USD vs. USC

Comparable Facts

Compare University of San Diego in San Diego, CA with University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Southern California is larger than USD based on total student enrollment (46,566 students vs. 9,714 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of San Diego is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); University of Southern California is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Southern California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of San Diego 13:1; University of Southern California 9:1.

USD vs. USC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USD or USC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of San Diego than USC ($37,918 vs. $43,412).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of San Diego are 0.1% lower than at University of Southern California ($19,918 vs. $19,931).
• University of Southern California is 21.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than USD (about $12,611 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $59,486.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21.2% higher at USC than at University of San Diego (about $12,611 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $59,486.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of San Diego than at University of Southern California (84% vs. 70%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern California students is 14.5% larger than aid received by University of San Diego students ($46,897 vs. $40,965).

USD vs. USC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USD or USC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between USC and USD.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Southern California 1450/1550.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Southern California 32/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USD - Test-free; USC - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: USD Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at USC (3.83).
• USD has a higher acceptance rate (52.4%) than USC (9.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.4% at USD vs. 43.3% at USC.

USD vs. USC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USD and USC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of Southern California's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than University of San Diego's (75%).
• Graduates from University of Southern California earn a median of about $15,300 more per year than USD graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,500 vs. $70,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Southern California graduates have a $529 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($22,375 vs. $22,904).
• Among borrowers, USC graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($231 vs. $236).
• More USC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USD students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 78%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.