USD vs. University of St Thomas

Comparable Facts

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

University of San Diego is larger than University of St Thomas based on total student enrollment (9,714 students vs. 4,301 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of San Diego is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); University of St Thomas is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
• University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of St Thomas is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of San Diego 13:1; University of St Thomas 16:1.

USD vs. University of St Thomas Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USD or University of St Thomas? 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 St Thomas than USD ($20,599 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of St Thomas are 45.6% lower than at University of San Diego ($10,840 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 71.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of St Thomas (about $24,852 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $34,634.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 71.8% higher at USD than at University of St Thomas (about $24,852 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $34,634.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of St Thomas than at University of San Diego (93% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 64.5% larger than aid received by University of St Thomas students ($40,965 vs. $24,902).

USD vs. University of St Thomas Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of St Thomas 980/1210.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of St Thomas 18/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USD - Test-free; University of St Thomas - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: USD Dec 15, 2026; University of St Thomas Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at University of St Thomas (3.53).
• University of St Thomas has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.4% at USD vs. 29.7% at University of St Thomas.

USD vs. University of St Thomas Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USD and University of St Thomas? 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 St Thomas's (44%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $13,000 more per year than University of St Thomas graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $57,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of St Thomas graduates have a $904 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($22,000 vs. $22,904).
• Among borrowers, University of St Thomas graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($227 vs. $236).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of St Thomas students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 59%)

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.