loading 6,000+ schools…
San Diego, CA · Los Angeles, CA
| University of San Diego | University of Southern California | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $30,365/yr | $32,740/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $15,586/yr | $13,516/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $22,940 | $18,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $17,441/yr | $14,394/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $19,557/yr | $19,539/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $27,012/yr | $24,976/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $46,989/yr | $56,116/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $243/mo | $191/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $19,918/yr | $19,931/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $22,086/yr | $19,931/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,062/yr | $1,200/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $4,446/yr | $2,006/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $78,720/yr | $90,300/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $59,486/yr | $72,097/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $59,486/yr | $72,097/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 21% | 22% |
| Students taking federal loans | 32% | 24% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 52% | 9.8% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 1450–1550 |
| SAT average | No data reported | 1495 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 32–35 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | No data reported | English 33–35 · Math 29–35 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 15,953 | 80,808 |
| Students accepted | 7,458 | 8,094 |
| Students who enrolled | 1,245 | 3,633 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 17% | 45% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | No data reported | 32% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | No data reported | 14% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 84% | 92% |
| Freshmen who come back | 91% | 96% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $86,522/yr | $92,498/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $56,511–$125,761 | $58,692–$141,338 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 82% | 93% |
| White students graduating | 84% | 92% |
| Black students graduating | 76% | 85% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 86% | 91% |
| Asian students graduating | 88% | 95% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $64,995/yr | $74,461/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 83% | 86% |
| Graduate on time | 69% | 74% |
| Pell students who graduate | 82% | 90% |
| First-gen students who finish | 80% | 85% |
| Low-income students who finish | 78% | 85% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $77,744/yr | $87,601/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 40% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 12% · Social Sciences 9% | Business, Management & Marketing 22% · Social Sciences 11% · Visual & Performing Arts 11% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 40% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 22% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 12% of degrees | Social Sciences — 11% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Social Sciences — 9% of degrees | Visual & Performing Arts — 11% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Engineering — 8% of degrees | Communication & Journalism — 8% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Psychology — 7% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Criminal Justice and Corrections — $143,943/yr | Law — $183,063/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 25% | 25% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 5,671 | 20,443 |
| Students per professor | 13 : 1 | 9 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 3,863 | 25,936 |
| Average professor pay | $13,201/mo | $17,924/mo |
| Full-time professors | 54% | 59% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
| Median family income | $70,085 | $45,149 |
| Setting | City (large) | City (large) |
| Location | San Diego, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Region | Far West | Far West |
| Founded | 1949 | 1880 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 6.4% | 13% |
| Men | 44% | 48% |
| Women | 56% | 52% |
| White students | 43% | 26% |
| Black students | 4.8% | 7.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 28% | 20% |
| Asian students | 7% | 23% |
| Two or more races | 7.7% | 6.4% |
| Other / not reported | 3.4% | 4.4% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | None |
| First-generation students | 25% | 25% |
| Part-time students | 1.5% | 1.8% |
| Students age 25+ | 3.9% | 61% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $18,725/yr | $49,674/yr |
| Endowment | $714.0M | $8.1B |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 3,064 | 8,500 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | No data reported | $11,908/yr |
| Meal plan charge | No data reported | $7,290/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Four-one-four plan | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic | No data reported |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Navy, Air Force | Yes — Army, Navy, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | Yes |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | No |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | No | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | Yes |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I-FCS | NCAA Division I-FBS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 16 | 20 |
| Student athletes | 474 | 629 |
| Athletic scholarships | $9.7M | $28.6M |
| Athletics budget | $37.1M | $234.0M |
| Athletics revenue | $37.1M | $234.0M |
| Recruiting spend | $485,902 | $6.8M |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.