Vanderbilt University vs University of California-San Diego

Nashville, TN · La Jolla, CA · largest Scorecard gap: acceptance rate

Scorecard match plate

Pair TN:CA

MIXED-SECTOR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-GAP · NET-SPLIT · EARN-PAR · DEBT-SPLIT · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-ACCEPT

  • MIXED-SECTOR Mixed sector
  • CROSS-STATE TN × CA
  • ACCEPT-GAP Admission gap
  • NET-SPLIT Net-price split
  • EARN-PAR Earnings near-par
  • DEBT-SPLIT Debt split
  • 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 · wide · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.

Decade path · College Scorecard

Both grew, one campus expanded much faster

ENROLL-RACE · wide · 2013–2023

Undergraduate headcount rose at both Vanderbilt University and University of California-San Diego across 2013–2023, with a wide pace gap, while acceptance rates tightened on both sides. Growth plus a shared selectivity squeeze is the board's distinctive shape.

  • University of California-San Diego: enrollment grew +42.0% over 2013–2023; fitted +1,028 students/yr fitted, r² 0.97.
  • Vanderbilt University: enrollment grew +5.1% over 2013–2023; fitted +38 students/yr fitted, r² 0.82.
  • Vanderbilt University: acceptance rate tightened -50.7% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.81).
  • 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

Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.

Largest gaps: Vanderbilt University vs University of California-San Diego

  1. ACCEPTANCE-RATE Vanderbilt University leads on acceptance rate (5.9% vs 26.7% at University of California-San Diego)
  2. IN-STATE-TUITION University of California-San Diego leads on in-state tuition ($16,758 vs $67,498 at Vanderbilt University)
  3. OUT-OF-STATE-TUITI University of California-San Diego leads on out-of-state tuition ($50,958 vs $67,498 at Vanderbilt University)

Vanderbilt University profile · University of California-San Diego profile · Compare other colleges

Acceptance Rate and other Scorecard questions

On acceptance rate, who leads between Vanderbilt University and University of California-San Diego?
Vanderbilt University leads on acceptance rate at 5.9% versus 26.7% at University of California-San Diego. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On in-state tuition, who leads between Vanderbilt University and University of California-San Diego?
University of California-San Diego leads on in-state tuition at $16,758 versus $67,498 at Vanderbilt University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On out-of-state tuition, who leads between Vanderbilt University and University of California-San Diego?
University of California-San Diego leads on out-of-state tuition at $50,958 versus $67,498 at Vanderbilt University. 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