USD vs. DU

Comparable Facts

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

University of Denver is larger than USD based on total student enrollment (12,813 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); University of Denver is in Denver, CO (Large City setting).
• University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Denver is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of San Diego 13:1; University of Denver 9:1.

USD vs. DU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USD or DU? 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 DU ($37,918 vs. $45,451).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Denver are 10.8% lower than at University of San Diego ($17,759 vs. $19,918).
• University of Denver is 3.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than USD (about $1,912 more per year; $61,398.00 vs. $59,486.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.2% higher at DU than at University of San Diego (about $1,912 more per year; $61,398.00 vs. $59,486.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Denver than at University of San Diego (99% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 20.6% larger than aid received by University of Denver students ($40,965 vs. $33,955).

USD vs. DU Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Denver 1240/1410.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Denver 28/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USD - Test-free; DU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: USD Dec 15, 2026; DU Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at DU (3.72).
• DU has a higher acceptance rate (77.8%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.4% at USD vs. 9.1% at DU.

USD vs. DU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USD and DU? 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 Denver's six-year graduation rate (78%) is higher than University of San Diego's (75%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than DU graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $63,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of San Diego graduates have a $795 lower median loan debt than DU graduates ($22,904 vs. $23,699).
• Among borrowers, USD graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than DU graduates ($236 vs. $245).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 72%)

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.