USD vs. WPI

Comparable Facts

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

University of San Diego is larger than WPI based on total student enrollment (9,714 students vs. 7,584 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

USD vs. WPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USD or WPI? 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 WPI ($37,918 vs. $47,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are 7.7% lower than at University of San Diego ($18,386 vs. $19,918).
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 2.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than USD (about $1,479 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $59,486.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.5% higher at WPI than at University of San Diego (about $1,479 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $59,486.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Worcester Polytechnic Institute than at University of San Diego (100% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 29.9% larger than aid received by Worcester Polytechnic Institute students ($40,965 vs. $31,545).

USD vs. WPI Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USD - Test-free; WPI - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: USD Dec 15, 2026; WPI Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at WPI (3.9).
• WPI has a higher acceptance rate (60.2%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.4% at USD vs. 18.1% at WPI.

USD vs. WPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USD and WPI? 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).

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than University of San Diego's (75%).
• Graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $12,500 more per year than USD graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,700 vs. $70,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of San Diego graduates have a $4,096 lower median loan debt than WPI graduates ($22,904 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, USD graduates have an estimated $43 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WPI graduates ($236 vs. $279).
• More WPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USD students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.