Getting in
For Fall 2025, 17,468 first-year students applied to USD, 9,359 were admitted and 1,300 enrolled: an acceptance rate of 53.6%.
Source: USD Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1. Read Oct 1, 2026.
By residency, first-year applicants, Fall 2025
| Applicants | Applied | Admitted | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state | 9,397 | 5,154 | 54.8% |
| Out-of-state | 7,125 | 3,740 | 52.5% |
| International | 946 | 465 | 49.2% |
Source: USD Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1, residency table. Read Oct 1, 2026.
By school or major. USD's Common Data Set reports one first-year acceptance rate for the whole university, with no rate by school or major.
Source: USD Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Early plans. USD offers binding Early Decision and a nonbinding Early Action plan. The Common Data Set leaves its early decision counts blank and gives no early action counts, so it gives no early round acceptance rate.
Source: USD Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections C21 and C22. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Majors
53 majors across 5 schools. Every bachelor's degree major in USD's official 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, grouped by the college or school that offers it, with the degree it leads to. Minors, concentrations, certificates, teaching credentials and graduate programs are left out.
College of Arts and Sciences34
- Anthropology (B.A.)
- Architecture (B.A.)
- Art History (B.A.)
- Biochemistry (B.S.)
- Biology (B.S.)
- Biophysics (B.A.)
- Biophysics (B.S.)
- Chemistry (B.S.)
- Cognition and Behavior (B.S.)
- Communication (B.A.)
- English (B.A.)
- Environmental & Ocean Sciences (B.A.)
- Environmental & Ocean Sciences (B.S.)
- Ethnic Studies (B.A.)
- French and Francophone Studies (B.A.)
- History (B.A.)
- Individualized Major (B.A.)
- Interdisciplinary Humanities (B.A.)
- International Relations (B.A.)
- Italian Studies (B.A.)
- Liberal Studies (B.A.)
- Mathematics (B.A.)
- Music (B.A.)
- Neuroscience (B.S.)
- Philosophy (B.A.)
- Physics (B.A.)
- Physics (B.S.)
- Political Science (B.A.)
- Psychology (B.A.)
- Sociology (B.A.)
- Spanish (B.A.)
- Theatre (B.A.)
- Theology and Religious Studies (B.A.)
- Visual Arts (B.A.)
Source: USD 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, Programs (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Knauss School of Business11
- Accountancy (B.Acc.)
- Business Accounting (B.B.A.)
- Business Administration (B.B.A.)
- Business Analytics (B.B.A.)
- Business Economics (B.B.A.)
- Economics (B.A.)
- Finance (B.B.A.)
- International Business (B.B.A.)
- Marketing (B.B.A.)
- Real Estate (B.B.A.)
- Supply Chain Management (B.B.A.)
Source: USD 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, Programs (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering6
- Computer Science (B.A.)
- Computer Science (B.S.)
- Electrical Engineering (B.S./B.A.)
- Engineering (B.S./B.A.)
- Industrial and Systems Engineering (B.S./B.A.)
- Mechanical Engineering (B.S./B.A.)
Source: USD 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, Programs (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
School of Leadership and Education Sciences1
- Education Studies (B.P.S.)
Source: USD 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, Programs (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science1
- BSN for Registered Nurses (B.S.)For registered nurses who already hold a nursing license.
Source: USD 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, Programs (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Deadlines for Fall 2027
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
| Plan | Apply by | Decision | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision I | November 1 | Early December | Yes |
| Early Action | November 1 | Mid December | No |
| Early Decision II | January 5 | Late January | Yes |
| Regular Decision | January 15 | Mid March | No |
The FAFSA is due November 15 for Early Decision I and Early Action, January 5 for Early Decision II and February 1 for Regular Decision. Admitted students confirm enrollment by January 10 (Early Decision I), February 10 (Early Decision II) or May 1 (Early Action and Regular Decision).
Source: USD Undergraduate Admission, Admission Timeline (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Early Decision I and II are binding: if admitted, you agree to enroll at USD and withdraw your other applications. You can ask to be released if the financial aid offer does not make attending financially feasible. Applicants denied Early Decision are not moved to Regular Decision.
Source: USD Undergraduate Admission, Frequently Asked Questions (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Testing
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
USD is test-free through fall 2027: SAT and ACT scores are not considered, and USD asks applicants not to send them. The policy covers international applicants too, who still show English proficiency.
Source: USD Undergraduate Admission, Test-Free Information (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
The Common Data Set also answers no when asked whether USD uses SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions.
Source: USD Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C8A. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Changes already in effect
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
- Application deadlines. USD says new application deadlines take effect starting with the fall 2027 entering class: November 1 for Early Action and Early Decision I, January 5 for Early Decision II and January 15 for Regular Decision.
Source: USD Undergraduate Admission, Application Requirements (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Applying next year?
For students applying in fall 2027, entering fall 2028
Not announced yet. When we checked USD's admission pages on October 1, 2026, we found no announced changes for fall 2028 entry. The deadlines and rules above are for fall 2027 entry.
Source: USD Undergraduate Admission, Test-Free Information (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Cost, and what families paid after aid
The published cost of a year at USD, 2026-2027:
| Tuition | $64,100 |
|---|---|
| Fees | $1,099 |
| Housing (on campus, average) | $14,042 |
| Meals | $8,344 |
| Personal expenses | $3,969 |
| Transportation | $1,386 |
| Books and supplies | $1,320 |
| Total | $94,260 |
USD's 2026-27 cost of living budget for on-campus students. Health insurance ($4,158) is billed unless waived and is not included.
Source: USD Torero Hub, Undergraduate Educational Cost (2026-27) (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 11, 2026.
Average net price per year, by family income, 2023-24:
| Family income | Paid after grants |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $15,586 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $17,441 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $19,557 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $27,012 |
| Over $110,000 | $46,989 |
| All incomes | $30,365 |
What first-year, full-time students who received federal aid paid after grants and scholarships, by family income, in 2023-24, the latest year the Department of Education publishes. Your own price comes from USD's aid offer.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Similar schools
Chosen for how close each is to University of San Diego on acceptance rate, public or private, location and majors offered.
Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara, CA · Private47.9% admitted$50,062 average net price
Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles, CA · Private48.2% admitted$48,381 average net price
University of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA · Private61.7% admitted$41,431 average net price
University of the PacificStockton, CA · Private69.1% admitted$25,447 average net price
Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicago, IL · Private54.9% admitted$18,425 average net price
Admitted: each school's latest first-year acceptance rate, so the year can differ from school to school; each school's page names its year and source. Average net price: what federal aid recipients paid per year after grants, 2023-24, and the in-state figure for a public university.