Menlo vs. USD

Comparable Facts

Compare Menlo College in Atherton, 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 Menlo based on total student enrollment (9,714 students vs. 810 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Menlo College is located in Atherton, CA (Large Suburban setting); University of San Diego is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Menlo College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Menlo College 14:1; University of San Diego 13:1.

Menlo vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Menlo 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 Menlo College than USD ($32,563 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Menlo College are 8.4% lower than at University of San Diego ($18,236 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 10.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Menlo (about $5,856 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $53,630.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.9% higher at USD than at Menlo College (about $5,856 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $53,630.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Menlo College than at University of San Diego (100% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 4.6% larger than aid received by Menlo College students ($40,965 vs. $39,174).

Menlo vs. USD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Menlo 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 Menlo.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Menlo - Test-free; USD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Menlo Apr 1, 2027; USD Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.65 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Menlo (3.3).
• Menlo has a higher acceptance rate (68.5%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 5.3% at Menlo vs. 12.4% at USD.

Menlo vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Menlo 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 Menlo College's (34%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $16,300 more per year than Menlo graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $53,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Menlo College graduates have a $1,842 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($21,062 vs. $22,904).
• Among borrowers, Menlo graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($217 vs. $236).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Menlo students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 55%)

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.