University of San Diego
About
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.
Admissions & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Pell and non-Pell students graduate at nearly identical rates, a notably small equity gap.
Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 106 Title IV programs, 41 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 0 fail. 65 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing41 · 38.7%
- No Data65 · 61.3%
- Failing0 · 0.0%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Near the line (±5%)
Programs within five points of the pass line, one cohort year from flipping.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
WASC Senior College and University Commission
Programmatic accreditations · 8
Action history · 13
- Oct 2025Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation · Professional Psychology (IPSY) - Predoctoral internship programs
- May 2025Renewal of AccreditationCommission on Collegiate Nursing Education · Nursing (CNDNP) - Nursing education programs at the doctorate degree levels
- May 2023Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar · Law (LAW) - Professional schools
- Aug 2022Renewal of AccreditationCommission on English Language Program Accreditation · English Language
- Feb 2022Renewal of AccreditationWASC Senior College and University Commission
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 1,713 students received $10.2M in Pell grants, alongside $110.9M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 1,764 borrowers who entered repayment, 10 (0.5%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at University of San Diego
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 12
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus47
Includes 26 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
- Gender1
- Sexual orientation1
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
- Manchester Village- Bldg. 11 fireCookingDamage $100-$999
- Manchester Village- Bldg. 21 fireCookingDamage $0-$99
- San Buenaventura1 fireSmoking materialsDamage $0-$99
- Laguna Hall1 fireCookingDamage $0-$99
Data quality: 1 report was later determined unfounded across the reporting period and are excluded from the totals above.
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
University of San Diego vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions University of San Diego selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectUniversity of San Diego | 84% | 52.4% | 9,714 | $30,365 | R2 Research |
| 82% | 59.3% | 16,150 | $44,338 | R2 Research | |
| 79% | 45.1% | 10,179 | $48,381 | R2 Research | |
| 83% | 62.9% | 8,976 | $58,098 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 88% | 48.0% | 9,728 | $50,062 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 76% | 76.9% | 7,189 | $34,662 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 69% | 73.3% | 9,571 | $31,446 | R2 Research | |
| 80% | 65.4% | 10,506 | $29,533 | R2 Research | |
| 70% | 61.7% | 8,913 | $41,431 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 92% | 9.8% | 46,566 | $32,740 | R1 Research | |
| 92% | 27.0% | 10,041 | $43,756 | R2 Research | |
| Peer group median | 82% | 59.3% | 9,728 | $41,431 |
Institutions like University of San Diego
Explore the federal data for institutions in University of San Diego's comparison group.
- R2 ResearchNew York
Fordham University
Grad rate82%Admit rate59.3%Enrollment16,150Net price$44,338View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
Loyola Marymount University
Grad rate79%Admit rate45.1%Enrollment10,179Net price$48,381View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalCalifornia
Pepperdine University
Grad rate83%Admit rate62.9%Enrollment8,976Net price$58,098View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalCalifornia
Santa Clara University
Grad rate88%Admit rate48.0%Enrollment9,728Net price$50,062View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalWashington
Seattle University
Grad rate76%Admit rate76.9%Enrollment7,189Net price$34,662View data - R2 ResearchNew Jersey
Seton Hall University
Grad rate69%Admit rate73.3%Enrollment9,571Net price$31,446View data - R2 ResearchOhio
University of Dayton
Grad rate80%Admit rate65.4%Enrollment10,506Net price$29,533View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalCalifornia
University of San Francisco
Grad rate70%Admit rate61.7%Enrollment8,913Net price$41,431View data - R1 ResearchCalifornia
University of Southern California
Grad rate92%Admit rate9.8%Enrollment46,566Net price$32,740View data - R2 ResearchPennsylvania
Villanova University
Grad rate92%Admit rate27.0%Enrollment10,041Net price$43,756View data
University of San Diego Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
Institutional Research and Effectiveness facilitates continuous improvement and demonstrates USD’s commitment to student learning, high standards of quality and effectiveness, data-informed decision making, and institutional integrity.
Visit IR office page- Margaret LearyAssistant Provost for Institutional Research & Effectiveness
Reports & documents (5)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DashboardDashboardsandiego.edu
- Data definitionCommon Data Set - Facts - University of San DiegoThe page provides access to the University of San Diego's Common Data Set information, which typically includes standard data about the institution for use in college surveys and publications. Specific definitions or data points from the Common Data Set are not listed on this page, as it primarily serves as a gateway to the detailed data.sandiego.edu
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- Factbook1996-1997 USD Facts1997The '1996-1997 USD Facts' is a handbook published by the University of San Diego, covering facts about the university for the years 1996-1997. It contains illustrations and charts over 15 pages. The digital version is published by Copley Library and the document is part of the USD Fact Books collection.digital.sandiego.edu
- Strategic planEnvisioning 2024The 'Envisioning 2024' strategic plan of the University of San Diego seeks to align new strategic goals with the university's current strengths. The plan aims to chart a path forward as the university approaches its 75th anniversary in 2024. As a contemporary Catholic university, it is focused on fostering innovative Changemakers to tackle pressing global challenges.sandiego.edu
Notable alumni of University of San Diego (26)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Andrew FirestoneEntrepreneurship
- Brooke RaboutouAthletics
- Dave CampPolitics
- Judith KeepLaw
- Kris BryantSports
- Lynn SchenkPolitics
- Lowell McAdamTelecommunications
- Mario TestinoPhotography
- Ryan ZinkePolitics
- Shelley BerkleyPolitics
- Thomas J. Barrack Jr.Finance
- Bob MaggioreBusiness
Frequently asked questions about University of San Diego
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about University of San Diego.
What is the acceptance rate at University of San Diego?
What is the graduation rate at University of San Diego?
How many students attend University of San Diego?
What is the average net price at University of San Diego?
What is the yield rate at University of San Diego?
Where is University of San Diego located?
Who runs Institutional Research at University of San Diego?
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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