CA
University of California-San Diego
13.49 incidents / 1,000 students
La Jolla, CA · Clery Act 2024 · Public
University of California-San Diego
Across 2022–2024, University of California-San Diego reported 1,489 incidents in the Clery Criminal Offenses section, and the yearly count rose over that span (largest filed category: Motor Vehicle Theft). Nearby same-state same-level comparison: California State University-Fullerton.
- 13.49
- Incidents / 1k students
- #1,998
- Rank of 2,072
- #301
- CA rank
- 44,256
- Enrolled students
13.49 reported score-category incidents per 1,000 students
University of California-San Diego reports 13.49 2024 score-category incidents per 1,000 - 428% above Tarrant County College District. Similar-enrollment scored peers: Tarrant County College District (1.68/1k); Florida State University (3.51/1k); California State University-Fullerton (1.51/1k); The University of Texas at Arlington (2.34/1k); University of Cincinnati-Main Campus (3.73/1k). Same-state same-level set also includes California State University-Fullerton (1.51/1k); University of California-Berkeley (14.19/1k); California State University-Long Beach (1.17/1k); University of Southern California (9.64/1k); University of California-Los Angeles (9.38/1k); San Diego State University (1.36/1k); University of California-Davis (15.52/1k); California State University-Northridge (3.55/1k). Largest Criminal Offenses total across filed years: Motor Vehicle Theft.
Data source U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety and Security Survey
- incidents / 1,000 students
- 13.49
- of 2,072 ranked nationally
- #1,998
- report fewer incidents than this campus
- 96%
- Criminal Offenses, 2024
- 528
Source: U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety and Security Survey
Data updated August 2026
Clery Act plate
Sheet 110680 · University of California-San Diego 13.49/1k score rate · #1,998/2,072
RATE-HOT · RANK-BOTTOM · ST-MID · ABOVE-PEER · ZERO-NONE · TREND-UP · CAT-LEAD · ENR-LARGE · FIRE-REPORT
- RATE-HOT 13.49/1k
- RANK-BOTTOM #1,998/2,072
- ST-MID #301 in state
- ABOVE-PEER University of Cincinnati-Main Campus · +9.76
- ZERO-NONE Scored
- TREND-UP ↑ 40%
- CAT-LEAD Motor Vehicle Th…
- ENR-LARGE 44,256
- FIRE-REPORT 26 fires
Nearest enrollment peer: University of Cincinnati-Main Campus (-9.76/1k)
University of California-San Diego sheet RATE-HOT · RANK-BOTTOM · ST-MID · ABOVE-PEER · ZERO-NONE · TREND-UP · CAT-LEAD · ENR-LARGE · FIRE-REPORT · peer University of Cincinnati-Main Campus. Codes from this campus OPE filing: score-category rate, national/state rank, named enrollment peer, zero posture, Criminal Offenses trend, lead category, enrollment band, fire filing. Not a moving recommendation.
Clery plate RATE-HOT · RANK-BOTTOM · ST-MID · ABOVE-PEER · ZERO-NONE · TREND-UP · CAT-LEAD · ENR-LARGE · FIRE-REPORT. Nearest similar-enrollment peer is University of Cincinnati-Main Campus (-9.76/1k). National rank #1,998 of 2,072 scored campuses. Instrument codes from this campus OPE sheet; compare similarly sized peers before treating any single rate as decisive.
University of California-San Diego reports 13.49 2024 score-category incidents per 1,000 - 428% above Tarrant County College District. Similar-enrollment scored peers: Tarrant County College District (1.68/1k); Florida State University (3.51/1k); California State University-Fullerton (1.51/1k); The University of Texas at Arlington (2.34/1k); University of Cincinnati-Main Campus (3.73/1k). Same-state same-level set also includes California State University-Fullerton (1.51/1k); University of California-Berkeley (14.19/1k); California State University-Long Beach (1.17/1k); University of Southern California (9.64/1k); University of California-Los Angeles (9.38/1k); San Diego State University (1.36/1k); University of California-Davis (15.52/1k); California State University-Northridge (3.55/1k). Largest Criminal Offenses total across filed years: Motor Vehicle Theft.
Peer-rate neighbourhood around University of California-San
Lowest/highest enrollment peers plus campuses nearest University on score-category rate. Full ladder: /rankings/safest-campuses.
- California State University-Fullerton · lowest peer 1.51
California State University-Fullerton — lowest peer
1.51 per 1,000 students
- The University of Texas · near 2.34
The University of Texas at Arlington — near
2.34 per 1,000 students
- Florida State University · near 3.51
Florida State University — near
3.51 per 1,000 students
- University of Cincinnati-Main Campus · near 3.73
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus — near
3.73 per 1,000 students
- University of California-San Diego · this campus · highest
University of California-San Diego — this campus · highest
13.49 per 1,000 students
What this shows Neighbourhood of similar-enrollment peers around University of California-San Diego's 13.49/1k rate, not a full-corpus distribution reprint.
Reporting-period change
What changed in 2024
University of California-San Diego decreased from 583 to 528 reported on-campus incidents between the 2023 and 2024 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.
This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.
See national reporting-year changesSignature insight · size does not equal danger
Campus size vs reported safety rate
Among 37 CA 4-year peers in this comparison, University of California-San Diego is larger than 92% and safer-reporting than 11% - the larger, higher-reporting quadrant. Axes are within-sample percentiles so outliers share the same frame; a higher safety percentile means a lower Clery incidents-per-1,000 rate.
Read the chart as text
- Point 1: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 89, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 69
- Point 2: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 94, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 8
- Point 3: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 86, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 75
- Point 4: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 97, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 19
- Point 5: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 100, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 22
- Point 6: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 83, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 72
- Point 7: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 81, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 6
- Point 8: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 78, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 39
- Point 9: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 75, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 56
- Point 10: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 72, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 17
- Point 11: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 69, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 36
- Point 12: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 67, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 78
- Point 13: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 64, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 53
- Point 14: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 61, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 94
- Point 15: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 58, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 3
- Point 16: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 56, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 14
- Point 17: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 53, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 25
- Point 18: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 50, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 83
- Point 19: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 47, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 47
- Point 20: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 44, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 31
- Point 21: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 42, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 42
- Point 22: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 39, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 97
- Point 23: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 36, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 28
- Point 24: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 33, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 86
- Point 25: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 31, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 0
- Point 26: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 28, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 61
- Point 27: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 25, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 97
- Point 28: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 22, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 92
- Point 29: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 19, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 64
- Point 30: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 17, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 67
- Point 31: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 14, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 58
- Point 32: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 11, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 33
- Point 33: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 8, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 81
- Point 34: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 6, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 89
- Point 35: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 3, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 50
- Point 36: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 0, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 44
- University of California-S…: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 92, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 11
Read the chart as a table
| Campus | Enrollment | Rate / 1k | Size pct | Safety pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Baptist University | 11,902 | 2.77 | 0 | 44 |
| California State University-East Bay | 12,326 | 2.60 | 3 | 50 |
| Foothill College | 12,949 | 0.23 | 6 | 89 |
| Antelope Valley Community College District | 13,532 | 0.59 | 8 | 81 |
| California State University-Dominguez Hills | 15,182 | 4.22 | 11 | 33 |
| California State University-Chico | 15,257 | 2.16 | 14 | 58 |
| Cypress College | 15,924 | 1.57 | 17 | 67 |
| California State University-San Marcos | 16,237 | 1.85 | 19 | 64 |
| Rio Hondo College | 17,441 | 0.17 | 22 | 92 |
| Modesto Junior College | 18,258 | 0.00 | 25 | 97 |
| California State University-San Bernardino | 18,492 | 2.00 | 28 | 61 |
| University of California-San Diego (this campus) | 44,256 | 13.49 | 92 | 11 |
Sample of 12 campuses from the plot (sorted by enrollment). Source: U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey + IPEDS enrollment. Rate = on-campus Criminal Offenses and VAWA incidents per 1,000 students; lower is safer-reporting, not a personal-risk forecast.
Enrollment scale
How campus size shapes the safety figures
With 44,256 enrolled students, University of California-San Diego is the 48th largest of the 5,585 institutions in this dataset with a reported enrollment, ahead of 5,537 of them. Closest same-state same-level scored peers by enrollment: California State University-Fullerton (1.51/1k); University of California-Berkeley (14.19/1k); California State University-Long Beach (1.17/1k); University of Southern California (9.64/1k); University of California-Los Angeles (9.38/1k); San Diego State University (1.36/1k); University of California-Davis (15.52/1k); California State University-Northridge (3.55/1k). The score above normalizes 2024 Criminal Offenses and VAWA incidents per 1,000 students, so compare it with similarly sized campuses instead of treating a higher raw count as evidence that a campus is less safe (Tarrant County College District is the nearest similar-enrollment comparison on this profile).
What changed between 2023 and 2024
Reported on-campus incidents at University of California-San Diego fell from 583 to 528 (-9%). The increase shows up in Rape (19 to 28), Robbery (1 to 4) and Aggravated Assault (9 to 10). Falling over the same period: Motor Vehicle Theft (489 to 444), Burglary (37 to 21) and Fondling (21 to 14).
This describes reported incidents, not crime. Clery counts move with reporting policy, awareness campaigns and how a campus staffs its security authorities, so a rise can reflect better capture of reports and a fall can reflect worse capture. One year of movement at a single campus is not a trend.
What actually gets reported at University of California-San Diego
Across 3 reporting years, on-campus incidents were recorded in 7 Clery Act categories here: Motor Vehicle Theft, Burglary, Rape, Fondling, Aggravated Assault, Arson and Robbery. Motor Vehicle Theft accounts for most of them.
The remaining 4 categories were reported with no on-campus incidents, Incest, Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter, Negligent Manslaughter and Statutory Rape. Under the Clery Act that zero is an affirmative report that nothing in the category occurred, not an absence of data, which is why the table below lists those rows rather than dropping them.
Counts describe incidents reported under the Clery Act for the on-campus geography. Reporting practice varies between institutions, so counts are not a direct measure of relative safety.
Crime Statistics by Year
11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus onlyUniversity of California-San Diego: Criminal Offenses by year
Rising 40% (378 → 528 incidents)
Read the chart as text
| Period | On-campus incidents |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 378 |
| 2023 | 583 |
| 2024 | 528 |
| Crime Type | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 444 | 489 | 308 |
| Burglary | 21 | 37 | 25 |
| Rape | 28 | 19 | 14 |
| Fondling | 14 | 21 | 12 |
| Aggravated Assault | 10 | 9 | 12 |
| Arson | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| Robbery | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Incest | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Statutory Rape | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Table figures show the Criminal Offenses section; other Clery tables are separate
Fire Safety
| Year | Fires | Inj. | Deaths | Cat I | Cat II |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Arrests & Disciplinary Actions
9 category-year records| Category | Year | Arrests | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drugs | 2024 | 44 | 59 |
| Liquor | 2024 | 4 | 322 |
| Weapons | 2024 | 21 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 58 | 68 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 2 | 333 |
| Weapons | 2023 | 14 | 1 |
| Drugs | 2022 | 19 | 57 |
| Liquor | 2022 | 1 | 299 |
| Weapons | 2022 | 18 | 1 |
University of California-San Diego vs peer institutions
Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment
Scores are $2024 Criminal Offenses and VAWA incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer in those categories).
TX
Tarrant County College District
1.68 incidents / 1,000 students
FL
Florida State University
3.51 incidents / 1,000 students
Cost context
Where University of California-San Diego sits on price and outcomes
At $12,470, University of California-San Diego's reported average net price is cheaper than 29% among 492 California colleges with a reported figure. The state median is $20,161.
- $12,470
- average net price
- $20,161
- California median
- 4.2×
- six-year earnings to median debt
- $21,260
- reported income-bracket spread
Aid here is steeply income-scaled. Families reporting under $30,000 of income record a net price of $7,525, while those above $110,000 record $28,785 - roughly 3.8 times as much. A published average of $12,470 therefore describes very few families well; the bracket nearest your own income is the more useful figure.
Six years after enrolling, the median former student who received federal aid reports $65,669 - about 5.3 times one year of the reported net price here. On that ratio the cost is recovered quickly.
Average net price reflects grant and scholarship aid for aided students, not a personal offer. Earnings cover former students who received federal aid; neither measure predicts an individual's outcome.
Academic & Financial Profile
Tuition & Costs
- In-State Tuition
- $16,758
- Out-of-State Tuition
- $50,958
- Avg Net Price
- $12,470
- Median Debt
- $15,500
- Pell Grant Recipients
- 34%
Admissions
- Acceptance Rate
- 27%
Outcomes
- 4-Year Graduation Rate
- 87%
- Retention Rate
- 94%
- Median Earnings (6yr)
- $65,669
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $84,943
- Loan Repayment (3yr)
- 86%
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.
Similar Institutions
Showing 5 of 170 similar institutions by enrollment size.
Tarrant County College District
Fort Worth, TX · 43,928 enrolled
Safety Score 1.68
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL · 43,889 enrolled
Safety Score 3.51
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA · 43,662 enrolled
Safety Score 1.51
The University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX · 44,956 enrolled
Safety Score 2.34
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Cincinnati, OH · 45,026 enrolled
Safety Score 3.73
Closest by National Rank
University of California-San Diego (national rank #1998) sits near Chowan University (#1997) and Saint Edward's University (#1999) on the scored national list, nearest by rank, not by size or state.
Nationwide campuses with similar scale or Clery rate
Two Clery-derived peer sets for University of California-San Diego, both outside CA so the neighborhoods are not state containment (Similar Institutions and national-rank neighbors above stay enrollment- or rank-based).
Similar enrollment (nationwide)
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL · 43,889 enrolled
Safety score 3.51
The University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX · 44,956 enrolled
Safety score 2.34
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Cincinnati, OH · 45,026 enrolled
Safety score 3.73
University of Georgia
Athens, GA · 43,146 enrolled
Safety score 2.04
Brigham Young University-Idaho
Rexburg, ID · 45,585 enrolled
Safety score 0.15
University of Maryland-College Park
College Park, MD · 41,725 enrolled
Safety score 8.58
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Baton Rouge, LA · 41,705 enrolled
Safety score 7.39
Utah Valley University
Orem, UT · 46,807 enrolled
Safety score 0.77
Similar 2024 Clery rate (nationwide)
Saint Edward's University
Austin, TX · 3,033 enrolled
Safety score 13.52
Miles College
Fairfield, AL · 1,180 enrolled
Safety score 13.56
Amherst College
Amherst, MA · 1,914 enrolled
Safety score 13.58
Chowan University
Murfreesboro, NC · 675 enrolled
Safety score 13.33
Stillman College
Tuscaloosa, AL · 731 enrolled
Safety score 13.68
Haskell Indian Nations University
Lawrence, KS · 978 enrolled
Safety score 13.29
West Virginia Wesleyan College
Buckhannon, WV · 1,055 enrolled
Safety score 13.27
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle, WA · 2,261 enrolled
Safety score 13.27
Frequently Asked Questions
Is University of California-San Diego safe?
University of California-San Diego has a safety score of 13.49 (2024 on-campus Criminal Offenses and VAWA incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #1,998 nationally out of 2,072 ranked institutions - nearest similar-enrollment comparison: Tarrant County College District (1.68/1k). Same-state same-level set: California State University-Fullerton (1.51/1k); University of California-Berkeley (14.19/1k); California State University-Long Beach (1.17/1k); University of Southern California (9.64/1k); University of California-Los Angeles (9.38/1k); San Diego State University (1.36/1k); University of California-Davis (15.52/1k); California State University-Northridge (3.55/1k).
What crimes are reported at University of California-San Diego?
For calendar year 2024, University of California-San Diego reported Motor Vehicle Theft (444), Rape (28), Burglary (21), Fondling (14) and Aggravated Assault (10), and 2 further categories in the Criminal Offenses section. Every other category in that section was reported at zero; other Clery tables are separate.
How does University of California-San Diego compare to similar schools?
University of California-San Diego reports 428% more 2024 score-category incidents per 1,000 than Tarrant County College District. Scored similar-enrollment peers on this page: Tarrant County College District (1.68/1k); Florida State University (3.51/1k); California State University-Fullerton (1.51/1k); The University of Texas at Arlington (2.34/1k); University of Cincinnati-Main Campus (3.73/1k). Same-state same-level set: California State University-Fullerton (1.51/1k); University of California-Berkeley (14.19/1k); California State University-Long Beach (1.17/1k); University of Southern California (9.64/1k); University of California-Los Angeles (9.38/1k); San Diego State University (1.36/1k); University of California-Davis (15.52/1k); California State University-Northridge (3.55/1k).
Does University of California-San Diego have fire safety data?
Yes. University of California-San Diego reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. 26 fires were reported in the most recent year.
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice.