago: acceptance rate tightened -45.6% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.85).
- University of California-San Diego: acceptance rate tightened -34.6% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.46).
College Scorecard institution series; dollars are nominal. Direction claims require r² ≥ 0.40 on the fitted annual slope, otherwise the page reports the observed range. Descriptive history, not a recommendation.
Scorecard metrics
Type
- University of Chicago
- Private Nonprofit
Undergraduate Enrollment
- University of Chicago
- 7,569
Acceptance Rate
In-State Tuition
- University of Chicago
- $70,662
Out-of-State Tuition
- University of Chicago
- $70,662
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- University of Chicago
- $80,870
Avg Net Price
- University of Chicago
- $14,860
150%-Time Completion
- University of Chicago
- 95.4%
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- University of Chicago
- $91,885
Retention Rate
- University of Chicago
- 99.3%
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | University of Chicago Chicago, IL | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Chicago, IL | La Jolla, CA |
| Type | Private Nonprofit | Public |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 7,569 | 34,948 |
| Acceptance Rate | 4.5% | 26.7% |
| In-State Tuition | $70,662 | $16,758 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $70,662 | $50,958 |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $80,870 | $65,669 |
| Avg Net Price | $14,860 | $12,470 |
| 150%-Time Completion | 95.4% | 86.8% |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $91,885 | $84,943 |
| Retention Rate | 99.3% | 94.0% |
Largest gaps: University of Chicago vs University of California-San Diego
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE University of Chicago leads on acceptance rate (4.5% vs 26.7% at University of California-San Diego)
- IN-STATE-TUITION University of California-San Diego leads on in-state tuition ($16,758 vs $70,662 at University of Chicago)
- OUT-OF-STATE-TUITI University of California-San Diego leads on out-of-state tuition ($50,958 vs $70,662 at University of Chicago)
University of Chicago profile · University of California-San Diego profile · Compare other colleges
Acceptance Rate and other Scorecard questions
On acceptance rate, who leads between University of Chicago and University of California-San Diego?▼
University of Chicago leads on acceptance rate at 4.5% versus 26.7% at University of California-San Diego. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On in-state tuition, who leads between University of Chicago and University of California-San Diego?▼
University of California-San Diego leads on in-state tuition at $16,758 versus $70,662 at University of Chicago. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On out-of-state tuition, who leads between University of Chicago and University of California-San Diego?▼
University of California-San Diego leads on out-of-state tuition at $50,958 versus $70,662 at University of Chicago. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); acceptance rate focus for this pair · 2025