About University of San Diego

Founded in 1949, University of San Diego. is a Private college. Located in California, which is a city setting in California, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 5,711 full time undergraduate students, and 2,797 full time graduate students.

The University of San Diego Academic calendar runs on a Four-one-four plan basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 14:1. There are 440 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at University of San Diego include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate51%
Application Deadline
Application Fee55
SAT Range1100-1310
ACT Range26-30

Admissions at USD are considered Selective, with ,44% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 8 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

95% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 77% were in the top quarter, and 46% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at University of San Diego.

University of San Diego REVIEWS

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  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    123 Students rated on-campus housing 4.1 stars. 33 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    86 Students rated off-campus housing 3.4 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    133 Students rated campus food 3.9 stars. 33 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    132 Students rated campus facilities 4.4 stars. 50 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    132 Students rated class size 4.6 stars. 69 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    131 Students rated school activities 3.9 stars. 34 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    132 Students rated local services 3.8 stars. 33 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    132 Students rated academics 3.7 stars. 29 % gave the school a 5.0.

What's your overall opinion of University of San Diego?

47 Students rated University of San Diego

Kristy - 07/15/2021

PLEASE DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY AT THIS SCHOOL! This university is a SCAM! They will do anything to get you to take more classes like encouraging you to study abroad at their sister schools and then NOT ACCEPT A SINGLE CLASS AS CREDIT TO GRADUATE! THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THEIR STUDENTS AT ALL! This is evident by the fact that as a freshman you're forced to live on campus and the majority of dorms are old, disgusting, lacking amenities, and in the shitty valley, while the faculty buildings are modern, clean, filled with amenities, ocean views, and fresh air on the top of the hill. The dorms do not have a kitchen and did not even have a source for clean drinking water besides the bathroom sink shared by 30+ people and their guests. I'M PRETTY SURE THAT'S ILLEGAL!!! Due to the horrible dorm condition you're practically forced to have a meal plan and eat their shitty non-organic food and completely processed artificial food on campus. If you go here YOUR HEALTH WILL SUFFER! IF you are a teenager reading this you may not care, but as a young adult in their early twenties suffering from multitudes of health conditions due to your living environment in San Diego you will care. The conditions are so bad you'll probably turn to alcohol or drugs to dissociate from your reality. The party scene is terrible also; unless you pay for your friends at a frat or sorority most people won't like you and will judge you/not want to talk to you at parties. The professors are STRAIGHT UP DISRESPECTFUL if you seem too intelligent for their class or if you differ from their opinions. The students at this school are incredibly materialistic and will only want to be your friend if they think they can get something out of you. THEIR WEBSITE SUCKS!!!! The school makes it so diffcult to accomplish simple tasks that should take just a few minutes and will constantly ask for screenshots of your view of the website since they cannot believe their tabs do not work. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY HERE YOU WILL REGRET IT AND REMEMBER THIS AS ONE OF THE WORST DECISIONS IN YOUR LIFE! THIS SCHOOL IS A BUSINESS AND WILL TRY TO DO ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING TO RIP YOU OFF!!!!! PLUS SAN DIEGO SUCKS AND PEOPLE HERE SWEAR ITS THE BEST WHEN REALLY ITS JUST A WAY CRAPPIER VERSION OF LOS ANGELES!!! DO NOT GO HERE DO NOT GO HERE DO NOT GO HERE

delina - 06/05/2021

it's full of rich kids that are closed minded and unintelligent. The most draining people you'll meet are in the University of San Diego. It's very exclusive, it lacks diversity, not just ethnic diversity but also in terms of personality. People are all the same. There are only two types of students in San Diego. The first kind is the super boring kind or the privileged party animal that has no interest of making friends. People are selfish and only care about their own self interest. The campus looks like a resort, the food and location is great but the students and the student life is a disgrace. This is the perfect school if your a rich blonde that eats acaci bowls and avocado toast and have no interest in growing as a person.

Samuel

USD is a great place for students looking for a smaller school with professors and staff who actually care about your well being and success. The academics are a nice balance between being challenging yet not overwhelming. The student body is for the most part, diverse and full of really nice, respectful people. I like that the professors and school in general seem to really want us to graduate with a path moving forward. And finally, the location is perfect! Plenty to do and see and San Diego, plus our campus is one of the most beautiful places to be.

Jannette

I believe the school offers several activities, extracurricular, and academics to benefit the students that attend thus causing potential students to want to join.

University of San Diego FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at University of San Diego?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for University of San Diego is 51%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    I would not have a social life

    Read all  126 answers
  3. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    The worst thing about my school is the lack of school involvement and spirit. We offer many sports and have well-funded sporting events, but a lack a fans in the stands. Students would prefer to go out and drink the night away, rather than attend a fun soccer game, or football game. Our men's basketball team is the only team students remotely support and even their games are slim in attendants. I admire the school spirit and fellowship of large schools compared to our small school, pathetic involvement.

    Read all  35 answers
  4. What's unique about your campus?

    The best thing about my school is that after you get past the hard adjustment you can truely find life-long friends. I know that the friends I make here are not just temporary until graduation. There are plenty of great people to bond with and many on-campus activities to find a diverse population of students. There is a club for just about anything, and if it does not exsist it is simple to start one yourself. Although the overall poplulation of the school is less diverse than I would hope, I have found a great group of friends.

    Read all  33 answers
  5. Describe the students at your school.

    My classmates at the University of San Diego are diverse, friendly, and accepting of one another.

    Read all  24 answers
  6. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    My school has a marine science program, and has a strong focus on field-based studies. It is also located on a beautiful campus. They offered my the most money, so I chose to attend USD.

    Read all  24 answers
  7. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    Focused on assuring that you are prepared for a career.

    Read all  23 answers
  8. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    I brag about the campus and location. The campus itself it one of the most beautiful I've seen. All of the architecture is done in a Spanish mission style. There are fountains everywhere. It's in San Diego which is close to the beach and is a city. There's always something to do.

    Read all  22 answers
  9. What kind of person should attend this school?

    A person that enjoys small classes and a warm atmosphere

    Read all  18 answers
  10. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    I think the thing that the University of San Diego is best known for would have to be the beautiful campus, the great weather that San Diego gets year-round, and the sense of community that is felt on campus. Everyone at the University of San Diego is dedicated to help you no matter what their title at the school may be. Accademically however, I think we are best known for our law school and business school.

    Read all  17 answers
  11. What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

    Read all  15 answers
  12. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    I can't afford it and neither can my family and the financial aid counselors and Dean were very rude about it the multiple times I presented my case to them.

    Read all  14 answers
  13. What are the academics like at your school?

    One of the main reasons I chose USD was because of the academics. Because we are a small private school, we have small classes where everyone knows your name, including the teacher. Teachers are so helpful in class and outside, and many of them are willing to go get lunch and discuss a class project or a question that may be confusing. Other classmates are definitely willing to do the same as well. Students here are definitely academic oriented and know that we're here at college to get an education, so studying is important. There are a variety of majors/minors to choose from and if they don't have a specific program for you, you can either create one or get help from an advisor to find the best fit for you. I plan on majoring in Business, and have taken classes in the Business school already as a freshman. USD really prepares you and aids you into getting internships and jobs as soon as the student asks for help. We believe there is never a time too soon to start taking your future into your own hands.

    Read all  11 answers
  14. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    I wish I knew that the people are different and that I need to do things soley for me on my own.

    Read all  11 answers
  15. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    This is a great school if you love San Diego, a smaller-school feel, challenging classes, and getting involved. Because the school has under 10,000 students total, you will most likely know some people you pass as you walk across campus. Teachers will know your name, and you'll have more than one class with some of the same people. There's also a lot of support and encouragement when it comes to getting involved. Also, because of USD's location in San Diego, there is always stuff to do on campus. If you're considering USD, beware of the school spirit. Because the beach, downtown, and the mall are all a mere 10 minutes away, students are often drawn to other activities. Attendance at sports events are not incredible.

    Read all  11 answers
  16. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    afagzvf

    Read all  10 answers
  17. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    The most popular student organization is probably either Greek Life or the sports clubs/teams. I rushed a sorority this year, but decided against it because of financial reasons. I have so many friends in all the sororites though and it really does give you a great chance to make friends, get involved and get connected socially. The students here take a while to break their shell and become friends with, but once they're your friend, they are a friend for life. People are nice here, something I was looking for in a college. On weekend, lots of people go down to the beach and just hang out in a house with some friends or head to downtown for dinner and a movie or to go dancing. Even though partying seems prominent on our campus, there are always events hosted by the school on the weekends for the non-partiers. Overall, the students pride themselves in the activities they are involved in and how it'll benefit them in the future with jobs and further education.

    Read all  7 answers
  18. Why did you decide to go to this school?

    As soon as a stepped on the campus, I knew I could not pass up the beauty of USD. I also knew it was a great school in a great city, so I knew I just had to go.

    Read all  4 answers
  19. What's the Greek scene like?

    I've been involved in Greek life for four years so I feel like I know the ends and outs of the system. Although our Greek life is only about 27{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the undergraduates, it seems that its presence is larger. Most of the more-involved students on campus are part of Greek life, but by no means is there a ton of pressure to join a chapter. Once you are part of it, however, it's obvious that Greek people really only hang out with other Greek people. Obviously, this is a stereotype, but it's actually partially true. I would encourage anyone who's interested in joining to go through the recruitment process before making any judgment calls. It's a small scene, but it's tons of fun and all of the parties (events) are usually Greek related.

    Read all  3 answers
  20. Tell us about the sports scene on campus.

    I wish I could say we are a school full of spirit, but frankly, we're not too motivated as a student body. That doesn't mean that our sports are horrible though -- our football team won the national league this year!! And our basketball team does very well and attracts a lot of fans, especially if it's a game against SDSU. I attended a lot of sports games as a freshmen, but have since lost my passion. It seems that the university really tries to pep us up, but it never works :( And I can't honestly tell you why. They sponsor tailgating events and fun free food and I've always had a blast going to football and basketball games. If we're talking looks - the baseball team has always been prettyyyy good looking. As far as intermural sports go, I can't really tell you because I've never participated in one. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not exactly talented when it comes to coordination. I do, however, live above the Manchester Field and I see intermural teams outside practicing on the field every night. It seems that soccer and softball are really popular!

    Read all  3 answers
  21. What are your classes like?

    My engineering courses are challenging but interesting. My core classes equally challenging are interesting, but in a different context. I like having the liberal arts and science-based course variation so I'm never bored.

    Read all  2 answers

Student Body

Students

54%

female

46%

male

5,711

Total Undergrad Enrollment

2,797

Total Grad Students

44%

Out-Of-State

50%

In-State

6%

International

Organizations

180

Student Organizations

6

Fraternities

8

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

32%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
7%
% Black or African-American
3%
% Hispanic/Latino
19%
% White or Caucasian
51%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

81% of students attending University of San Diego receive some sort of financial aid. 13% were awarded federal grants. While 37% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$46,140

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$1,800

Books and Supplies

$12,302

Room and Board

60,242

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$23,449
$30 - $48K
$24,637
$48 - $75K
$28,248
$75 - $110K
$32,528
$110K & UP
$42,821

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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