Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
UCSD George Washington San Diego State Loyola Marymount Chapman Pepperdine SCU Georgetown USF Fordham USC Syracuse| University of San Diego | American University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
USD | AU | ||
| Location | San Diego, CA | Washington, DC | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 8,815 | 13,885 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #93 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | sandiego.edu | american.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
USD | AU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $53,810 | $53,070 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $53,810 | $53,070 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,010 | $15,706 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $36,008 | $41,369 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $36,408 | $27,138 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 83% | 66% |
Admission |
USD | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 14,334 | 19,510 | ||
| Admitted | 7,541 | 7,926 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 52.6% | 40.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16.4% | 22.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.95 | 3.7 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 29/32 | |||
| SAT Range | 1290/1430 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Dec 15, 2023 | Jan 15, 2024 |
Academics |
USD | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 11:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
USD | AU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 77% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $70,200 | $64,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 80% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,904 | $24,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $236 | $250 |
Diversity |
USD | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 43% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 57% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 53% | 58% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 19% | 12% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 6% | 5% | ||
| % International | 7% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 4% |
Students |
USD | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 55% | 2% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 94% | ||
Campus |
USD | AU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- American University is larger than than USD based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 8,815 students)
USD vs. AU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, USD or AU?
- University of San Diego is 1.4% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($53,810.00 vs. $53,070.00)
- Out of state tuition is 1.4% higher at USD than American University ($53,810.00 vs. $53,070.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of San Diego than AU ($36,008 vs. $41,369)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 8.3% lower than costs at University of San Diego ($15,706 vs. $17,010)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of San Diego than American University (83% vs. 66%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 34.2% larger than aid received American University ($36,408 vs. $27,138)
USD vs. AU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, USD or AU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between AU or USD .
- The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 16 points higher than at USD (1236)
- Incoming USD students have at the same average ACT score (28) as students at AU (28)
- Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at AU (3.7)
- USD has a higher acceptance rate (52.6%) than AU (40.6%)
USD vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, USD or AU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between AU and USD.
- The graduation rate at AU is higher than University of San Diego (77% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from University of San Diego earn on average $5,400 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($70,200 vs. $64,800)
- University of San Diego students graduate with a $1,346 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($22,904 vs. $24,250)
- USD graduates are paying $14 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($236 vs. $250)
- More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USD students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 78%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/