How this school serves students from different economic backgrounds, including Pell students, first-generation pathways, and long-term mobility outcomes.
University of California-San Diego admits 26.7% of applicants, reflecting a selective admission profile. Among enrolled undergraduates, 34.2% receive Pell Grants and 39.6% are first-generation college students. Transfer enrollment accounts for 34.0% of the student body, indicating that University of California-San Diego serves students who begin their academic paths elsewhere before continuing here. Azimuth ranks University of California-San Diego #43 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students who enroll, outcomes are strong. The six-year graduation rate is 86.1%, and 85.5% of Pell-eligible students complete within the same window — a sign that low-income students who gain admission are well-supported through to degree completion. Freshman retention stands at 94.0%. Low-income graduates earn a median $72,900 on a historical ten-year Scorecard measure, placing this cohort in the 93.1 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of California-San Diego #1 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 100th percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. The pattern here mirrors what Azimuth's analysis of access versus outcomes at scale describes: low-income students who gain admission complete at high rates and reach strong earnings — but the institution's selectivity shapes how many students benefit from that pathway.
University of California-San Diego admits 26.7% of applicants, reflecting a selective admission profile. Among enrolled undergraduates, 34.2% receive Pell Grants and 39.6% are first-generation college students. Transfer enrollment accounts for 34.0% of the student body, indicating that University of California-San Diego serves students who begin their academic paths elsewhere before continuing here. Azimuth ranks University of California-San Diego #43 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students who enroll, outcomes are strong. The six-year graduation rate is 86.1%, and 85.5% of Pell-eligible students complete within the same window — a sign that low-income students who gain admission are well-supported through to degree completion. Freshman retention stands at 94.0%. Low-income graduates earn a median $72,900 on a historical ten-year Scorecard measure, placing this cohort in the 93.1 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of California-San Diego #1 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 100th percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. The pattern here mirrors what Azimuth's analysis of access versus outcomes at scale describes: low-income students who gain admission complete at high rates and reach strong earnings — but the institution's selectivity shapes how many students benefit from that pathway.
University of California-San Diego admits 26.7% of applicants, reflecting a selective admission profile. Among enrolled undergraduates, 34.2% receive Pell Grants and 39.6% are first-generation college students. Transfer enrollment accounts for 34.0% of the student body, indicating that University of California-San Diego serves students who begin their academic paths elsewhere before continuing here. Azimuth ranks University of California-San Diego #43 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students who enroll, outcomes are strong. The six-year graduation rate is 86.1%, and 85.5% of Pell-eligible students complete within the same window — a sign that low-income students who gain admission are well-supported through to degree completion. Freshman retention stands at 94.0%. Low-income graduates earn a median $72,900 on a historical ten-year Scorecard measure, placing this cohort in the 93.1 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of California-San Diego #1 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 100th percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. The pattern here mirrors what Azimuth's analysis of access versus outcomes at scale describes: low-income students who gain admission complete at high rates and reach strong earnings — but the institution's selectivity shapes how many students benefit from that pathway.