University of San Diego
A good fit for students considering a private nonprofit institution in California. no major red flags in the data. solid earnings of $71,100 within 10 years; strong 84% graduation rate.
About This School
University of San Diego is a private nonprofit institution located in San Diego, California with approximately 5,671 undergraduate students enrolled. University of San Diego has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 52%. The average net price after financial aid is $30,365 per year. The graduation rate is 84%, and the typical graduate earns $71,100 within 10 years of enrollment.
The University of San Diego (USD) is a private Catholic research university in San Diego, California, United States. Chartered in 1949 as the independent San Diego College for Women and San Diego University, the two institutions merged in 1972.
This is a strong option for students who want a mid-sized Catholic university experience in one of the country's most desirable cities, with a 90% freshman retention rate and 82% graduation rate suggesting students generally stay and succeed once enrolled. The financial picture is reasonable — median debt of $22,940 is on the lower end for a private school, and median earnings of $71,100 at 10 years out offer solid return on that investment. At a 47% acceptance rate, it's selective without being a long shot, making it a realistic target for motivated but not exclusively top-tier applicants.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 10% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
University of San Diego graduates earn most above the national rate in Accounting and Related Services ($109,142 vs $76,194 nationally), and most below it in Real Estate ($78,044 vs $84,821).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 175 | $93,099 | $83,343 | +$9,756 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 162 | $79,678 | $68,257 | +$11,421 |
| Real Estate | 125 | $78,044 | $84,821 | −$6,777 |
| Psychology, General | 111 | $74,178 | $50,706 | +$23,472 |
| Marketing | 93 | $83,562 | $69,303 | +$14,259 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 92 | $68,913 | $56,359 | +$12,554 |
| Biology, General | 79 | $59,950 | $57,214 | +$2,736 |
| Political Science and Government | 71 | $62,301 | $63,293 | −$992 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 67 | $72,910 | $62,451 | +$10,459 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 62 | $91,848 | $92,135 | −$287 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 57 | $109,142 | $76,194 | +$32,948 |
| International Business | 50 | $85,285 | $73,201 | +$12,084 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (5,671 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in California
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Unitek College
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California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
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See How Colleges Compare
University of San Diego is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at University of San Diego?
University of San Diego has an acceptance rate of 52%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is University of San Diego hard to get into?
University of San Diego is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 52%. Solid grades and a complete application give most applicants a real shot.
How much does University of San Diego cost?
The average net price at University of San Diego is about $30,365 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at University of San Diego?
University of San Diego has a graduation rate of 84%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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