UC Berkeley vs. USD

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Berkeley in Berkeley, 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 California Berkeley is larger than USD based on total student enrollment (45,882 students vs. 9,714 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Berkeley is located in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting); University of San Diego is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California Berkeley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Berkeley 18:1; University of San Diego 13:1.

UC Berkeley vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Berkeley 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 California Berkeley than USD ($16,538 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of San Diego are 16.1% lower than at University of California Berkeley ($19,918 vs. $23,750).
• University of San Diego is 263.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Berkeley (about $43,139 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $16,347.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.7% higher at USD than at University of California Berkeley (about $8,939 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $50,547.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of San Diego than at University of California Berkeley (84% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 38.4% larger than aid received by University of California Berkeley students ($40,965 vs. $29,608).

UC Berkeley vs. USD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Berkeley 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 UC Berkeley.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 1310/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 30/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Berkeley - Test-free; USD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026; USD Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at UC Berkeley (3.87).
• USD has a higher acceptance rate (52.4%) than UC Berkeley (11%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46% at UC Berkeley vs. 12.4% at USD.

UC Berkeley vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Berkeley 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 California Berkeley's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than University of San Diego's (75%).
• Graduates from University of California Berkeley earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than USD graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,700 vs. $70,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Berkeley graduates have a $8,704 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($14,200 vs. $22,904).
• Among borrowers, UC Berkeley graduates have an estimated $90 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($146 vs. $236).
• More UC Berkeley 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.