USD vs. University of Portland

Comparable Facts

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

University of San Diego is larger than University of Portland based on total student enrollment (9,714 students vs. 3,285 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of San Diego is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); University of Portland is in Portland, OR (Large City setting).
• University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Portland is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of San Diego 13:1; University of Portland 9:1.

USD vs. University of Portland Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USD or University of Portland? 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 Portland than USD ($30,985 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Portland are 13.3% lower than at University of San Diego ($17,260 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 2.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Portland (about $1,386 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $58,100.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.4% higher at USD than at University of Portland (about $1,386 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $58,100.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Portland than at University of San Diego (100% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Portland students is 3.8% larger than aid received by University of San Diego students ($42,538 vs. $40,965).

USD vs. University of Portland Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USD or University of Portland? 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 University of Portland and USD.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Portland 1160/1370.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Portland 25/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USD - Test-free; University of Portland - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: USD Dec 15, 2026; University of Portland Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at University of Portland (3.66).
• University of Portland has a higher acceptance rate (89.2%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.4% at USD vs. 9.6% at University of Portland.

USD vs. University of Portland Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USD and University of Portland? 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 Portland's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than University of San Diego's (75%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $11,200 more per year than University of Portland graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $59,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of San Diego graduates have a $1,409 lower median loan debt than University of Portland graduates ($22,904 vs. $24,313).
• Among borrowers, USD graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Portland graduates ($236 vs. $251).
• More University of Portland graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USD students, three years after graduation. (85% 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.