UCSD vs. USD

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California San Diego in La Jolla, 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 San Diego is larger than USD based on total student enrollment (44,256 students vs. 9,714 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California San Diego is located in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting); University of San Diego is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California San Diego 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 San Diego 19:1; University of San Diego 13:1.

UCSD vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSD 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 San Diego than USD ($14,047 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California San Diego are 4.8% lower than at University of San Diego ($18,970 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 255% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSD (about $42,728 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $16,758.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.7% higher at USD than at University of California San Diego (about $8,528 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $50,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of San Diego than at University of California San Diego (84% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 59% larger than aid received by University of California San Diego students ($40,965 vs. $25,757).

UCSD vs. USD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSD 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 UCSD.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 1270/1480.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSD - Test-free; USD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSD Nov 30, 2026; USD Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at UCSD (3.82).
• USD has a higher acceptance rate (52.4%) than UCSD (26.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at UCSD vs. 12.4% at USD.

UCSD vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSD 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 San Diego's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than University of San Diego's (75%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than UCSD graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $67,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California San Diego graduates have a $4,404 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($18,500 vs. $22,904).
• Among borrowers, UCSD graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($191 vs. $236).
• More UCSD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USD students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.