USD vs. University of the People

Comparable Facts

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

University of the People is larger than USD based on total student enrollment (41,961 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 the People is in Pasadena, California (Midsize City setting).
• University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of the People is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of San Diego 13:1; University of the People 28:1.

USD vs. University of the People Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USD or University of the People? 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 the People than USD ($1,575 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the People are 90% lower than at University of San Diego ($2,001 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 4,149% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of the People (about $58,086 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $1,400.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4,149% higher at USD than at University of the People (about $58,086 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $1,400.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of San Diego than at University of the People (84% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 3,892.7% larger than aid received by University of the People students ($40,965 vs. $1,026).

USD vs. University of the People Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USD or University of the People? 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 University of the People and USD.

• University of the People reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USD - Test-free; University of the People - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: USD Dec 15, 2026.

USD vs. University of the People Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USD and University of the People? 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).

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.