8 Best Universities In San Diego For International Students 2025

San Diego is surely one of the places you should be considering if you’re looking to study in United States. This location has a lot to offer for international students, including world-class universities and exciting student experiences.

Out of 8 universities in San Diego, University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University are the top-performing schools in San Diego. This list covers both public and private institutions in San Diego.

In this article, we’ve compiled the best universities in San Diego, California. We based our rankings on academic reputations from reputable sources and the number of international students. By doing this, you’ll have an efficient way of comparing your target universities and choose your host university in San Diego, California.

How do I get admission to the best universities in San Diego?

Applying to the universities in San Diego involves submitting requirements and following specific admissions procedures set by your chosen university. The requirements often include a student visa, application packages, and language scores. Check out our guide for international students who want to study in San Diego to learn more about applying for admission in this country’s universities!

How much are the tuition fees at the best universities in San Diego?

Tuition fees at San Diego’s universities can vary depending on which university, degree, and program you will be enrolling in. Generally, tuition fees for the bachelor’s level range from 8,538 USD to 53,900 USD , while tuition fees for the master’s level range from 3,840 USD to 33,100 USD. If you are interested, check out the affordable universities in San Diego!

As we cover the best universities in San Diego for international students, feel free to check out the university’s information on Admission, Tuition, Courses, and Language Requirements by looking at the individual university pages.

Top Universities in San Diego for International Students

The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) is among the campuses of the prestigious University of California system. It is known to be one of the best institutions for research worldwide. Aside from being famous for its outstanding medical and engineering programs, UCSD is also widely recognized for its vibrant arts and sports events.

San Diego State University is an excellent research university. It has already produced thousands of intelligent graduates who have contributed significantly to the community. The university lived up to its cause of embracing a diverse set of students and highly promotes inclusive education.

The University of San Diego is an institution dedicated to training ethical and wise leaders in the professional field. It offers a variety of programs from undergraduate to graduate, which is why a lot of students compete to be admitted to the university. Decades after its establishment, the university still continues to carry the roman catholic principles in guiding and honing the students’ skills.

As a Christian institution associated with the Church of the Nazarene, Point Loma Nazarene University rears students academically and spiritually. It is also centered around the liberal arts; thus, most of its programs are related to the social sciences, humanities, and sciences. PLNU is ranked 327th in the Times Higher Education US College Rankings 2022.

Californa Western School of Law is a private law school located in San Diego, California, United States. The university was founded in 1924, is said to have been approved by the American Bar Association in 1962, and holds the title of San Diego’s longest-running law school. It started as a private graduate school called Balboa Law College but later changed its name to Balboa University, including undergraduate and other graduate research programs. Later, in 1952, Balboa changed its name to Western University in California, and after it was approved by the American Bar Association, it became a law school-focused university.

Thomas Jefferson School of Law is a law school in San Diego, California founded in 1969 and named after Thomas Jefferson. It is a private higher education institution that serves both J.D. and LL.M. programs with a mission to create outstanding legal professionals. The student community is filled with students of diverse races, ethnicity, and gender which creates an inclusive and welcoming learning environment.

The NewSchool of Architecture and Design strives for providing innovative education that will solve the architectural issues of the future. It offers 10 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, as well as a special program for those students that would like to get their license as architects. It focuses on preparing students for the job market, so students must complete an internship and complete different projects with the assistance of the university’s faculty and the design clinic.

Southern States University (SSU) is a private American University established over 30 years ago. Our Degree and Certificate Programs have been designed to train you to succeed in the world of business and information technology, and to develop tomorrow’s industry leaders. For many years, Southern States University has attracted international students to come and study at our campuses in California and Nevada. We are proud of having international students (F1/M1) from all over the world. OPT is available in all programs. CPT is available in all degree programs. SSU has campuses in some of the most beautiful locations in the United States: Irvine and San Diego, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada.