<p>Top tier universities are heavily represented at the top grad schools over lower tier counterparts. Those are simply the facts. As @professorX5 said more research, internships, and opportunities at UCSD, and as even you said, grades will be comparable to UCSC, so why not just choose the top tier? You suggested a CSU. OP should choose the campus he likes rather than try to game the system for a supposed (and questionable) easier admit to grad school. </p>
<p>Another thing to always take into consideration: planning to go to grad school and actually going to grad school are two different things. If you end up not going, which happens a lot, wouldn’t you rather have the top tier undergrad degree?</p>
<p>I gave my opinion and that’s all it is. At the end of the day, OP should go where he feels he will benefit the most.</p>