,·Private Research University·Est. 1949
“A beautiful Catholic liberal arts university overlooking San Diego Bay — where rigorous academics, values-based education, and one of America's finest cities converge.”
The University of San Diego, founded in 1949, is a nationally ranked Catholic research university with one of the most beautiful campuses in the United States. Perched on a mesa above Mission Bay and overlooking the Pacific Ocean, USD's Spanish Renaissance architecture creates an extraordinary setting for a world-class education. The university is committed to its Catholic intellectual tradition while welcoming students of all backgrounds and beliefs. USD offers strong programs across business (Knauss School of Business), law (USD School of Law), engineering, nursing, and the liberal arts. The Knauss School of Business is consistently ranked among the best in California, and the School of Law has produced generations of Southern California legal professionals. USD's pre-health advising and nursing programs are nationally recognized for excellence. San Diego itself is one of America's most desirable cities — with a booming biotech and defense industry, a thriving startup ecosystem, and some of the world's best weather and beaches. USD's location in Mission Valley gives students access to internships at major biotech firms, the US Navy, financial services companies, and the full breadth of Southern California's economy.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceEarly Action
Non-binding — decisions mid-January
Regular Decision
Decisions late March
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$58,900
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
An AACSB-accredited business school ranked among the best in California, offering strong programs in finance, accounting, real estate, and international business.
USD's liberal arts core, offering programs across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition.
A focused engineering school offering undergraduate programs in computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and industrial & systems engineering.
A well-regarded nursing school with clinical programs across San Diego's world-class hospital system.
4 years
Knauss School flagship program with strong West Coast banking and wealth-management recruiting; Bloomberg trading lab and student-managed investment fund.
4 years
Interdisciplinary STEM-OPT eligible program combining biology, psychology, and chemistry; strong med-school placement and research opportunities.
4 years
Distinctive USD offering anchored by the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice; integrates international fieldwork, conflict-resolution, and human-rights advocacy.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $80,754
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
