University of San Diego Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
University of San Diego is a private research university in San Diego, California, serving roughly 5,671 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 52.38% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $86,522 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $59,486
- 2024 Average Net Price: $30,365 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 52.38% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 5,671 98.5% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 83.67%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
- First-Generation Students: 24.9%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 3.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 5.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 54.5%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,263
- Applicants (IPEDS): 15,953
- Room & Board: $19,918 annual estimate
University of San Diego: what the data shows
Common questions about University of San Diego, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is University of San Diego?
University of San Diego is located in San Diego, CA (ZIP 92110-2492).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is University of San Diego public or private?
University of San Diego is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does University of San Diego cost?
Published tuition: $59,486.
Average net price after aid: $30,365.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $15,586 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $17,441 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $19,557 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $27,012 |
| $110,001+ | $46,989 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $237,944.
How hard is it to get into University of San Diego?
Admission rate: 52.38%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is University of San Diego?
Total enrollment: 5,671 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 6,263 students.
Graduate enrollment: 3,863 students.
About 98% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at University of San Diego?
150%-time completion rate: 83.67%.
First-year retention: 91.4%.
What do graduates of University of San Diego earn?
Median earnings: $64,995 six years after entry; $86,522 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $22,940.
20.92% of students receive Pell grants.
What is University of San Diego known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Law (250 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (216 completions)
- Finance, General (186 completions)
- Real Estate (176 completions)
- Legal Assistant/Paralegal (121 completions)
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General (113 completions)
- Psychology, General (105 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration (103 completions)
- Communication and Media Studies (81 completions)
- Business Analytics (76 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is University of San Diego a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 52.38%; completion rate 83.67%; median earnings $86,522 at 10 years; net price $30,365. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$59,486
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at University of San Diego was $59,486.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$30,365
2024 Value
In 2024 University of San Diego had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $30,365.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$121,460 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$30,365 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$237,944 4-Year Tuition
$19,918 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,062 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$80,466 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$321,864 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for University of San Diego.
Financial Aid by Income Level
20.92% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
32.40% 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 University of San Diego 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 University of San Diego 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 | $41,392 | $41,392 | $31,593 |
| 2014 | $42,908 | $42,908 | $30,191 |
| 2015 | $44,586 | $44,586 | $33,865 |
| 2016 | $46,140 | $46,140 | $33,821 |
| 2017 | $47,708 | $47,708 | $34,752 |
| 2018 | $49,358 | $49,358 | $32,576 |
| 2019 | $51,186 | $51,186 | $32,460 |
| 2020 | $52,864 | $52,864 | $34,139 |
| 2021 | $52,864 | $52,864 | $28,071 |
| 2022 | $54,554 | $54,554 | $29,725 |
| 2023 | $56,444 | $56,444 | $31,265 |
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
52.38% Acceptance Rate
15,953 Total Applicants
7,458 Students Admitted
1,245 First-Time Students Enrolled
16.69% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
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
University of San Diego reported total enrollment of about 5,671 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 44% male and 56% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (43.0%), Hispanic or Latino (27.8%), and Two or More Races (7.7%). About 20.92% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 24.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
98.5% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at University of San Diego in 2024 is 5,671 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 6,263 students. Graduate enrollment is about 3,863 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
91.4%
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 43.0%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
69.25% 100% Completion Time
83.67% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 69.25% of students graduating from University of San Diego completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Law: 39% male / 61% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 55% male / 45% female
- Finance, General: 72% male / 28% 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 University of San Diego.
Return on Investment
$22,940 Median Student Debt
$86,522 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
26.51% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
612.35% Return on Investment
2.7 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for University of San Diego.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 78 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Law: 250 completions
2. Business Administration and Management, General: 216 completions
3. Finance, General: 186 completions
4. Real Estate: 176 completions
5. Legal Assistant/Paralegal: 121 completions
6. Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 113 completions
7. Psychology, General: 105 completions
8. Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration: 103 completions
9. Communication and Media Studies: 81 completions
Most popular programs at University of San Diego.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for University of San Diego graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for University of San Diego from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 54.5%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $13,201
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $18,725
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
University of San Diego is a private non-profit institution located in San Diego, CA, classified as Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Law, Business Administration and Management, General, Finance, General. Enrollment is approximately 5,671 students. Student body composition includes White (43.0%), Hispanic or Latino (27.8%), Two or More Races (7.7%). The admission rate is 52.38%. The 150%-time completion rate is 83.67%. Approximately 20.92% of students receive Pell Grants. About 24.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Location
San Diego, CA 92110-2492
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Exceptional Graduation Rate: With a 83.67% graduation rate, University of San Diego demonstrates strong student retention and completion. This rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating effective academic support and student services.
Strong Career Outcomes: University of San Diego graduates report median earnings of $86,522 ten years after entry, placing them among the higher-earning college graduates nationally. This strong earnings potential reflects both the quality of education and the career opportunities available to graduates.
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 78 distinct degree programs, University of San Diego 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 University of San Diego located?
University of San Diego is located in San Diego, CA.
What is University of San Diego's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at University of San Diego is 52.4% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 15,953 applicants and 7,458 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does University of San Diego cost?
Reported tuition is $59,486 and average net price is $30,365 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $19,918 annually.
What is the student body demographics at University of San Diego?
University of San Diego reports undergraduate enrollment of about 6,263 students, White (43.0%), Hispanic or Latino (27.8%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend University of San Diego?
About 24.9% of students at University of San Diego are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of University of San Diego earn?
Median earnings are $64,995 six years after entry and $86,522 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at University of San Diego?
The 150%-time completion rate is 83.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do University of San Diego students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $22,940.
Is University of San Diego public or private?
University of San Diego is a private nonprofit institution located in San Diego, CA.
Is University of San Diego an HBCU?
No. University of San Diego is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is University of San Diego a tribal college?
No. University of San Diego is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is University of San Diego a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—University of San Diego reports 27.8% Hispanic enrollment share.
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.