USD vs. SHU

Comparable Facts

Compare University of San Diego in San Diego, CA with Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than USD based on total student enrollment (11,022 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); Sacred Heart University is in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting).
• University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of San Diego 13:1; Sacred Heart University 15:1.

USD vs. SHU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USD or SHU? 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 San Diego than SHU ($37,918 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sacred Heart University are 3.9% lower than at University of San Diego ($19,140 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 18% more expensive for in-state tuition than SHU (about $9,082 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $50,404.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18% higher at USD than at Sacred Heart University (about $9,082 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $50,404.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University than at University of San Diego (99% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 89.4% larger than aid received by Sacred Heart University students ($40,965 vs. $21,625).

USD vs. SHU Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USD - Test-free; SHU - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: USD Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at SHU (3.55).
• SHU has a higher acceptance rate (65.4%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.4% at USD vs. 17.5% at SHU.

USD vs. SHU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USD and SHU? 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 Sacred Heart University's (68%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $10,500 more per year than SHU graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $59,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of San Diego graduates have a $2,096 lower median loan debt than SHU graduates ($22,904 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, USD graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHU graduates ($236 vs. $258).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SHU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 76%)

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.