Established in 1960, University of California San Diego is one of the leading public research institute in the world. In 2025 University of California, San Diego (UCSD) is ranked #72 globally by QS World University Rankings and #29 in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges National Universities list.
As of fall 2024, around 45,273 students were enrolled at University of California San Diego campus across all courses. International students make up nearly 38% of the total enrolment. UC San Diego demonstrates highly competitive admissions with 25% being admitted to UG and 27.12% admitted to PG courses. To apply for UC San Diego admissions, you need 3.0 or above in previous qualifications.
For the 2025-2026 academic year, UC San Diego's tuition for out-of-state (including international) students is estimated to be $50,328, plus a supplemental nonresident tuition fee of $34,200, totaling roughly $84,528, not including other expenses. University Of California San Diego is listed among the top 50 universities in USA for graduate employability with an overall placement rate of ~90%.
Also Check: University of California San Diego Students Reviews & Rating
University of California San Diego Rankings 2025
The University of California San Diego has been ranked among the top 100 universities in the world by several ranking bodies. Tabulated below are the University of California San Diego Rankings trends by popular agencies:
Ranking Agency | Rankings 2025 | Rankings 2024 | Rankings 2023 | Rankings 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|
QS World University Rankings | #72 | #62 | #53 | #48 |
THE World University Rankings | #34 | #34 | #32 | #34 |
U.S News and World Report Best Global Universities | #29 | #20 | #20 | #21 |
CWUR | #18 | #34 | #34 | #34 |
University of California San Diego Campus
UCSD is a member of the larger University of California system, which includes 9 other semi-autonomous public institutions. University of California San Diego campus houses 761 buildings used as administrative buildings, classrooms, research centres, medical facilities, sports facilities, residential buildings, Laboratories, Libraries, studios, etc.
- The university consists of 6 schools for undergraduates, 3 colleges for graduate studies, 2 medical centres, and the renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography, recognized as the world's largest institute for geological and marine science.
- The campus specifically has nine sports facilities, including a 5,000-seat arena, and a state-of-the-art training centre for athletes.
- The oldest student tradition is the watermelon drop, which is a summer physics experiment.
- Housing at University of California San Diego is guaranteed for two years for every fresher who meets application and contract deadlines.
UC San Diego Students Life
While living on UC San Diego campus, students can connect with more than 600+ student-led clubs and organizations as per their choice.
- There are 45 Sorority and Fraternity organizations on campus.
- 18,500 students on campus are involved in community service yearly.
- UC San Diego also offers accommodations for international students within the campus during July and August. Apart from this several Off campus housing are also available which include apartments, homestay, and hotels.
University of California San Diego Courses
University of California San Diego offers more than 140 undergraduate and 100+ graduate professional courses through 12 academic departments. The top 5 majors at UC San Diego include psychology, cognitive science, economics, mathematics and biology.
University of California San Diego Admissions 2025
The University of California San Diego admissions are highly competitive with 25% acceptance rate for UG and 27.12% for PG.
- International applicants are advised to review both program specific and country specific requirements before submitting their applications.
- All Applicants may apply to more than one program at UC San Diego. However, you can not apply to more than one program within the same department.
UC San Diego Admissions: PG
Category | Admission Requirements |
---|---|
Application Portal | UC San Diego Graduate Application |
Application Fees | 155 USD (13,299 INR) |
Academic Requirements | 3-4 year undergraduate degree |
GPA Required | 3.0 (85%) |
English Proficiency Requirements | TOEFL iBT: 85 | IELTS: 7.0 |
Standardized Test Scores | GMAT - 630-704 | GRE - 160-168 in Quant and 155-156 |
Documents Checklist | 2-3 letters of recommendation | SOP | Resume or CV |
UC San Diego Admissions: UG
Category | Admission Requirements |
---|---|
Application Portal | UC San Diego Undergraduate Application |
Application Fees | 95 USD (8,151 INR) |
Academic Requirements | Higher school secondary certificate (Std 12th in Indian CBSE or State Board) |
GPA Required | 4.11–4.29 (Average) |
English Proficiency Requirements | TOEFL iBT: 83 | IELTS: 7.0 |
Documents Checklist | Personal insight questions | Portfolio |
University of California San Diego Fees 2025
University of California offers 62 courses across various disciplines for international students. The UG tuition fees for Indian students range from USD 37857 (₹3241694) to USD 55182 (₹4725234). The PG tuition fees for Indian students range from USD 35361 (₹3027962) to USD 42759 (₹3661453).
Top Courses Fees Comparison
The tuition fee 2024 for M.S Business Analytics at University of California was USD 34053 (₹2915958). In 2023, the fee was USD 32685 (₹2798817). The fee has increased by USD 1368 (₹117141).
- Similarly, tuition fee for M.S Computer Science and Engineering in 2024 was USD 27864 (₹2385994), compared to USD 32685 (₹2798817) in 2023, reflecting a drop of USD 4821 (₹412823).
- The 2024 fee for M.S Data Science at University of California was USD 37730 (₹3230820). In 2023, the fee was USD 32685 (₹2798817). Compared to the previous year, fee has increased by USD 5045 (₹432003).
The cost of living for students at University of California in San Diego, USA is around USD 1308 (₹112004)/year covering accommodation, food, transport, and personal expenses.
Also Check: Cost of living in USA for International Students
University of California San Diego Scholarships for International Students 2025
International students applying at University of California San Diego must note that the institute does provide numerous awards and scholarships to study in USA. Some graduate departments award limited funding to international students. Some such awards are as mentioned below.
Scholarships | Eligibility | Awards |
---|---|---|
Ellen and Roger Revelle Scholarship (merit-based) | Incoming UG students | academic merit | Up to 10,000 CAD (2,500 CAD per year) |
Clayton H. Brace Scholarship | Incoming UG students with an interest in communications | Up to 1,000 CAD |
Charmaine and Maurice Kaplan Scholarship | UG students | academic merit, demonstrated financial need, extracurricular activities | Up to $5,000 per year |
Ray and Betty Ramseyer Scholarship | Incoming UG students with an interest in the social sciences | Up to 20,000 CAD, paid at up to 5,000 CAD per year |
Ludwig and Ada Strauss Scholarship | UG students | academic merit, demonstrated financial need | 5,000 CAD per year |
University of California San Diego Placements 2024
According to Times Higher Education Employability Rank 2023-24, the University of California San Diego ranks #36th in USA and #174th in the world.
- The graduates of UC San Diego earn an average salary of 89,000 USD (74.28 lakhs INR) per year according to payscale.com.
- Many of the graduates have secured employment in top global companies including Intel, amazon, Lockheed Martin Corp, hp, Google etc.
- In the year 2023, 72.4% of MBA graduates received job offers within 3 months after graduation at UCSD. The average salary offered to recent MBA graduates is 126,634 USD (1.05 crores INR) per annum.
Top Paying Job Profiles for UC San Diego Graduates:
Job Profiles | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
---|---|---|
Senior Software Engineer | 148,943 | 1.24 Cr |
Software Engineer | 106,427 | 88.83 lakhs |
Data Scientist | 95,173 | 79.43 lakhs |
Mechanical Engineer | 89,807 | 74.95 lakhs |
Project Manager | 85,925 | 71.71 lakhs |
Data Analyst | 76,460 | 63.81 lakhs |
Research Associate Biotechnology | 64,766 | 54.05 lakhs |
FAQs
Ques: Is the University of California San Diego a good college?
Ans: Yes, University of California San Diego or UCSD is a public university established in 1960. University of California San Diego campus is the 7th oldest of the University of California's 10 campuses. Additionally, UCSD ranks 3rd among U.S. public universities, based on Forbes' 2023 America's Top Colleges list. Overall, UC San Diego secured the 21st spot out of 500 universities in USA, both public and private.
Ques: What GPA do you need to get into University of California San Diego?
Ans: The GPA required for admission to University of California San Diego is as follows
Undergraduate | 3.4/4.0 (89%) |
Postgraduate | 3.0/4.0 (85%) |
Ques: Is UC San Diego hard to get into?
Ans: University of California San Diego acceptance rate is 34%, indicating a moderately selective admissions policy. To get admission, students need a decent GPA and good academic records.
Ques: What is UC San Diego ranked in the world?
Ans: In the QS World University Rankings 2025, UC San Diego is ranked #72 globally, while in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025, it secures the 34th spot. Here's a more detailed breakdown:
- QS World University Rankings 2025: UC San Diego is ranked #72.
- Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025: UC San Diego secures the 34th spot globally.
- U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings: UC San Diego is ranked #21 in Best Global Universities.
- Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU): UC San Diego is ranked #18 in the world.
Ques: Is the University of California San Diego expensive?
Ans: The average cost of attendance at University of California San Diego USA is around 48 lakhs. This includes a tuition fee of 15 lakhs and Supplemental tuition fee of nearly 27 lakhs for international students. The tuition fee distribution for both UG and PG programs is tabulated below:
Undergraduate |
Tuition and Fees: 18,480 CAD (15 lakhs INR) |
International Supplemental Tuition: 32,574 CAD (27 lakhs INR) | |
Postgraduate |
Tuition and Fees: 18,951 CAD (15 lakhs INR) |
International Supplemental Tuition: 15,102 CAD (12 lakhs INR) |
Ques: What is University of California San Diego known for?
Ans: The University of California San Diego is known for various programs, which are listed below:
- UC San Diego is widely regarded as one of the top science universities in the United States.
- Recently, US News added rankings for undergraduate economics and psychology programs. UC San Diego has earned a place among the nation's top 20 on each of these new lists, highlighting the university's excellence in education in the social sciences.
- UC San Diego's economics program is at the 4th position among US public universities and is ranked 18th nationwide.
- The psychology program at UC San Diego ranks fifth among public universities and 11th nationwide.
Ques: Is UCSD public or private?
Ans: UCSD, or the University of California San Diego, is a public research university located in La Jolla, California. It is part of the University of California system, which includes 10 campuses across the state.
Ques: What are the 7 colleges at UC San Diego?
Ans: UC San Diego comprises 7 undergraduate colleges. Each college has its own education requirements, academic support services, and housing facilities.
- Revelle College
- John Muir College
- Thurgood Marshall College
- Earl Warren College
- Eleanor Roosevelt College
- Sixth College
- Seventh College (established in 2020)
UC-San Diego Program Fees & Deadlines
Program | Important Dates | Fees | Application Fees | Eligibility | Financial Aid |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
M.A Applied Mathematics 2 years | USD 34,053 /Yr | - | - | - | |
Application For Fall 2026 Intake (25th Nov 2025) | USD 30,657 /Yr | 155 | GPA:- 3.0, IELTS:- 7.0, TOEFL:- 85 | - | |
M.S Structural Engineering 2 years | Application Deadline For Winter 2026 Intake (30th Sep 2025) Application Deadline For Spring 2026 Intake (31st Dec 2025) | USD 30,657 /Yr | 140 | GPA:- 3.0, IELTS:- 7.0, TOEFL:- 85 | - |
M.B.A 2 years Course Offered by: | Round 1 Application Deadline For Summer 2026 Intake (1st Oct 2025) Round 2 Application Deadline For Summer 2026 Intake (15th Nov 2025) Round 3 Application Deadline For Summer 2026 Intake (15th Jan 2026) Round 4 Application Deadline For Summer 2026 Intake (1st Apr 2026) | USD 67,672 /Yr | 200 | GPA:- 3.0, IELTS:- 7.0, TOEFL:- 100, PTE:- 65 | |
M.B.A Finance 2 years | Round 1 Application Deadline For Summer 2026 Intake (1st Oct 2025) Round 2 Application Deadline For Summer 2026 Intake (15th Nov 2025) Round 3 Application Deadline For Summer 2026 Intake (15th Jan 2026) Round 4 Application Deadline For Summer 2026 Intake (1st Apr 2026) | USD 67,672 /Yr | 200 | GPA:- 3.0, IELTS:- 7.0, TOEFL:- 100, PTE:- 65 | |
M.Eng Bioengineering 2 years | Application For Fall 2026 Intake (4th Sep 2025) | USD 30,657 /Yr | 155 | GPA: 3.0, IELTS:- 7.0, TOEFL:- 85 | - |
M.S Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 2 years Course Offered by: | Application For Fall 2026 Intake (4th Sep 2025) | USD 30,657 /Yr | 155 | GPA:- 3.0, IELTS:- 7.0, TOEFL:- 85 | - |
M.S Clinical Research 2 years | USD 34,053 /Yr | - | - | - | |
M.F.A 4 years | USD 34,053 /Yr | - | - | - | |
M.A History 2 years | USD 34,053 /Yr | - | - | - |
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UC-San Diego comparison
University Name | University of California | University of Washington | University of Southern California |
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Collegedunia Score | 7.3 Out of 10 | 7.2 Out of 10 | 5.9 Out of 10 |
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Acceptance Rate | 34.0 % | 45.4 % | 12.0 % |
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Overall 66 out of 1401 in Global Ranking
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UC-San Diego Student Profiles
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UC-San Diego Reviews
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9 Reviews Found
Likes
- The campus as a whole - it is a really big campus with loads of fields and eating options
- The location of the college - it is right next to the beach
- The main gym (RIMAC) - massive gym with all facilities
Dislikes
- The quarter system - instead of 2 academic semesters every year, we had quarters. This made things move too quickly and become too intense
- Lack of sports culture - there was no football team and at the time UCSD wasn't D1, as a result the sporting culture in the school wasn't very good
- Not as socially vibrant - as opposed to lots of other US schools, UCSD isn't the most socially vibrant. You have to make an extra effort for this
Campus Life
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UCSD has a massive library which students mostly spend their final exam week in.
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Its got 7 floors - the basement and first floor are for "loud studying" and as you go higher a floor you have to be quieter.
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I was part of the cricket club at UCSD and I really enjoyed my time there.
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We had annual regionals in LA, regularly drove to play against UC Irvine, and even started to host home games.
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The bollywood dancing clubs were also very big.
Fees
- I do not remember exact numbers but our fee was charged on a yearly basis.
- After the first 2 years many people chose to live off campus but I decided to live on campus, which included a meal plan.
- For a single room, rent cost around 1000-1100 USD a month.
- The rest of my monthly budget was around 800 USD a month I think. I also had an on campus job which paid 15 USD an hour
Likes
- The distance to the beach is very close to the campus
- The quality of education is of the highest standards
- Peer on campus is very friendly and allows good networking
Dislikes
- Within-campus shuttle service does not cover Central area
- Washrooms should have jet sprays for all nationalities
- Wifi is extremely weak on the whole campus
Campus Life
- The University of California has 10 campuses across the state, with UC San Francisco Being a campus only for graduate studies. I am at UC San Diego. UCSD has many Facilities for sports, academics, and other student services.
- UCSD competes at the NCAA Division I level in many sports including basketball, baseball, fencing and swimming, and competes at the Division II level in a few other sports. As a result, the sports facilities on campus are excellent with courts for any sport one may wish to do.
- There is even a climbing gym on campus (which I discovered just this quarter). Outside of sports, UCSD has many mental health and well-being resources and offers free counselling / therapy services to students.
- Each housing college holds many events forstudents in each quarter, while a few big events (like the Sun God Festival) are hostedby the university itself.
- There are over 500 listed student orgs at UCSD so there are a lot of opportunities to pursue activities outside of academics.
- Some of the orgs that I have been involved with are SUMS (math society), DS3 (Data Science org), Hiking club, and the Okinawan Karate club. Along with clubs we also have greek life (sororities and fraternities), though I do not have much information about these.
Fees
- Total cost for a full academic year is about seventy thousand US dollars.
- Fifty thousand dollars are for tuition and fees costs, twenty thousand dollars are for living costs (which include four thousand dollars for the base meal plan for the year). In addition, there are miscellaneous costs (for example groceries, eating at restaurants, commute, etc.) which will vary per person.
- Fees are charged per quarter, and there are three quarters (+ an optional summer quarter).
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Likes
- Research opportunities, quarter system, midterm schedule, dorms (new ones, not old ones)
Dislikes
- Limited recruitment straight from uni beyond a few stem courses, old dorms are poorly designed
Overview
I chose this university bcz of it's location and program strength - it is top 15 in the US for CS and top 10 for data science. I chose this program because of its utility, high earning potential + capacity to get into business later. As mentioned, what I liked previously.
Campus Life
Pretty fun, all major clubs and fraternities are available. Wifi is good, the gym is great, casual sports are very accessible, and lots of events are hosted by clubs including cultural ones. Library is very famous - Geisel, named after Dr. Seuss.
Likes
- Bright fellow students, beautiful location, great reputation. Ease of getting teaching assistantships, I got waivers/stipends of close to $15-20K because of this.
Dislikes
- Stressful and fast paced is an understatement. You basically have zero free time in the school year, and it feels like there’s exam after exam. Two weeks go by after the quarter starts, then you have a midterm, then another 2 weeks another midterm, and then 3 weeks and final, and repeat.
Overview
SoP was mainly about what got me interested in the field of VLSI Design and how I took steps to develop my understanding of the subject further. The primary factors were the great reputation and moderate prestige associated with the program. Second was the location of being in California, and picturesque San Diego.
Campus Life
A lot of accessible and well-maintained sports facilities. I used to regularly play tennis, badminton and swimming. The ocean is very close by, so surfing and kayaking are also popular.
Likes
- The university is extensively known for research in Artificial Intelligence. Also for me the weather and California location was a main reason.
Overview
I believe I had a good experience at my university. The college had great study programs and lab facilities. The other facilities including dining and sports facilities were enriching and created a wholesome experience for my stay here. Other than high living cost and tough job conditions, everything was very accessible and enjoyable. I would recommend this university for students genuinely interested in learning and growing.
Campus Life
Extensive research labs , well equipped libraries and sports facilities as well.
Likes
- It is one of the Top 5 public schools in the US, apart from this: 1. Strong CS research ranking 2. Ample funding opportunities 3. California, so closer to Big tech 4. Weather is friendly
- Access to a world-class education with top-notch faculty, opportunities for interdisciplinary research, a diverse and inclusive campus community, cutting-edge facilities and resources, ample funding opportunities with teaching assistantships and other positions, and a prime location in the heart of the vibrant and innovative city of San Diego.
Dislikes
- Some limitations of joining UCSD include high tuition fees and living costs. The academic environment for masters may feel highly competitive and demanding. The on-campus housing options are getting more limited with a large student population coming in.
- With larger class sizes, it may be challenging to build close personal connections with peers and professors. Some students find the campus to be too isolated from the rest of San Diego and lacking in social activities compared to other California universities (I do feel that the beaches are great though!).
Overview
I have really enjoyed the research opportunities at UCSD along with the funding that I get thanks to it being a public school. Because of this I will be able to complete my MS in less than 4 lakh INR. The courses were also very engaging and I really appreciate the flexibility in curriculum which made this an enjoyable experience. Placement support could have been better and maybe more affordable food and housing options nearby would be welcomed.
Campus Life
Ample clubs, campus infrastructure is state-of-the-art, spread over 2000 acres, multiple sports gyms, stadiums, 8 floor library one of the best in the US, campus-wide 100 mbps WiFi, and we have our own amphitheatre and arts and music complex where events and shows keep taking place.
Overview
"Location - san diego has the best weather Course Curriculum - structured well with lot of electives Job opportunities in California - tech hub Ranking of universities on various websites Alumni database "
Campus Life
There are more than 100 clubs and organizations to choose from at UCSD. The library is one of the best in the world (looks like a ufo) . Sports facilities are also excellent with facilities for more than 100 sports.
Overview
I liked the environment - both physically and academically. Research opportunities here are abundant. Faculty and staff are phenomenal and friendly, yet professional; more so, the has a good reputation in terms of STEM majors which made me choose UCSD.
Fees
It is broken down into school tuition, housing, and then several other activity fees. Activity fees range from a few dollars to a couple hundred.
Overview
It is a reputable STEM school that also specializes in healthcare. It also provides lots of opportunities for my academic career. It is also close to home so it would be easier for me to go home and back.
Fees
Health insurance, Transportation fee, Maintenance fee, Recreation fee, Athletics fee, College activities fee, Student service fee, University Center fee, College fee, Campus activity fee, Registration fee, Tuition.
UC-San Diego Scholarships
Name | Scholarship Per Student | Level of Study | Type | |
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Novus Biological Scholarship Program | Scholarship per student$1,500 | Level Of StudyAssociate | TypeMerit-Based | |
Forte Fellowship | Scholarship per student$25,451 | Level Of StudyMaster | TypeMerit-Based | |
Forktip Women’s- Innovation Scholarship | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeCollege-Specific | |
Gyandhan Scholarship | Scholarship per student$1,207 | Level Of StudyMaster | TypeMerit-Based | |
Penn State University | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyN/A | TypeCollege-Specific | |
1st Formations Business Scholarship | Scholarship per student$636 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based |
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UC-San Diego Admissions
Regular Decision Deadlines
Important Date: November30 (Application deadline)
UC-San Diego Exam Scores
Exams | Avg. Score | Min Score | Max. Score | %Submitted' |
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Undergraduate | ||||
Duolingo | - | 115 | - | - |
SAT | 1310 | 1210 | 1410 | 84 |
Check Detailed Score | ||||
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing | 640 | 600 | 680 | - |
Mathematics | 670 | 610 | 730 | - |
ACT | 30 | 27 | 33 | 52 |
Check Detailed Score | ||||
English | 29 | 25 | 33 | - |
Mathematics | 30 | 27 | 33 | - |
Language Proficiency | ||||
PTE | 77.5 | 65 | 90 | - |
IELTS | 8 | 7 | 9 | - |
TOEFL | 85 | 85 | 120 | - |
Graduate | ||||
GRE | 276 | 213 | 340 | - |
GMAT | 600 | 510 | 690 | - |
Attendance Cost
The table shows average yearly cost of attendance for international students. Amount may vary with the course opted, nature of accommodation, and personal spending habits of a candidate.Check Program wise Fees
UC-San Diego Campuses, Schools & Faculties
School
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Rady School of Management
UC-San Diego Accreditations
Faculty
Total Faculty | Full Time | Part Time | Graduate Assistants |
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2321 | - | - | - |
UC-San Diego Campus Location
Nearby This Campus
- Restaurant
- Shopping Mall
- Super Market
- Book Store
- Airport
Restaurant
Super Market
Airport
Shopping Mall
Book Store
● All distance are measured radially. Actual distance may vary
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Comments
Found 6 Comments
The possibility of getting into your desired colleges abroad depends on your academic qualifications, test scores, extracurricular activities, and how well you meet the specific admission criteria of each institution.
In order to gain admission to the University of California San Diego, you must fulfill their eligibility criteria, one of which includes having a GPA of 3.0 (85%). If you have only just passed your B.Sc in Mechanical Engineering, you may not be eligible for this university.
To apply for graduate admission at the University of California San Diego, you must have a bachelor's degree or the equivalent from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 and above on a 4.0 scale. Along with that international students whose native language is not English must submit valid ELP test scores. GRE is not mandatory for admission but students who have taken the test can submit their scores.