USD vs. CSN

Comparable Facts

Compare University of San Diego in San Diego, CA with College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas, NV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of Southern Nevada is larger than USD based on total student enrollment (28,313 students vs. 9,714 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of San Diego is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); College of Southern Nevada is in Las Vegas, NV (Large City setting).
• University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. College of Southern Nevada is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of San Diego 13:1; College of Southern Nevada 18:1.

USD vs. CSN Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USD or CSN? 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 College of Southern Nevada than USD ($7,205 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Southern Nevada are 33.7% lower than at University of San Diego ($13,200 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 1,265% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSN (about $55,128 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $4,358.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 356.7% higher at USD than at College of Southern Nevada (about $46,462 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $13,024.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of San Diego than at College of Southern Nevada (84% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 614.4% larger than aid received by College of Southern Nevada students ($40,965 vs. $5,734).

USD vs. CSN Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USD or CSN? 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 CSN and USD.

• College of Southern Nevada reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USD - Test-free; CSN - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: USD Dec 15, 2026.

USD vs. CSN Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USD and CSN? 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).

• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $34,200 more per year than CSN graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Southern Nevada graduates have a $12,404 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($10,500 vs. $22,904).
• Among borrowers, CSN graduates have an estimated $128 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($108 vs. $236).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSN students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 30%)

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.