University of California, San Diego GRE requirements (2026)
GRE policy at UC San Diego is set per department, so it varies widely. Several high-demand programs (Computer Science, the Rady business school, and the General GRE in Physics) have dropped the requirement, while others such as Economics still require scores.
About University of California, San Diego
UC San Diego is a public research university and one of the ten campuses of the University of California system. Its graduate programs are administered through the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs.
GRE requirement by program
University of California, San Diego sets its GRE policy by program, so there is rarely a single university-wide answer. Below is each program we have checked, with its status, a link to the program's own admissions page, and the date we last confirmed it.
| Program | Status | Official source | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|
Division of Graduate Education / central policy PhD and masters | Varies by program The central admissions requirements page states that graduate applicants may be required to submit GRE scores for some departments, and that some programs require additional tests or alternatives. Requirements are set at the program level rather than centrally. | grad.ucsd.edu | Jun 2026 |
Computer Science & Engineering (MS, PhD) MS and PhD | Optional The CSE application checklist states the GRE is not required for PhD and MS applications, and that applicants may still submit valid scores if they have already taken the test. | cse.ucsd.edu | Jun 2026 |
Physics (PhD) PhD | Required The Physics graduate requirements page states the General GRE will not be used in admission decisions, but the Physics GRE subject test is required; applicants self-report the score and submit the official score through ETS. | physics.ucsd.edu | Jun 2026 |
Economics (PhD) PhD | Required The Economics graduate FAQ states the GRE is required for admission and official scores must be submitted (copies are not accepted); the Economics subject test is not required. | economics.ucsd.edu | Jun 2026 |
Rady School of Management — MS Business Analytics Masters | Optional The MSBA admissions page states the GMAT/GRE test requirement is optional for the Full-Time MSBA application; applicants may voluntarily submit valid scores. | rady.ucsd.edu | Jun 2026 |
Each status was read from the program's own admissions page (last checked 20 06 2026). Policies change between cycles; always confirm on the linked official page before you apply.
Not the program you need? The status is set department by department. Use the three-step check on the is the GRE required page to confirm any program in a couple of minutes.
Should you submit a GRE score?
Where University of California, San Diego marks a program Optional, a score comfortably above the program's admitted-student median can strengthen a borderline application, especially for funded or international applicants. Below that median, your effort is usually better spent on the required parts of the file. Where a program is Not accepted, do not send a score, it will not be reviewed.
Unsure where you would land? Sit a free full-length mock and convert your scaled score to its exact official percentile before you decide.