CSU Stanislaus vs. USD

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Stanislaus is larger than USD based on total student enrollment (9,724 students vs. 9,714 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Stanislaus is located in Turlock, CA (Small Suburban setting); University of San Diego is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus 18:1; University of San Diego 13:1.

CSU Stanislaus vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus than USD ($7,433 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Stanislaus are 34.1% lower than at University of San Diego ($13,126 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 621.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU Stanislaus (about $51,240 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $8,246.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 185.4% higher at USD than at California State University Stanislaus (about $38,640 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $20,846.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Stanislaus than at University of San Diego (86% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 227.9% larger than aid received by California State University Stanislaus students ($40,965 vs. $12,492).

CSU Stanislaus vs. USD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU Stanislaus 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 CSU Stanislaus.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU Stanislaus - Test-free; USD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Stanislaus Nov 30, 2026; USD Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at CSU Stanislaus (3.47).
• CSU Stanislaus has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.1% at CSU Stanislaus vs. 12.4% at USD.

CSU Stanislaus vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus's (49%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $24,300 more per year than CSU Stanislaus graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $45,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Stanislaus graduates have a $7,904 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($15,000 vs. $22,904).
• Among borrowers, CSU Stanislaus graduates have an estimated $81 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($155 vs. $236).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU Stanislaus students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 64%)

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.