💰 University of California-San Diego Merit Scholarships

Total Scholarships

11

Automatic

4

In-State Awards

$20,000/yr

Out-of-State Awards

$20,000/yr

Multi-Year Awards

$2,000-$20,000 total

Typical Requirements for Automatic Merit

Requirements vary by scholarship

What you'd actually pay at University of California-San Diego

Tuition & fees

$47,346

−

Largest annual award

$20,000

=

Students receiving it pay about

$27,346/yr

Tuition and fees only — housing (about $18,970), books and travel are extra. Awards must still be won and may carry renewal conditions. Need-based aid is separate and may reduce this further.

Official Scholarship Information

View complete details on University of California-San Diego's website

Visit School Website →

Automatic merit scholarships at University of California-San Diego — no separate application

4 awards granted on your admission application, based on GPA and test scores.

Entering Freshmen Regents Scholarship

Award

$20,000 total in-state

$20,000 total out-of-state

Entering freshmen receive a $20,000 honorarium paid at $5,000 per year in each of their 4 undergraduate years (plus other special privileges).

Eligibility: Regents Scholarships are merit scholarships, selected on the basis of academic excellence.

How to apply: ["Considered/selected on basis of academic excellence via UC admissions file"]

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Entering Transfer Regents Scholarship

Award

$10,000 total in-state

$10,000 total out-of-state

Entering transfers receive a $10,000 honorarium paid at $5,000 per year in each of their 2 undergraduate years (plus other special privileges).

Eligibility: The Regents Transfer Student Scholarship is the most prestigious scholarship awarded to undergraduate students at the University of California. Regents Scholarships are merit scholarships, selected on the basis of academic excellence.

How to apply: ["File your UC Admissions Application by the November 30 deadline.", "Selected on basis of academic excellence via admissions file."]

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Excellence Scholarships (PharmD Admissions Scholarships)

Award amount: Variable

Eligibility: Excellence Scholarships recognize and reward outstanding achievement and potential in our students. This suite of merit-based scholarships, including the Vice Chancellor's Scholarship for Inclusive Excellence in Pharmacy, the Dussin Scholarship, and the Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship, aims to support students who demonstrate exceptional talent, leadership, and dedication to their studies.

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First-Year merit scholarships

Eligibility: First-Year merit scholarships: Merit scholarships are based solely on academic achievement as reflected in your UC admissions application.

How to apply: ["File your UC Application for Admissions and Scholarships by the November 30 deadline."]

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Other scholarships at University of California-San Diego (7)

These require a separate application, or the school does not publish their eligibility criteria.

Boren Semester Award

$10,000/semester

Award: $8,000 Summer / Up to $10,000 Semester / Up to $20,000 Year.

Eligibility: U.S. citizen; Matriculated in an undergraduate degree program located within the United States accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Boren Scholars must remain matriculated in their undergraduate programs for the duration of the scholarship and may not graduate until the scholarship is complete.

How to apply: ["Institutional endorsement from UC San Diego Institutional Advisor (contact Kim Burton).", "Apply to Boren Awards (external application process)."]

Source ↗

Boren Summer Award

$8,000 one-time

Award: $8,000 Summer / Up to $10,000 Semester / Up to $20,000 Year.

Eligibility: U.S. citizen; Matriculated in an undergraduate degree program located within the United States accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Boren Scholars must remain matriculated in their undergraduate programs for the duration of the scholarship and may not graduate until the scholarship is complete.

How to apply: ["Institutional endorsement from UC San Diego Institutional Advisor (contact Kim Burton).", "Apply to Boren Awards (external application process)."]

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Boren Year Award

$20,000/yr

Award: $8,000 Summer / Up to $10,000 Semester / Up to $20,000 Year.

Eligibility: U.S. citizen; Matriculated in an undergraduate degree program located within the United States accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Boren Scholars must remain matriculated in their undergraduate programs for the duration of the scholarship and may not graduate until the scholarship is complete.

How to apply: ["Institutional endorsement from UC San Diego Institutional Advisor (contact Kim Burton).", "Apply to Boren Awards (external application process)."]

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Bud Whipple Memorial Award (Second Year Medical Student)

$10,000 one-time

Award amount: $10,000

Eligibility: The student must be in good academic standing. The student, like Bud, must have earned the respect of his or her classmates and faculty by growing through adversity in life. The student must have demonstrated an unselfish commitment to others, outstanding character, and displayed exceptional human kindness to his/her colleagues and patients.

How to apply: ["Nomination (nominators may nominate more than one student).", "Once nominated, submit a brief application, personal statement, and letter of support from a faculty member or community member."]

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Carrlene Harper Memorial Award (Third Year Medical Student)

$2,000 one-time

Award amount: $2,000

Eligibility: The student must be in good academic standing. The student must exhibit excellence in community service (local, medical school, or other) during enrollment in medical school. The student must demonstrate a financial need.

How to apply: ["Nomination and submission of brief application, personal statement, and letter of support."]

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Continuing Undergraduate Scholarships (category)

Eligibility: Merit scholarships: Merit scholarships are based solely on academic achievement. Merit scholarships are listed first and marked below.

How to apply: ["Apply online via https://ucsd.academicworks.com by 11:59 p.m., April 2, 2025."]

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Miguel Velez Scholarship

The Miguel Velez Scholarship provides generous funding to subsidize the educational and living costs of UC San Diego international degree-seeking undergraduate students from the Latin American and Caribbean regions.

Eligibility: Awards will be given based upon individual financial circumstances, academic merit, and ability.

How to apply: ["Submit application (link on page) by deadline."]

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Common questions about University of California-San Diego scholarships

How much merit aid does University of California-San Diego give?

Published awards range $20,000/yr. University of California-San Diego lists 11 merit scholarships in total.

Does University of California-San Diego give merit scholarships to out-of-state students?

Yes. Awards for out-of-state students run $20,000/yr.

Is there a full-ride scholarship at University of California-San Diego?

Not a full ride. The largest published award covers about 42% of tuition.

More on University of California-San Diego

Admissions, cost & outcomes → 🏈 Athletics & sports 📍 All schools in CA 💰 Schools with automatic merit

Other CA schools with automatic merit scholarships

Biola University La Mirada, CA → California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA → Hope International University Fullerton, CA → Mount Saint Mary's University Los Angeles, CA → Occidental College Los Angeles, CA → Pacific Union College Angwin, CA → Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA → University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA →