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University of San Diego

#8 in Best Catholic Colleges in America
  • 4 Year
  • San Diego, CA
  • 1,812 reviews
    How to Apply
    A
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Academics
      A
    2. Value
      A-
    3. Diversity
      A
    4. Campus
      A+
    5. Athletics
      B
    6. Party Scene
      A-
    7. Professors
      A-
    8. Location
      A+
    9. Dorms
      A-
    10. Campus Food
      A+
    11. Student Life
      A
    12. Safety
      B
    View Full Report Card
    USD is a highly rated private, Catholic university located in San Diego, California. It is a mid-size institution with an enrollment of 5,605 undergraduate students. Admissions is fairly competitive as the USD acceptance rate is 50%. Popular majors include Finance, Business, and Marketing. Graduating 82% of students, USD alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $50,100.
    About University of San Diego...
    Athletic Division
    NCAA Division I-FCS
    Athletic Conference
    Pioneer Football League
    Address
    5998 Alcala Park
    San Diego, CA 92110
    Website
    sandiego.edu

    University of San Diego Rankings

    Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

    Admissions

    Acceptance Rate
    50%
    Application Deadline
    December 15
    SAT Range
    1180-1350
    ACT Range
    26-30
    Application Fee
    $55
    SAT/ACT
    Required
    High School GPA
    Required
    Early Decision/Early Action
    No

    Cost

    Net Price
    $38,592/ year
    National
    $15,523
    Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
    Average Total Aid Awarded
    $24,364/ year
    National
    $7,535
    Students Receiving Financial Aid
    85%

    Academics

    Professors
    A-
    Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
    Student Faculty Ratio
    14:1
    Evening Degree Programs
    No
    85%
    of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.120 responses
    60%
    of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.139 responses
    62%
    of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.141 responses

    Majors

    Most Popular Majors
    • Finance
      193 Graduates
    • Business
      143 Graduates
    • Marketing
      124 Graduates
    • Communications
      117 Graduates
    • Accounting
      112 Graduates
    • Biology
      76 Graduates
    • Psychology
      70 Graduates
    • Neuroscience and Neurobiology
      60 Graduates
    • English
      56 Graduates
    • Mechanical Engineering
      50 Graduates

    Students

    Full-Time Enrollment
    5,605Undergrads
    Part-Time Undergrads
    169
    Undergrads Over 25
    4%
    Pell Grant
    14%
    Varsity Athletes
    8%
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
    Based on 91 responses
    Report
    • Friendly
      26%
    • Well-off
      26%
    • Priviledged
      18%
    • Rich.
      10%
    • Rich/Privileged/Rude
      9%
    • Spoiled.
      5%
    • Diverse
      1%

    Campus Life

    Freshmen Live On-Campus
    96%
    Poll
    47%
    of students say that Greek life is average, and no one will treat you differently if you don't join.174 responses
    Poll
    61%
    of students say varsity sporting events are attended, but not a huge part of campus life.194 responses
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes your school?
    Based on 88 responses
    Report
    • Privileged
      34%
    • Paradise
      16%
    • Country Club
      14%
    • Successful
      13%
    • Academic-driven
      8%
    • Well-rounded
      8%
    • Snobby
      5%

    After College

    Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
    $60,000/ year
    National
    $33,028
    Graduation Rate
    82%
    National
    49%
    Employed 2 Years After Graduation
    92%
    National
    83%
    80%
    of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.66 responses
    Colleges like University of San Diego
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    University of San Diego Reviews

    1,812 reviews
    All Categories
    Going to the University of San Diego is like going to summer camp year round. By that I mean, half of the time I forget I'm just here for school! The campus is so gorgeous it doesn't feel like a traditional college environment at all, and I love that about it. The class sizes are small, enough so that your professor knows you by name. Being able to develop relationships with my professors has significantly helped my academic success in the classroom. I love everything that this school stands for. They are openly accepting of persons from all races and ethnicities, economic backgrounds, and religions. There are on campus resources for minority groups such as women, women and persons of color, and LGBTQ+. The only thing I think this school lacks is the numbers of students with diversity in race and ethnicity as well as economic backgrounds. This school does much to support diverse communities on campus, but lacks in the actual numbers and representation of these minority communities.
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    I transferred from another college and so far my time at USD has been amazing! Everyone that is associated with the campus is very welcoming, from the staff/faculty member to the students. If you have any trouble there are many resources on campus and they are always open to help. One thing I would change about USD is having air conditioning in some of the classes. However, they are renovating some parts of the campus so maybe in the near future, there will be air conditioning.
    The University of San Diego is a wonderful place to grow and learn as a student, and as a human being. The academics and challenging and stimulating in the best way, probably because the school has such great professors. The campus is beautiful and there is something for everyone to get involved in! However, the school is lacking in diversity, school spirit (especially when it comes to athletics), and an active and inclusive party scene.