USD vs. The Catholic University of America

Comparable Facts

Compare University of San Diego in San Diego, CA with The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of San Diego is larger than The Catholic University of America based on total student enrollment (9,714 students vs. 5,243 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of San Diego is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); The Catholic University of America is in Washington, DC (Large City setting).
• University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The Catholic University of America is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of San Diego 13:1; The Catholic University of America 11:1.

USD vs. The Catholic University of America Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USD or The Catholic University of America? 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 The Catholic University of America than USD ($32,705 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The Catholic University of America are 8.6% lower than at University of San Diego ($18,200 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 1.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than The Catholic University of America (about $1,108 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $58,378.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.9% higher at USD than at The Catholic University of America (about $1,108 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $58,378.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The Catholic University of America than at University of San Diego (99% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The Catholic University of America students is 4.1% larger than aid received by University of San Diego students ($42,657 vs. $40,965).

USD vs. The Catholic University of America Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USD or The Catholic University of America? 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 The Catholic University of America and USD.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USD - Test-free; The Catholic University of America - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: USD Dec 15, 2026; The Catholic University of America Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at The Catholic University of America (3.52).
• The Catholic University of America has a higher acceptance rate (82.8%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.4% at USD vs. 13.4% at The Catholic University of America.

USD vs. The Catholic University of America Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USD and The Catholic University of America? 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 The Catholic University of America's (68%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $11,600 more per year than The Catholic University of America graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $58,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of San Diego graduates have a $3,202 lower median loan debt than The Catholic University of America graduates ($22,904 vs. $26,106).
• Among borrowers, USD graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than The Catholic University of America graduates ($236 vs. $269).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The Catholic University of America students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 77%)

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.