USD vs. Sonoma State University

Should I go to University of San Diego or Sonoma State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if USD or Sonoma State University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of San Diego vs. Sonoma State University comparison
University of San Diego Sonoma State University College 3 College 4
University of San Diego Sonoma State University
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Overview

USD Sonoma State University
Location San Diego, CA Rohnert Park, CA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 8,815 6,637
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #675
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sandiego.edu sonoma.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

USD Sonoma State University
Tuition (In State) $53,810 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $53,810 $17,622
Room & Board $17,010 $14,926
Avg Net Price $36,008 $15,507
Avg Grant Aid $36,408 $7,287
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 77%

Admission

USD Sonoma State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,334 10,806
Admitted 7,541 10,158
Acceptance Rate 52.6% 94%
Enrolled % 16.4% 9.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.95 3.4
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/23
SAT Range 950/1150
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Dec 15, 2023

Academics

USD Sonoma State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (5%)

Outcomes

USD Sonoma State University
Graduation Rate 75% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $70,200 $49,300
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,904 $17,500
Median Loan Payment $236 $180

Diversity

USD Sonoma State University
% Men 43% 37%
% Women 57% 63%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 53% 48%
% Black 3% 2%
% Hispanic 19% 29%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 7%
% International 7% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 7%

Students

USD Sonoma State University
% In-State 55% 97%
% Out-of-State 40% 3%

Campus

USD Sonoma State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of San Diego is larger than than Sonoma State University based on total student enrollment (8,815 students vs. 6,637 students)

USD vs. Sonoma State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USD or Sonoma State University?

  • University of San Diego is 837.1% more expensive to attend than Sonoma State University for in-state tuition ($53,810.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 205.4% higher at USD than Sonoma State University ($53,810.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sonoma State University than USD ($15,507 vs. $36,008)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sonoma State University are 14% lower than costs at University of San Diego ($14,926 vs. $17,010)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of San Diego than Sonoma State University (83% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 399.6% larger than aid received Sonoma State University ($36,408 vs. $7,287)

USD vs. Sonoma State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USD or Sonoma State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Sonoma State University or USD .

  • The average SAT score at University of San Diego (1236) is 240 points higher than at Sonoma State University (996)
  • Incoming USD students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Sonoma State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.55 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Sonoma State University (3.4)
  • Sonoma State University has a higher acceptance rate (94%) than USD (52.6%)

USD vs. Sonoma State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, USD or Sonoma State University? 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 Sonoma State University and USD.

  • The graduation rate at USD is higher than Sonoma State University (75% vs. 57%)
  • Graduates from University of San Diego earn on average $20,900 more per year than Sonoma State University graduates after ten years. ($70,200 vs. $49,300)
  • Sonoma State University students graduate with a $5,404 lower median federal student loan debt than USD graduates. ($17,500 vs. $22,904)
  • Sonoma State University graduates are paying $56 less per month on federal student loans than USD graduates. ($180 vs. $236)
  • More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sonoma State University students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/