About
The University of San Diego, located in San Diego, California, was established in 1952 as the San Diego College for Women. The current university was established in 1972 through the merger of the San Diego College for Women and the San Diego College for Men and School of Law. These two institutions had shared facilities and campus, but the resulting merger allowed for university status and growth for the school. Since the merger, the school has seen the addition of facilities and significant increase in enrollment. The University of San Diego is private institution founded upon Catholic principles with financial assistance from the church and private donors. The school is nationally ranked, and provides a quality education and services in order for its students to achieve their goals.
Academics
The University of San Diego offers a large number of majors in order for enrolled students to choose the educational path that will best assist the fulfillment of future plans. Bachelor degree programs typically takes four years to complete and requires the student to take courses for their major and nationally required general education classes. Students may also choose to pursue a minor degree. Minor degrees allow students to obtain extra education in a second area of study, though not quite as intensively as a major, either for personal interest or to augment one's major. Graduate programs have separate requirements for admission, including having earned the necessary prerequisite degree and the necessary GRE or LSAT scores, to be considered for admissions.
Programs offered include:
Admissions and Financial Aid
Students interested in enrollment at the University of San Diego must submit an application for enrollment along with transcripts, test scores, recommendations and the admissions essay. The information provided by these documents will be reviewed and a decision rendered regarding entry into a bachelor degree program. Applicants must have completed a high school core curriculum or equivalent to be considered for admission.
Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants and scholarships. Students in need of financial assistance must complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is used to determine financial need, program eligibility and monetary awards. Students may be randomly selected to provide additional information to ensure the accuracy of the FAFSA prior to the disbursement of funds. Financial aid must be applied for prior to the start of each academic year due to changing financial circumstances of the student and his or her family from year to year.
Athletics
The University of San Diego Toreros participate in a number of intercollegiate athletic programs through the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) through the Great Western Conference. Students participating in intercollegiate athletics will be able to develop useful skills, such as leadership, teamwork and discipline that may be applied to one's personal, professional and academic life. Additionally, the successes and failures associated with the struggle to achieve team goals allows for the development of camaraderie among players. Students may contact the athletic department to obtain tryout dates, times and forms.
Athletic programs at USD:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Golf
- Rowing
- Softball
- Spirit Team
- Swimming and Diving
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
Admission Requirements & Details
The information regarding admissions below may give you an idea of the students USD accepts. The details may include application requirements and recommendations, as well as any college credits that may be transferred.
College Credits Accepted
- Dual Credits
- AP Course Credits
Student Enrollment
Total enrollment at University of San Diego is around 8,300 students, with undergraduate students making up about 68% of the total student population and graduate students making up the rest.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The items listed below are for informational purposes only and may not represent current tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- The estimated tuition range is around $44,000-$53,000 per year
- Per unit charges are around $1,700 for part time students
- on campus dorms & meals are estimated to cost around $14,000
Financial Aid Details
The financial aid table below details the types of financial aid, along with the percent of students receiving aid, and on average the amount of aid per student per year.
| Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Any Financial Aid | 84% | - |
| Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 83% | $23,430 |
| Receiving Student Loans | 43% | $7,113 |
Academics & Student Services
Student Services
To support students and graduates, University of San Diego may provide services like:- Counseling assistance
- Work study style employment
- Assisting students to find work
- Child care
Graduation Rates
With a high graduation rate of around 75%, USD is among the most successful schools in the area.
| Number of Year to Graduate | Percent of Entering Class |
|---|---|
| Students Graduating in 4 Years | 65% |
| Graduating in 5 Years | 9% |
| Graduating in 6 Years | 1% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
- Law Program
- Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) Program
- Nursing (MSN, DSN) Program
- Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Education Program
Intercollegiate Athletics
USD is a Member of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), with many of the sports being in the NCAA Division I-AA classification. The most popular sports played are listed below:
- Baseball (West Coast Conference)
- Basketball (West Coast Conference)
- Football (Pioneer Football League)
- Golf
- Rowing
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Track and Field, Outdoor
- Track and Field, X-Country
- Volleyball
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.
Get more information about the programs offered by University of San Diego by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Architecture
- Architectural History and Criticism (B)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Neuroscience (B)
- Biology (B)
- Biochemistry (B)
- Marine Biology (B, M)
- Biophysics (B)
Business and Marketing Studies
- Finance (B)
- Business Administration (B, M)
- Accounting (B, M)
- Advertising and Marketing (B)
- International Business (B, M)
- Business Economics (B)
- Logistics and Supply Chain Management (M)
- Real Estate (B, M)
- Taxation (M)
Communications and Journalism
- Communication, General (B)
Computer and Information Sciences
- Computer Science (B)
Education
- Curriculum and Instruction (M)
- Student Counseling and Personnel Services (M)
- Educational Administration (M)
- Education (M)
- Educational Leadership and Administration (D, M)
- Higher Education Administration (M)
- Special Education (M)
- ESL (C)
- Secondary Education (M)
Engineering
English Language and Literature
- English (B)
Ethnic Cultural and Gender Studies
- Ethnic Studies (B)
- Italian Studies
Foreign Languages and Literature
Health and Clinical Professions
- Clinical Nurse Leader (M)
- Family Practice Nurse (M)
- Marriage and Family Therapy (M)
- Nursing Science (D)
- Nursing Practice (D, M)
- Health Informatics (M)
- Nursing
History
- History (B, M)
Interdisciplinary Studies
- Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution (M)
Legal Professions and Studies
- Law (D)
- Paralegal (C)
- Tax Law, Taxation (M)
- Comparative Law (M)
- Legal Professions and Studies (M)
- International Law and Legal Studies (M)
- Advanced Legal Research (M)
- Banking, Corporate, Finance and Securities Law (M)
Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Liberal Arts (B)
- Humanistic Studies (B)
Mathematics and Statistics
- Math (B)
Natural Resources and Conservation
- Environmental Studies (B)
Philosophy and Religious Studies
Physical Sciences
Psychology
- Psychology (B)
Security and Protective Services
Social Sciences
- Political Science (B)
- International Relations (B, M)
- Sociology (B)
- Economics (B)
- Anthropology (B)
Visual and Performing Arts
- Art Studies (B)
- Drama and Theatre Arts (B, M)
- Art History (B)
- Music (B)
Other 4-Year Private Colleges
The list of schools below have been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to University of San Diego.
- California State University - San Marcos in San Marcos, CA (25 miles away)
- Saginaw Valley State University in University Center, MI (73 miles away)
- University of California - Riverside in Riverside, CA (84 miles away)
- California State University - Fullerton in Fullerton, CA (87 miles away)
- California State University - Long Beach in Long Beach, CA (88 miles away)
Also, check out our college lists below, which can help students compare schools to one another:
- Visit the main California colleges & universities profile page
- Browse our list of private colleges in California
- See other Christian and Bible Colleges in California
Data Disclaimer
Information displayed on this page has been obtained from Institution, State, and Federal data sources, including the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Survey 2010-2016. Information should be solely used for informational purposes only and may not be accurate for the current year. Contact University of San Diego for official up-to-date information.