University of San Diego is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in San Diego, California. It enrolls 5,671 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic Calendar4-1-4 Plan
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
75/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes90
Value56
Affordability17
Selectivity82
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 52.4%, University of San Diego is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
52.4%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of San Diego is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
1.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of San Diego isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $30,365 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$30,365
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
21%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
32%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$59,486
Room & Board (on-campus)
$19,918
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,086
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,446
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,931
Total Cost of Attendance
$78,720
Application fee: $55 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$15,586
$30,001 – $48,000
$17,441
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,557
$75,001 – $110,000
$27,012
Over $110,000
$46,989
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$11,25025%percentile
$22,940Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$33,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $22,000
↓ $940
No Pell $17,476
↓ $5,464
Dependent students $19,068
↓ $3,872
Independent students $18,750
↓ $4,190
Female students $19,500
↓ $3,440
Male students $18,500
↓ $4,440
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,721, less than completers ($22,940), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
82% of full-time students who enrolled at University of San Diego graduate within six years, and 91% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
82%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
91%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of San Diego earn a median of $86,522 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$86,522
Earning > $25K
89%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$64,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$81,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$76,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$66,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$70,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $17,500, about 21% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
11.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 90% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of San Diego is home to 5,671 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
5,671
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
25%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 43.0%2,441
Hispanic 27.8%1,576
Other 8.3%470
Asian 7.0%397
International 6.4%361
Black 4.8%270
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of San Diego. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CitySan Diego, California
Housing
Mostly residential3,064 beds on campus
Adult Learners
4%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
4-1-4 Planscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
University of San Diego offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
71 distinct programs across
24 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of San Diego is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$1.4B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$118,373
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
499 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
224
45%
$140,881
Associate Professors
144
29%
$108,445
Assistant Professors
116
23%
$93,527
Instructors
15
3%
$69,707
Pros & Cons of University of San Diego
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of San Diego tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, University of San Diego is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of San Diego
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of San Diego.
Is University of San Diego hard to get into?
Admissions at University of San Diego are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 52.4%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at University of San Diego?
University of San Diego has an acceptance rate of 52.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does University of San Diego cost?
The average net price after aid at University of San Diego is $30,365 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of San Diego worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $86,522 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $30,365 per year. That's roughly 2.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of San Diego known for?
University of San Diego is best known for its programs in Law, Finance, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of San Diego graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of San Diego are $86,522, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of San Diego accredited?
Yes. University of San Diego is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend University of San Diego?
University of San Diego enrolls 5,671 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of San Diego?
University of San Diego graduates 82% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of San Diego a public or private college?
University of San Diego is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is University of San Diego located?
University of San Diego is located in San Diego, California.
What programs does University of San Diego offer?
University of San Diego offers 71 distinct programs. The most popular include Law, Finance, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of San Diego?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of San Diego is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in California
Other colleges in California share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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