USD vs. USF

Comparable Facts

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

University of San Diego is larger than USF based on total student enrollment (9,714 students vs. 8,913 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of San Diego is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); University of San Francisco is in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting).
• University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of San Francisco is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of San Diego 13:1; University of San Francisco 11:1.

USD vs. USF Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USD or USF? 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 USF ($37,918 vs. $45,443).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of San Francisco are 0.8% lower than at University of San Diego ($19,764 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Francisco is 1.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than USD (about $1,006 more per year; $60,492.00 vs. $59,486.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.7% higher at USF than at University of San Diego (about $1,006 more per year; $60,492.00 vs. $59,486.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of San Francisco than at University of San Diego (95% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 18% larger than aid received by University of San Francisco students ($40,965 vs. $34,723).

USD vs. USF Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of San Francisco 1190/1390.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of San Francisco 25/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USD - Test-free; USF - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: USD Dec 15, 2026; USF Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at USF (3.57).
• USF has a higher acceptance rate (61.7%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.4% at USD vs. 6% at USF.

USD vs. USF Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USD and USF? 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 University of San Francisco's (70%).
• Graduates from University of San Francisco earn a median of about $200 more per year than USD graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,400 vs. $70,200), 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 USF graduates ($22,904 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, USD graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USF graduates ($236 vs. $258).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USF students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 73%)

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.