Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
University of San Diego is a private national university located in San Diego, California. University of San Diego is moderately inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at University of San Diego is in the top 25% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $74,816 10 years after enrolling, 14th in California, and in the top 10% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, University of San Diego bachelor students earn 16% more than the national average. University of San Diego is ranked 40th in California.
University of San Diego’s median net annual cost of $34,139 and average years to graduate of 4.3 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at University of San Diego sorted by number of graduates - Finance, Business Administration, Marketing, Comms & Media Studies, Neurobiology & Neurosciences, Psychology - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$34,139
Average years to graduate
4.3
Accounting
Rank: #157
Economic score: 2.1
Computer Science
Rank: #203
Economic score: 2.64
International Business
Rank: #35
Economic score: 2.94
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #249
Economic score: 3.22
Economics
Rank: #278
Economic score: 5.38
Biology
Rank: #281
Economic score: 5.99
Poli Sci/Government
Rank: #328
Economic score: 7.67
Sociology
Rank: #249
Economic score: 8.38
Natural Resource Conservation
Rank: #171
Economic score: 12.23
International Relations
Rank: #90
Economic score: 12.81
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at University of San Diego - Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Clinical / Counseling Psych, Education, Registered Nursing, Educ. Administration - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Medical informatics
Rank: #5
Economic score: 0.4
Real Estate
Rank: #9
Economic score: 0.6
Legal Research
Rank: #20
Economic score: 1.03
International Relations
Rank: #23
Economic score: 1.04
Curriculum and Instruction
Rank: #140
Economic score: 1.06
Special Education
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 1.32
Peace & Conflict RES
Rank: #9
Economic score: 1.47
Mental & Social Health Services
Rank: #135
Economic score: 1.54
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.3 years. 81% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at University of San Diego is 14% higher than the state average, and 13% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At University of San Diego, Pell Grant recipients represent 18% of the measured graduating class, 17% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at University of San Diego graduates within 4.5 years.
University of San Diego is in the bottom 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
University of San Diego’s economic mobility score of 14.12 is calculated by adjusting the 1.95 economic score of lower-income students by the 18% pell grant recipients within the student body. University of San Diego’s EMS of 14.12 ranks in the bottom 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 50%
The average Title IV recipient at University of San Diego pays $34,139 a year, $37,894 less than the $72,033 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $34,139
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At University of San Diego, 82% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $34,139 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 34% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $6,875. This is 20% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,216
Pell grants
$4,991
State grants
$8,950
Institutional grants
$31,226
University of San Diego's moderately inclusive admissions are indicated by their 53% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 14,326 applicants, of which 7,550 were admitted and 1,166 enrolled. University of San Diego doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
University of San Diego does not consider standardized testing in their admissions process.
Full time
98%
83%
Female
57%
59%
First time
72%
59%
In-state
58%
68%
1st generation
25%
35%
White
49%
52%
Black
3%
14%
Hispanic
22%
15%
Asian
7%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
17%
12%