Mount Saint Mary's University vs. USD

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Saint Mary's University in Los Angeles, 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 Mount Saint Mary's University based on total student enrollment (9,714 students vs. 2,312 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mount Saint Mary's University is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); University of San Diego is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Mount Saint Mary's University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Saint Mary's University 8:1; University of San Diego 13:1.

Mount Saint Mary's University vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mount Saint Mary's University 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 Mount Saint Mary's University than USD ($27,368 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Saint Mary's University are 22.1% lower than at University of San Diego ($15,518 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 20% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mount Saint Mary's University (about $9,922 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $49,564.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20% higher at USD than at Mount Saint Mary's University (about $9,922 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $49,564.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Saint Mary's University than at University of San Diego (100% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 4.5% larger than aid received by Mount Saint Mary's University students ($40,965 vs. $39,218).

Mount Saint Mary's University vs. USD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mount Saint Mary's University 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 Mount Saint Mary's University.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Saint Mary's University 900/1110.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Saint Mary's University 18/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mount Saint Mary's University - Test-free; USD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: USD Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Mount Saint Mary's University (3.59).
• Mount Saint Mary's University has a higher acceptance rate (73.1%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12% at Mount Saint Mary's University vs. 12.4% at USD.

Mount Saint Mary's University vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mount Saint Mary's University 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 Mount Saint Mary's University's (47%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $11,200 more per year than Mount Saint Mary's University graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $59,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of San Diego graduates have a $2,096 lower median loan debt than Mount Saint Mary's University graduates ($22,904 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, USD graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mount Saint Mary's University graduates ($236 vs. $258).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mount Saint Mary's University students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 59%)

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.