Ashford University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Ashford University is a private for-profit university in San Diego, California, with about 20,152 students. Ashford University awards degrees and certificates tracked in federal College Scorecard and IPEDS reporting. Published tuition for full-time study is about $11,960 per year before aid; net price varies by family income. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $35,404 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $11,960
- 2024 Average Net Price: $31,266 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 20,152 100.0% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 10.68%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities
- First-Generation Students: 54.3%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 2.4% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 5.0%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 31,274
- Room & Board: $14,252 annual estimate
Ashford University: what the data shows
Common questions about Ashford University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Ashford University?
Ashford University is located in San Diego, CA (ZIP 92123).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is Ashford University public or private?
Ashford University is a Private For-profit institution.
How much does Ashford University cost?
Published tuition: $11,960.
Average net price after aid: $31,266.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $31,009 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $31,862 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $33,319 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $32,953 |
| $110,001+ | $33,593 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $47,840.
How big is Ashford University?
Total enrollment: 20,152 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 31,274 students.
Graduate enrollment: 6,891 students.
About 100% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Ashford University?
150%-time completion rate: 10.68%.
First-year retention: 34.7%.
What do graduates of Ashford University earn?
Median earnings: $33,397 six years after entry; $35,404 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $31,250.
32.07% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Ashford University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Business Administration and Management, General (1,393 completions)
- Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other (856 completions)
- Psychology, General (700 completions)
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching (610 completions)
- Health/Health Care Administration/Management (578 completions)
- Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General (459 completions)
- Organizational Leadership (302 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (297 completions)
- Education, General (225 completions)
- Accounting (165 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Ashford University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 10.68%; median earnings $35,404 at 10 years; net price $31,266. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$11,960
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Ashford University was $11,960.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$31,266
2024 Value
In 2024 Ashford University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $31,266.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$125,064 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$31,266 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$47,840 4-Year Tuition
$14,252 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,150 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$27,362 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$109,448 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Ashford University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
32.07% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
33.20% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Ashford University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Ashford University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $10,312 | $10,312 | $20,983 |
| 2014 | $10,480 | $10,480 | $18,085 |
| 2015 | $10,720 | $10,720 | $16,870 |
| 2016 | $11,032 | $11,032 | $18,455 |
| 2017 | $11,248 | $11,248 | $18,749 |
| 2018 | $12,160 | $12,160 | $18,907 |
| 2019 | $12,400 | $12,400 | $20,510 |
| 2020 | $14,278 | $14,278 | $20,987 |
| 2021 | $14,278 | $14,278 | $23,380 |
| 2022 | $13,160 | $13,160 | $24,722 |
| 2023 | $13,160 | $13,160 | $25,321 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Ashford University reported total enrollment of about 20,152 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 39% male and 61% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (37.0%), Black or African American (29.4%), and Hispanic or Latino (21.5%). About 32.07% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 54.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
100.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Ashford University in 2024 is 20,152 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 31,274 students. Graduate enrollment is about 6,891 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
34.7%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 37.0%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
2.66% 100% Completion Time
10.68% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 2.66% of students graduating from Ashford University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 48% male / 52% female
- Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other: 53% male / 47% female
- Psychology, General: 21% male / 79% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Ashford University.
Return on Investment
$31,250 Median Student Debt
$35,404 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
88.27% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
183.09% Return on Investment
8.8 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Ashford University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 65 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Business Administration and Management, General: 1,393 completions
2. Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other: 856 completions
3. Psychology, General: 700 completions
4. Early Childhood Education & Teaching: 610 completions
5. Health/Health Care Administration/Management: 578 completions
6. Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General: 459 completions
7. Organizational Leadership: 302 completions
8. Criminal Justice/Safety Studies: 297 completions
9. Education, General: 225 completions
Most popular programs at Ashford University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Ashford University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Ashford University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 5.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $7,113
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $1,727
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Ashford University is a private for-profit institution located in San Diego, CA, classified as Doctoral/Professional Universities. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other, Psychology, General. Enrollment is approximately 20,152 students. Student body composition includes White (37.0%), Black or African American (29.4%), Hispanic or Latino (21.5%). The 150%-time completion rate is 10.68%. Approximately 32.07% of students receive Pell Grants. About 54.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private For-profit
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities
Location
San Diego, CA 92123
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 10.68% graduation rate at Ashford University falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 65 distinct degree programs, Ashford University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ashford University located?
Ashford University is located in San Diego, CA.
How much does Ashford University cost?
Reported tuition is $11,960 and average net price is $31,266 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $14,252 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Ashford University?
Ashford University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 31,274 students, White (37.0%), Black or African American (29.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Ashford University?
About 54.3% of students at Ashford University are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Ashford University earn?
Median earnings are $33,397 six years after entry and $35,404 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Ashford University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 10.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Ashford University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $31,250.
Is Ashford University public or private?
Ashford University is a private for-profit institution located in San Diego, CA.
Is Ashford University an HBCU?
No. Ashford University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Ashford University a tribal college?
No. Ashford University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Ashford University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Ashford University does not meet that proxy (reported share 21.5%).
Is Ashford University religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Ashford University in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- San Diego, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.