USD vs. Pacific

Comparable Facts

Compare University of San Diego in San Diego, CA with Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of San Diego is larger than Pacific based on total student enrollment (9,714 students vs. 3,427 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of San Diego is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); Pacific University is in Forest Grove, OR (Large Suburban setting).
• University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pacific University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of San Diego 13:1; Pacific University 10:1.

USD vs. Pacific Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USD or Pacific? 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 Pacific University than USD ($35,235 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific University are 21.6% lower than at University of San Diego ($15,620 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 5.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pacific (about $3,112 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $56,374.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.5% higher at USD than at Pacific University (about $3,112 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $56,374.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pacific University than at University of San Diego (98% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 10.3% larger than aid received by Pacific University students ($40,965 vs. $37,139).

USD vs. Pacific Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPacific University 900/1240.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPacific University 18/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USD - Test-free; Pacific - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: USD Dec 15, 2026; Pacific Aug 25, 2027.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Pacific (3.73).
• Pacific has a higher acceptance rate (89.6%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.4% at USD vs. 13.1% at Pacific.

USD vs. Pacific Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USD and Pacific? 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 Pacific University's (61%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $23,400 more per year than Pacific graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $46,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of San Diego graduates have a $3,252 lower median loan debt than Pacific graduates ($22,904 vs. $26,156).
• Among borrowers, USD graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pacific graduates ($236 vs. $270).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pacific students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.