San Diego is situated along the Pacific Ocean in Southern California and has a population of 1.3 million today. It has become the eighth-most populous city in the U.S. and the second-most in California after Los Angeles. Remarkably, San Diego holds the esteemed title of being the birthplace of California. The city is home to various cultural places of attraction, including the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park and the Old Globe Theatre, as well as a diverse range of neighbourhoods, such as the historic Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, Coronado, La Jolla, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Escondido, La Mesa, Hillcrest, Barrio Logan, and Chula Vista. The upcoming segments will talk about why studying in Diego is preferred by 121,000 students today.
San Diego is the ninth-most educated city in the United States according to the 2017 U.S. Census Bureau rankings. An impressive 44.4% of San Diegans aged 25 and older hold bachelor's degrees, surpassing the national average of 30.9%. The statistics are remarkable because of the presence of the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego), the city's largest university and the southernmost campus of the esteemed University of California system. UC San Diego has contributed significantly to the city's professional personnel by ranking as the second-largest employer.
Why Study In San Diego?
San Diego blends with history, academia and culinary delights. The city is a perfect amalgamation of Spanish and Mexican influences. Students don’t only have the best public universities in San Diego, there are many reasons mentioned below which go without a say:
Rich Culture:
San Diego is a city with roots tracing back to its Native American origins, followed by eras under Spanish and Mexican rule. The year 1850 marked its incorporation into the USA. Students can explore the Old Town State Historic Park which houses numerous museums, monuments and historic sites.
Academic Excellence:
When students choose to study abroad in San Diego there is no place to be except the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). It has eight colleges working under its system. Furthermore, the university has more than 40,000 students studying on its campus. UCSD graduated 27 Nobel laureates and three Pulitzer Prize winners among its accomplished alumni.
Transportation:
San Diego is set on a hilly terrain and therefore calls for efficient transportation. The city has a very well-connected public transport system, with buses and trolleys facilitating travel within central San Diego and light rail services catering to suburban and neighbouring town journeys. Students can utilise the convenient PRONTO app or card for travel.
Food:
San Diego is a haven for every food-lover. The Mexican flavours seep deep into the city’s food making every experience spicy and tangy. These dishes can be savoured on the casual beachside to upscale fine dining restaurants. Adding to that, there are over 100 wineries in the county and thrives on a huge beer scene.
Top Universities And Global Ranking
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San Diego, United States
Cost Of Living
$ 26,904
$ 8,288
#1001 - 1200
$ 26,904
$ 8,288
Since its inception in 1897, San Diego State University has evolved into a premier public research university as well as a nationally recognised Hispanic-serving institution. It offers over 36,000 students the chance to engage in an academic programme defined by direct interaction with instructors and an international concentration that prepares them for a global future each year. It is San Diego's oldest higher education university, located on Kumeyaay soil about 30 minutes north of the US-Mexico border. Its community is truly committed to quality education, meaningful research, and service to the regional community as well as the individuals it helps across the state, nation, and internally.
The university provides 95 undergraduate degree programmes via the College of Arts & Letters, Fowler College of Business, Colleges of Education, Engineering, Health & Human Services, Professional Studies & Fine Arts, Sciences, and the Division of Undergraduate Studies, which houses the Weber Honors College. It offers students the framework they need to attain their full academic potential by combining the power of a research institution with a devoted staff that fosters innovation and discovery. Students have engaged in a strong academic curriculum taught by award-winning faculty for more than a century.
San Diego State University is a student-faculty ratio of 25:1 and 31.8% of its classes have less than 20 students. The institution has 30,865 undergraduate students (fall 2021), with 43% male students and 57% female students. At this institution, 19% of students reside in housing owned, maintained, or linked with the college, while 81% live off campus.
The university's objective is to offer undergraduate and graduate students with research-oriented, high-quality education and to contribute to problem-solving through excellence and distinction in teaching, research, and service. The community is dedicated to creating global citizens, compassionate leaders, and ethical innovators who will shape San Diego's and the world's future. It is globally known for its study abroad programmes, veterans' programmes, and support for LGBTQIA+ students, as well as its Division I athletics department. SDSU features a world-class international business curriculum as well as an outstanding engineering department.
San Diego, United States
Cost Of Living
$ 26,904
$ 11,610
$ 26,904
$ 11,610
#759
National University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. It is affiliated to the National University System that also includes Northcentral University and City University of Seattle. The institution is counted as a top educator of the U.S. military. It is also the top educator of teachers and recommends the maximum number of candidates for California teacher credential programs in the state.
For admission to National University, you need competitive academic scores with a GPA of 2.0 (~73-76%) for UG programs and 2.5 (~79-80%) for PG programs.
National University is known for offering 75 programs across various academic levels through on-campus and online mode.
San Diego, United States
Cost Of Living
$ 26,904
$ 37,500
#1201 - 1400
$ 26,904
$ 37,500
The University of San Diego (USD) is a private Catholic research institution located in San Diego, California. The autonomous San Diego College for Women and San Diego University (which included the College for Men and School of Law) was established in July 1949. The two organizations amalgamated in 1972. Since that time, the university has expanded to include seven undergraduate and graduate schools.
The University of San Diego’s acceptance rate stands at 53%; there are about 8,810+ undergraduate, paralegal, graduate, and law students enrolled at USD. There are around 43+ Bachelor’s degrees, 41+ Master’s degrees, Juris Doctorate (JD), 5 LLM degrees, 4 doctorates, and dual degree programs. It is listed as belonging to the category "R2: Doctoral Universities - High Research Activity". Students select from among the following undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered by the university’s seven schools and colleges -
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College of Arts and Sciences
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Knauss School of Business
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Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering
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Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science
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Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies
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School of Law
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School of Leadership and Education Sciences
The Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies is the university's newest school. The College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Law is the oldest academic department at the university. Over the years the university has graduated a huge amount of notable alumni which include famous people like Jim Parsons (Emmy Award-winning actor for The Big Bang Theory), Kris Bryant (baseball player for the World Series champion Chicago Cubs, National League Rookie and Most Valuable Player), Frances Townsend (former Homeland Security Advisor to the President of the United States George W. Bush and TV personality), Mario Testino (Peruvian Fashion and Portrait Photographer), Theo Epstein (President of Baseball Operations at the Chicago Cubs), Mark Brnovich (Arizona Attorney General, and many more.
San Diego, United States
Cost Of Living
$ 26,904
$ 25,344
$ 26,904
$ 25,344
#587
Alliant International University (also known as Alliant) is a private for-profit university with its flagship campus in San Diego and five more campuses around California in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Irvine, Sacramento, and Fresno. The California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) and the United States International University (USIU) were combined to create Alliant in 2001. The university's main campus is located in San Diego, California, just like the institutions it is descended from. In addition, USIU had a campus in Europe until 2007 that was housed in a former public school in the UK that served as a location for a number of films, including the Harry Potter series.
There are around 4,000+ students enrolled at the university out of which about 630 are undergraduate students and the rest of them are graduate students. Numerous degree programmes, including Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate degrees, as well as a few certificates and vocational courses, are available to students at the university. The institution offers courses in psychology, education, forensics, law, and business.
Alliant boasts a diverse group of alumni, with prominent individuals such as Sergio Albert (former NFL player), Cheryl Arutt (retired actor, clinical and forensic psychologist), Denise Merrill (Connecticut Secretary of the State), Judy Chu (Congresswoman, California House of Representatives), Jamie Foxx (actor, singer, comedian, writer, record producer, and rapper) and many others.
San Diego, United States
Cost Of Living
$ 26,904
$ 35,328
$ 26,904
$ 35,328
The Rady School of Management is a graduate-level business school located at the University of California, San Diego, in La Jolla, California. It was established in 2001 due to many needs which were brought to the attention of the school’s founder by the San Diego business community. Each year the school enrols over 1,100 students with an acceptance rate of 48%.
This business school offers a range of graduate-level business degree programmes, including a full-time MBA programme, FlexEvening MBA programme, Executive MBA programme, Masters in Finance programme, Master of Science in Business Analytics programme, and PhD programme. Rady School of Management also provides non-degree executive development programmes and undergraduate courses, including minors in business, accounting, supply chain and entrepreneurship & innovation.
In addition to its academic programmes, the Rady School of Management is also home to a number of centres and institutes, including the California Institute for Innovation and Development, the Beyster Institute for Entrepreneurial Employee Ownership, and the Centre for Social Innovation and Impact. These centres and institutes provide students with opportunities to engage in research and to connect with industry professionals. The economy is significantly impacted locally, nationally, and internationally by Rady School of Management students and graduates. This star alumnus has started more than 200 businesses which have since become active. The alumni and students contributed nearly $2 billion to the economy in a single year through funding events, partnerships, and revenue creation.
Admission Process And Requirements
As you go through the information below, remember that all three universities in San Diego may have different process for admission. The requirements might be a bit different for bachelor's and master's degrees in San Diego. Check the official websites of each university for the most accurate and up-to-date details.
Documents Required
- Academic transcripts
- GPA required: 3.0 on a scale of 4.0
- English proficiency test scores. TOEFL-IBT/IELTS
- 2 Letters of recommendation
- Statement of Purpose/Essay
- C.V. and portfolio.Resume or CV
Admission Process
- Visit the specific university website and create an account.
- Complete the online application.
- Submit your high school transcript and other documents.
- Submit all the applicable test scores from your specific program.
- Submit an application essay.
- Pay the application fee.
- Wait for a response from the admission committee.
Scholarships In San Diego
The state of California offers millions of dollars in scholarships. This is pertinent across all universities which are a part of the state. Since, it also ranks the second highest in international students coming to study here right after New York. So, to alleviate their financial burdens these are some scholarships in San Diego which students can apply:
University of California San Diego (UCSD): The Regents Scholarship and the Chancellor's Scholarship, along with need-based options like the UCSD Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan and the Pell Grant.
- Amount: up to $20,000
San Diego State University (SDSU): The Aztec Achievement Award and the Presidential Scholarship and also need-based options like the Cal Grant and the Federal Work-Study Program.
- Amount: $7,500 - $10,000 per year.
University of San Diego (USD): The Trustee Scholarship and the Dean's Scholarship, along with the USD Promise Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG).
- Amount: $42,382
The San Diego Foundation: The foundation has a number of scholarships based on academic merit and financial need including the Common Scholarship Application and the Holly Fund.
- Amount: $1,000 - $5000
The San Diego County Credit Union Foundation: This scholarship is for San Diego County residents pursuing higher education, including the SDCCU Foundation Scholarship and the Dream Achievers Scholarship.
- Amount: $1,000 - $5000
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund: The foundation offers only to Hispanic students pursuing higher education, including the HSF Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship and the HSF Wells Fargo Scholarship Program.
- Amount: $500 - $5,000
FAQs
This depends on the particular university you’re applying to. Although, the average cost should be between $50,000 - $70,000.
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and the second-largest in California.
San Diego has secured the first spot on the 2023-2024 list of the Most Expensive Places to Live in the United States, according to a ranking published by U.S. News & World Report.
The city has affordable public transit systems which include trolleys, buses, trains, and shuttles.
San Diego County is home to six non-profit four-year universities, such as the University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University. These public universities cater to almost 80,000 out of the city's 126,000 students.
According to The Princeton Review, the University of San Diego has the most picturesque campus in the nation. USD secured the top spot on the list of the Top 25 Most Beautiful Campuses in the country.