Paid Research Studies at UC San Diego (UCSD)
Get paid $50–$300+ for online research studies, surveys, and remote focus groups open to CA residents at UC San Diego, plus in-person studies at UC San Diego when available. UCSD sits on the Torrey Pines mesa beside one of the densest biotech clusters in the country, so paid clinical and behavioural recruiting in La Jolla runs well beyond the university itself.
Online studies open to CA residents
242 online studies are open to anyone in CA right now — take part from home, on your schedule, plus 1 in-person study at UC San Diego.
1-on-1 Interview in San Diego on Healthcare Products - $40
Are you a healthcare professional interested in testing new medical products? Participants are invited to a 25-minute in-person 1-on-1 interview about a new lateral flow test. Qualified participants will receive $40 if completed by October 21, 2026. If you are interested in participating, please sign up and take the survey to see if you qualify! Spots are limited and tend to fill fast. Applying doesn't guarantee a slot, and qualification criteria may change at any time without notice.
Online Survey on AI Usage - up to $350
F'inn has ongoing projects focused on AI Usage and testing new AI features before they are available to the public. Our projects mainly consist of activities which you complete on your own, sharing your AI experiences with us. There are multiple waves of the project, and each one could provide a payout of up to $350. Take the survey to see if you qualify! We hope you'll be part of the project. Space is limited, subject to availability. Criteria for qualification are subject to change at any time and without notice.
Research Study on Accounting Practices - $85
How do accounting professionals effectively collaborate with clients? Participants are invited to a 60-minute online 1-on-1 interview about their document collection and client management processes. Qualified participants will receive $85 if completed by October 30, 2026. If you are interested in participating, please sign up and take the survey to see if you qualify! Spots are limited and tend to fill fast. Applying doesn't guarantee a slot, and qualification criteria may change at any time without notice.
Research Study on Insurance Agents - $150
Are you a licensed insurance agent in Texas? Participants are invited to a 30-minute online research study about the market dynamics and needs of agents. Qualified participants will receive $150 if completed by October 31, 2026. If you are interested in participating, please sign up and take the survey to see if you qualify! Spots are limited and tend to fill fast. Applying doesn't guarantee a slot, and qualification criteria may change at any time without notice.
Research Study on Dining Preferences - $30
What are your favorite dining experiences? Participants are invited to a 24-minute online unmoderated task about sharing thoughts on food preferences and dining experiences. Qualified participants will receive $30 if completed by November 20, 2026. If you are interested in participating, please sign up and take the survey to see if you qualify! Spots are limited and tend to fill fast. Applying doesn't guarantee a slot, and qualification criteria may change at any time without notice.
Research Study on Team Meeting Activities - $35
How do team activities during work meetings impact your engagement? Participants are invited to a 18-minute online unmoderated task about workplace experiences during meetings. Qualified participants will receive $35 if completed by December 1, 2026. If you are interested in participating, please sign up and take the survey to see if you qualify! Spots are limited and tend to fill fast. Applying doesn't guarantee a slot, and qualification criteria may change at any time without notice.
Focus Group on Personal Products - $75
Are you an adult interested in personal household products? Participants are invited to a 30-minute online focus group about personal product experiences. Qualified participants will receive $75 if completed by October 28, 2026. If you are interested in participating, please sign up and take the survey to see if you qualify! Spots are limited and tend to fill fast. Applying doesn't guarantee a slot, and qualification criteria may change at any time without notice.
Research Study on Online Participation - $25
Are you ready to share your thoughts online? Participants are invited to a 15-minute online unmoderated task about online participation. Qualified participants will receive $25 if completed by October 24, 2026. If you are interested in participating, please sign up and take the survey to see if you qualify! Spots are limited and tend to fill fast. Applying doesn't guarantee a slot, and qualification criteria may change at any time without notice.
Research Study on Delivery Operations - $55
How do delivery teams respond to sudden changes? Participants are invited to a 30-minute online research study about adapting delivery operations during unexpected challenges. Qualified participants will receive $55 if completed by November 12, 2026. If you are interested in participating, please sign up and take the survey to see if you qualify! Spots are limited and tend to fill fast. Applying doesn't guarantee a slot, and qualification criteria may change at any time without notice.
How to get paid for research studies at UC San Diego
Most paid research open to UC San Diego (UCSD) is now online — remote focus groups over video, online interviews, paid surveys, product tests, and diary studies you can do from home, open to anyone in CA. UCSD sits on the Torrey Pines mesa beside one of the densest biotech clusters in the country, so paid clinical and behavioural recruiting in La Jolla runs well beyond the university itself. StudySnag aggregates these into one feed so you don't have to hunt across panels, Craigslist, and university boards.
Most studies pay $50–$300, and paid clinical trials can pay significantly more. Because the studies are remote, you can take part whether you're near La Jolla or Torrey Pines or anywhere else in CA — and in-person focus groups and trials at UC San Diego are listed here whenever recruiters are running them.
Not tied to UC San Diego specifically? Browse paid studies near you, or go straight to paid psychology studies and other ways to get paid for your opinion.
Salk, Scripps Research, and dozens of biotech firms share the mesa with UCSD, so students walking distance from campus are inside the recruiting radius of several independent research institutes at once.
Getting started is free: create an account, tell us a little about yourself, and browse the studies you qualify for at UC San Diego. Registering takes one tap, and you're paid directly by the research panel on completion.
Who runs paid research at UC San Diego
- The cognitive science department
- UCSD founded the first cognitive science department in the world, and its subject pool runs an unusually large and varied programme of behavioural, language, and perception studies.
- UC San Diego Health
- The university's hospital system, running clinical trials recruiting across San Diego County.
- The neighbouring institutes
- Salk, Scripps Research, and the biotech firms sharing the Torrey Pines mesa recruit independently of the university and of each other, all within reach of campus.
What paid studies at UC San Diego actually pay
The mesa is the point. A student here is inside the recruiting radius of the university, two major independent institutes, and dozens of biotech companies simultaneously — and because they recruit separately, being ineligible for one has no bearing on the others. Departmental studies pay standard rates; the institutes and the commercial trial units nearby pay considerably more and screen harder.
Getting to in-person studies at UC San Diego
The Blue Line trolley reaches the campus and runs down to downtown San Diego, which changed the picture materially — before those stations opened in 2021, everything up on the mesa effectively required a car. Campus shuttles cover the distances between the university and the neighbouring institutes.
When recruiting picks up at UC San Diego
UCSD runs on quarters, so the subject pool operates in ten-week blocks with gaps between them and a thin summer. The institutes and commercial trial units recruit year-round on their own schedules.
Paid research studies at UC San Diego — FAQ
Can students join studies at Salk or Scripps?+
Yes. They recruit independently of the university and of each other, and they are within walking or shuttle distance of campus. Being ineligible for a UCSD study has no bearing on eligibility at either — registering with all of them is the sensible approach here.
How is this different from the San Diego page?+
This page covers research recruiting on and around the Torrey Pines mesa, where the university sits. The San Diego page covers the whole county, including the commercial early-phase trial units and consumer research firms that have no university connection.
How much do paid research studies at UC San Diego pay?+
Most paid studies for UC San Diego participants pay between $50 and $300, while clinical trials can pay much more. You'll always see the exact payout before you register.
Are there online paid studies for UC San Diego students?+
Yes. Many studies are fully online and open to anyone in CA, so you can take part from La Jolla or anywhere nearby. In-person focus groups and clinical trials are also listed when available.
Do I need to be a student to join?+
No — anyone US-based can join. UC San Diego students are especially in demand, but it's open to everyone.
How do I get started?+
Create a free StudySnag account, tell us a bit about yourself, and browse the studies you qualify for at UC San Diego. Registering for a study takes one tap.
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Paid research studies for students
How much do paid research studies at UC San Diego pay?
Paid research studies open to CA residents and UC San Diego students typically pay $50–$300+, and clinical trials pay more; the top study on StudySnag right now pays $350. Right now 242 online studies are open to anyone in CA, plus 1 in-person study at UC San Diego. You always see the exact payout before you register, and it's free to join.
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