USD vs. Stanford

Deciding between University of San Diego and Stanford University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of San Diego
Stanford University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • USD San Diego, CA
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Setting
  • USD Large City
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • USD 9,714
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Type
  • USD Private 4 Year
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • USD
  • Stanford #3
  • Religious Affiliation
  • USD Roman Catholic
  • Stanford -
  • Status
  • USD Non-profit
  • Stanford Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • USD
  • Stanford

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • USD $59,486
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • USD $59,486
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Room & Board
  • USD $19,918
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Average Net Price
  • USD $37,918
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Average Grant Aid
  • USD $40,965
  • Stanford $62,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • USD 84%
  • Stanford 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • USD 17,008
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Admitted
  • USD 8,908
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Acceptance Rate
  • USD 52.4%
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • USD 12.4%
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • USD
  • Stanford 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • USD
  • Stanford 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • USD 3.95
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • USD A
  • Stanford A
  • Admissions Standards
  • USD Unavailable
  • Stanford Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • USD Low
  • Stanford Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • USD
  • Stanford 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • USD
  • Stanford 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • USD Test-free
  • Stanford Required
  • Application Deadline
  • USD Dec 15, 2026
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • USD 13:1
  • Stanford 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • USD
    • Business (39%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • USD 75%
  • Stanford 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • USD $70,200
  • Stanford $122,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • USD 78%
  • Stanford 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • USD $22,904
  • Stanford $12,475
  • Median Loan Payment
  • USD $236
  • Stanford $128

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • USD 44%
  • Stanford 52%
  • % Women
  • USD 56%
  • Stanford 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • USD High
  • Stanford Very High
  • HBCU
  • USD No
  • Stanford No
  • % White
  • USD 53%
  • Stanford 37%
  • % Asian
  • USD 7%
  • Stanford 20%
  • % Black
  • USD 3%
  • Stanford 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • USD 19%
  • Stanford 15%
  • % Native American
  • USD 0%
  • Stanford 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • USD 0%
  • Stanford 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • USD 6%
  • Stanford 10%
  • % International
  • USD 7%
  • Stanford 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • USD 3%
  • Stanford 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • USD 51%
  • Stanford 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • USD 44%
  • Stanford 45%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • USD Yes
  • Stanford Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • USD No
  • Stanford Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • USD Yes
  • Stanford Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • USD No
  • Stanford No
  • Daycare Facility
  • USD Yes
  • Stanford Yes

Comparable Facts

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

Stanford University is larger than USD based on total student enrollment (18,625 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); Stanford University is in Stanford, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Stanford University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of San Diego 13:1; Stanford University 6:1.

USD vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USD or Stanford? 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 Stanford University than USD ($25,078 vs. $37,918).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of San Diego are 6.6% lower than at Stanford University ($19,918 vs. $21,315).
  • Stanford University is 10.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than USD (about $6,424 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $59,486.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.8% higher at Stanford than at University of San Diego (about $6,424 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $59,486.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of San Diego than at Stanford University (84% vs. 61%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Stanford University students is 53.2% larger than aid received by University of San Diego students ($62,755 vs. $40,965).

USD vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

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

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsStanford University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsStanford University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USD - Test-free; Stanford - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: USD Dec 15, 2026; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Stanford students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at USD (3.95).
  • USD has a higher acceptance rate (52.4%) than Stanford (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.4% at USD vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

USD vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USD and Stanford? 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).

  • Stanford University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than University of San Diego's (75%).
  • Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $52,700 more per year than USD graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $70,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stanford University graduates have a $10,429 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($12,475 vs. $22,904).
  • Among borrowers, Stanford graduates have an estimated $108 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($128 vs. $236).
  • More Stanford graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USD students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.