UC San Diego Ranked 9th Best Value College by Money Magazine

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UC San Diego students at commencement 2019. Photo by Erik Jepsen/Publications.

The University of California San Diego has been recognized as one of the top schools in the nation for launching students of all backgrounds into successful futures. The campus was ranked 9^th in the nation in Money Magazine’s “2019 Best Colleges for Your Money” report. The annual list highlights universities that offer a quality education at an affordable price.

The magazine placed UC San Diego in the top 10 among 744 universities evaluated. The campus was also ranked 6^th among best public colleges and 28^th among most transformative schools. Each institution was ranked based on 26 factors in three categories—quality, affordability and outcomes. Measurements encompassed graduation rates, number of Pell Grant recipients, net costs to attend and alumni salary data from PayScale.com and the federal College Scorecard.

“Being recognized as a ‘top value’ confirms our longtime strategic efforts to increase access to higher education though affordability,” said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “UC San Diego is dedicated to opening doors for students of all backgrounds to pursue diverse fields of study and build careers that affect change.”

UC San Diego’s newly admitted class of first-year and transfer students continues to reflect the growing diversity of California. More than one-third of first-year and nearly half of all transfer-admitted students from California are the first in their family to attend college.

Newly-enrolled students find a robust network of student-centered, high-impact resources designed for academic, personal and professional success. For example, students can gain a head start the summer before classes begin through Summer Bridge, led by the Office of Academic Support & Instructional Services (OASIS). First-year students are invited to live on campus, attend social events, enroll in classes and connect with an academic transition counselor—all before the fall quarter begins.

As undergraduates, students are offered experiences that will make them ideal candidates for graduate and professional school, as well as standout members in their career field. Through Academic Enrichment Programs, undergraduates can conduct faculty-mentored research and present their original ideas at conferences near and far. They are also encouraged to spark big ideas and launch startups that can change lives through programs like The Basement, where aspiring entrepreneurs can earn grants and get connected to industry mentors.

As an Ashoka-designated Changemaker Campus, UC San Diego students are developed into critical thinkers with a desire to look deeper at the issues impacting our nation and world. Students are inspired to give back, whether it is researching how to improve public health resources for low-income communities or dedicating their spring break to studying climate change in Iceland through an Alternative Breaks service-learning trip.

In addition to the Money Magazine ranking, UC San Diego has also been acknowledged several times this year as one of the top best value colleges. CNBC named the campus the 11^th best public university in the nation among colleges that pay off the most. And Forbes ranked UC San Diego 13^th among America’s Best Value Colleges.

Learn more about Money Magazine’s best colleges ranking.