CMA vs. USD

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo, CA with University of San Diego in San Diego, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of San Diego is larger than CMA based on total student enrollment (9,714 students vs. 837 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Maritime Academy is located in Vallejo, CA (Midsize City setting); University of San Diego is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Maritime Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Maritime Academy 11:1; University of San Diego 13:1.

CMA vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMA or USD? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Maritime Academy than USD ($19,040 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Maritime Academy are 27% lower than at University of San Diego ($14,536 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 498.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than CMA (about $49,542 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $9,944.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 163.9% higher at USD than at California State University Maritime Academy (about $36,942 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $22,544.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of San Diego than at California State University Maritime Academy (84% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 271.1% larger than aid received by California State University Maritime Academy students ($40,965 vs. $11,038).

CMA vs. USD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CMA or USD? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between USD and CMA.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CMA - Test-free; USD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CMA Dec 15, 2026; USD Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.52 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at CMA (3.43).
• CMA has a higher acceptance rate (95%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.7% at CMA vs. 12.4% at USD.

CMA vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CMA and USD? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of San Diego's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than California State University Maritime Academy's (62%).
• Graduates from California State University Maritime Academy earn a median of about $20,300 more per year than USD graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,500 vs. $70,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of San Diego graduates have a $2,622 lower median loan debt than CMA graduates ($22,904 vs. $25,526).
• Among borrowers, USD graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMA graduates ($236 vs. $263).
• More CMA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USD students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 78%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.