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UCSD San Diego State Loyola Marymount CU Boulder CU Denver Chapman Pepperdine SCU USF USC PLNU UCSB| University of San Diego | University of Denver | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
USD | DU | ||
| Location | San Diego, CA | Denver, CO | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 9,110 | 13,387 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #86 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | sandiego.edu | du.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
USD | DU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,690 | $58,032 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,690 | $58,032 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,084 | $17,049 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $37,675 | $43,324 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $37,444 | $32,023 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 84% | 99% |
Admission |
USD | DU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 15,953 | 19,214 | ||
| Admitted | 7,458 | 13,679 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 46.7% | 71.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16.7% | 10.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.95 | 3.72 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 29/32 | |||
| SAT Range | 1240/1410 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Dec 15, 2025 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
USD | DU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
USD | DU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 78% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $70,200 | $63,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 72% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,904 | $23,699 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $236 | $245 |
Diversity |
USD | DU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 17% | ||
| % Women | 22% | 35% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 53% | 67% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 19% | 10% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 6% | 4% | ||
| % International | 7% | 9% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 3% |
Students |
USD | DU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 51% | 28% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 43% | 69% | ||
Campus |
USD | DU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Denver is larger than than USD based on total student enrollment (13,387 students vs. 9,110 students)
USD vs. DU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, USD or DU?
- University of Denver is 4.2% more expensive to attend than USD for in-state tuition ($58,032.00 vs. $55,690.00)
- Out of state tuition is 4.2% higher at DU than University of San Diego ($58,032.00 vs. $55,690.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of San Diego than DU ($37,675 vs. $43,324)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Denver are 6.1% lower than costs at University of San Diego ($17,049 vs. $18,084)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Denver than University of San Diego (99% vs. 84%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 16.9% larger than aid received University of Denver ($37,444 vs. $32,023)
USD vs. DU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, USD or DU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between DU or USD .
- The average SAT score at University of Denver (1249) is 13 points higher than at USD (1236)
- Incoming USD students have at the same average ACT score (28) as students at DU (28)
- 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 (71.2%) than USD (46.7%)
USD vs. DU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, USD or DU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between DU and USD.
- The graduation rate at DU is higher than University of San Diego (78% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from University of San Diego earn on average $6,800 more per year than DU graduates after ten years. ($70,200 vs. $63,400)
- University of San Diego students graduate with a $795 lower median federal student loan debt than DU graduates. ($22,904 vs. $23,699)
- USD graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans 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/