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University of San Diego
About 52 in 100 applicants get into University of San Diego — solidly within reach for students near the ranges below.
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University of San Diego sits in San Diego proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. The school maintains its Roman Catholic affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $149,847 four years out. Faculty pay averages $158,412 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 5,671 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 91.4% of first-years come back for a second year.
University of San Diego won't look at test scores — here the GPA calculator is the tool that matters. Bring your saved semester numbers and see what they average.
Admissions
University of San Diego does not use test scores in admissions at all: the 52.4% who got into University of San Diego did it on GPA, coursework and application alone. No score range exists to publish.
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of San Diego received 15,953 applications and admitted 7,458 (46.7%), with 1,245 enrolling.
How University of San Diego compares
| University of San Diego | California median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 52.4% | 75.7% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $59,486 | $23,000 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $86,522 | $64,778 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of San Diego student earns $86,522 — 34% above the California median of $64,778 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
University of San Diego lists tuition at $59,486 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. University of San Diego's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $59,486 as the ceiling, not the bill.
University of San Diego enrolls 5,671 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs University of San Diego's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
83.7% of University of San Diego students finish a bachelor's within six years — 28.8 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $59,486 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at University of San Diego
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $149,847 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $110,314 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $109,142 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $93,099 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $91,848 |
| International Business | $85,285 |
| Marketing | $83,562 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $83,380 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $79,678 |
| Real Estate | $78,044 |
| Psychology, General | $74,178 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $72,910 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $68,913 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $68,752 |
| Political Science and Government | $62,301 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $61,509 |
| Biology, General | $59,950 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $58,517 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $54,474 |
| Sociology | $54,338 |
Median earnings for these 20 University of San Diego programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $86,522 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 23 additional University of San Diego programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of San Diego?
University of San Diego doesn't look at test scores; its 52.4% admission rate turned on transcripts, coursework rigor and the application itself.
What is University of San Diego's acceptance rate?
46.7% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 7,458 admitted from 15,953 applicants.
How much does University of San Diego cost?
At University of San Diego, published tuition is $59,486 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is University of San Diego's ceiling, not a quote.
What do University of San Diego graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $86,522 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in California
- San Diego State University — 36.2% admitted
- Santa Clara University — 48% admitted
- Scripps College — 38.3% admitted
- Pacific Union College — 47.3% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.