Design Institute of San Diego vs. USD

Comparable Facts

Compare Design Institute of San Diego in San Diego, 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 Design Institute of San Diego based on total student enrollment (9,714 students vs. 94 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Design Institute of San Diego is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); University of San Diego is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Design Institute of San Diego is a private, for-profit 4-year institution. University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Design Institute of San Diego 8:1; University of San Diego 13:1.

Design Institute of San Diego vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Design Institute of San Diego 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 University of San Diego than Design Institute of San Diego ($37,918 vs. $44,010).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of San Diego are 9.8% lower than at Design Institute of San Diego ($19,918 vs. $22,086).
• University of San Diego is 103% more expensive for in-state tuition than Design Institute of San Diego (about $30,186 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $29,300.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 103% higher at USD than at Design Institute of San Diego (about $30,186 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $29,300.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Design Institute of San Diego than at University of San Diego (100% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 244.2% larger than aid received by Design Institute of San Diego students ($40,965 vs. $11,901).

Design Institute of San Diego vs. USD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Design Institute of San Diego or USD? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between USD and Design Institute of San Diego.

• Design Institute of San Diego reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Design Institute of San Diego - Open admission; USD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: USD Dec 15, 2026.
• Design Institute of San Diego has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.6% at Design Institute of San Diego vs. 12.4% at USD.

Design Institute of San Diego vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Design Institute of San Diego and USD? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• University of San Diego's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than Design Institute of San Diego's (62%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $31,300 more per year than Design Institute of San Diego graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $38,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of San Diego graduates have a $17,681 lower median loan debt than Design Institute of San Diego graduates ($22,904 vs. $40,585).
• Among borrowers, USD graduates have an estimated $183 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Design Institute of San Diego graduates ($236 vs. $419).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Design Institute of San Diego students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 68%)

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.