In this article, we will be discussing the admission process at the University of San Diego, its acceptance rate, required GPA, the application process, and more.
The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic university in San Diego, CA. It’s a small-sized private research university with over 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
Despite its size, the University of San Diego offers more than 80 academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Whether you want to earn a bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate, USD offers several options through its seven schools and colleges.
We will be discussing more on USD’s admission and application process in this guide, but first, let’s find out more about this university.
About the University of San Diego
Established in 1949, the University of San Diego is one of California’s Catholic private research universities. Located in San Diego, USD’s main campus covers 180 acres with over 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
The University of San Diego offers undergraduate and graduate education. It offers 89 undergraduate and graduate degree programs through seven schools and colleges.
Also Read: UCSD Acceptance Rate In 2024 Admission Requirements
Colleges and Schools at the University of San Diego
USD is organized into seven colleges and schools which include;
- College of Arts and Sciences
- Knauss School of Business
- Hahn School of Nursing and Health Sciences
- Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies
- School of Law
- Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering
- School of Leadership and Education Sciences
The University of San Diego Rankings
USD currently ranks among the best Catholic colleges in the United States. Here are USD’s recent rankings according to Niche.com.
- #9 in Best College Campuses in America
- #9 in Best College Food in America
- #9 in Best Catholic Colleges in America
- #3 in Best College Campuses in California
- #3 in Best College Food in California
- #3 in Best Colleges for Accounting and Finance in California
- #3 Best Catholic Colleges in California
- #3 Best College Locations in California
GPA Requirement at the University of San Diego
Generally, a high school GPA is the primary factor for consideration during an admission process.
The average GPA required at USD is 3.93. With such a GPA requirement, the University of San Diego is highly competitive for high school GPAs.
Since USD requires an average GPA of 3.93, this means all first-year applicants are expected to be at the top of their class.
If you intend to study at the undergraduate level at USD, you need more A’s in all your classes to compete with others applying for the same position as you.
SAT and ACT Requirements
The University of San Diego will be adopting the test-free admission policy and will not view standardized test scores of incoming students during the admission process.
For more information on the University of San Diego’s test-free admission policy, kindly click here.
The University of San Diego Acceptance Rate
During the last admission year, the University of San Diego received up to 14,326 applications. Out of the 14,326 applications received, the University of San Diego admitted 7,550 students.
With 7,550 students admitted from a poll of 14,326 applicants, the acceptance rate at the University of San Diego is 53%, which is below the national average for colleges in America.
Out of the 7,550 students that were admitted, only 1,166 students enrolled at USD, which leaves the university’s yield rate at 15.44%.
Also Read: Jobs That Don’t Require A College Degree
What USD Look for in Every First-year Applicant
The University of San Diego is interested in admitting students who have something more to offer than excellent academic records. Admission officials at USD seek innovative change makers, students who are passionate to join the exciting community on campus.
USD is looking for applicants with achievements, extracurricular activities, talent, and the ability to communicate with others and share an opinion to achieve a common goal.
The University of San Diego wants to understand the stories of their applicants, their backgrounds, and how they will contribute to help build the diverse community on campus.
Admission officials at this university review every application thoroughly to find the next freshmen ready for an exciting academic experience.
First-year Application Process at the University of San Diego
Those considered as first-year applicants are students who are currently enrolled in high school or will soon graduate at the end of the current academic year.
Students who have graduated from high school and are yet to complete college courses are also considered first-year applicants.
Here is how to apply to the University of San Diego as a first-year applicant;
- Complete the Common Application and USD Member Questions
- Submit official transcript
- Pay a non-refundable application fee of $55
- Essay
- Letter of Recommendation
Application Process for International Students
International students seeking undergraduate degrees at USD will;
- Complete the Common Application and USD Member Questions
- Submit official transcripts
- Official transcripts must be translated into English if need be.
- International applicants are also required to submit any national examination results like A-levels, GCSE or Abitur
- Official TOEFL internet-based test score of 80, Duolingo score of 115, or IELTS score band of 6.5.
- Letter of recommendation
- A non-refundable application fee of $55
- Essay
Also Read: I5 Best Colleges in Southern California 2024
What Is the Acceptance Rate at the University of San Diego for Transfer Students?
USD accepts several transfer students during its admission process.
A few years ago, the university received about 1,484 transfer applications. It admitted 740 transfer students into different undergraduate degree programs.
By admitting 740 transfer students out of 1,484 applicants, the acceptance rate at USD for transfer students is 49.8%, which is a bit selective compared to its overall admission rate.
Tuition and Fees at the University of San Diego
For the current academic year, the University of San Diego’s undergraduate tuition and fees is $54,554. USD’s graduate school tuition and fees are $28,878
Besides tuition and fees, the cost of living for students living on campus is estimated at $20,061 while those living off campus spend up to $22,644.
In general, the total cost of attendance for the current academic year for students living on campus is $75,767 and $78,350 for students living off-campus.
The University of San Diego Address
- School Address: 5998 Alcalá ParkSan Diego, CA 92110
- Phone: (619) 260-4600
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are frequently asked questions about the acceptance rate at the University of San Diego.
What GPA do you need to get into the University of San Diego?
For California residents, USD requires a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above, with no grade lower than a “C”. Out-of-state students and international students must present an average GPA of 3.4 or above with no grade lower than a “C”.
Is the University of San Diego hard to get into?
Currently, the University of San Diego’s acceptance rate is 53%, which is a bit selective.
Also Read: The Best UC Schools and Rankings in 2024
Does the University of San Diego require an SAT?
The University of San Diego in October 2020 adopted the test-free admission policy. Currently, the university does not require SAT or ACT scores from applicants.
Is the University of San Diego expensive?
Tuition and fees for undergraduates at the University of San Diego is $54,544 which is a bit expensive compared to the national average cost of tuition of $41,566.
Conclusion
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1, USD remains one of the best private Catholic universities in California. Although the admission rate at USD is a bit selective, more than half of the applications received each year are accepted.
It takes more than excellent academic records to get into USD, as admission officials review each application thoroughly to select innovative change makers.
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