Yes, if she goes to UCSD, I’m assuming she’ll apply for the UCDC program. They also have a semester internship arrangement in Sacramento / state-level through UCD. It feels like a question of whether she’s ready to jump into this field with both feet squarely aimed at DC, or whether she wants to spend 4 years figuring out what she really likes, in sunny SD, saving some money for grad school along the way. Though I understand that even if she realizes she wants to do something else, DC is a valuable experience.
By the way, she has similar merit aid at GWU, but did not like the lack of a traditional campus feel.