University of San Diego

If you are considering submitting an application to USD, the deadline for Fall 2023 admissions is December 15 and the application fee is $55.

Students who apply to USD for fall should receive an admissions decision no later than March 1.

USD Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here is an overiew of some of USD's admissions stats.

USD 2022	Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA	4.0
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	29%
Admissions Test Policy	Not optional and are not considered
Waitlist	Yes

University of San Diego Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for University of San Diego.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	No	––	––
Early Decision II	––	––	––
Early Action	No	––	––
Regular Decision	Yes	December 1	March 1

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Applying Early to USD?

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USD does not offer early decision or early action.

➡️ Explore a list of some competetive colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on University of San Diego Admissions

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Is USD Difficult To Get Into?

USD is a very difficult school to get into. USD evaluates applicants carefully based on multiple criteria to decide who to admit, and who to deny or waitlist.

In 2021, USD accepted 53% of students, around 7,550 from the 14,326 applicants.

Schools that are very difficult to get into, like USD, accept fewer than 60% of all applicants. At least 50% of all admitted students have GPAs in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1230 on the SAT and over 26 on the ACT.

Transferring to University of San Diego

Transfer student admissions is moderately difficult.

For Students Waitlisted to USD

In 2022, USD waitlisted 3,711 students and 1,467 accepted a place on the waitlist. Of those, 378 eventually got in.

What's Most Important for Getting Into USD?

Colleges consider a range of factors when determining who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college determines which factors are given the most weight when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that put the most emphasis on the areas where you stand out.

Admissions Factors at USD

Curious about the factors that are considered by USD during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Academic GPA	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Character/Personal Qualities	Important
Class Rank	Important
Extracurricular Activities	Important
Application Essay	Important
Recommendation(s)	Important
Talent/Ability	Important
Volunteer Work	Important
Geographical Residence	Considered
Work Experience	Considered
Level of Applicant's Interest	Considered
First Generation	Considered
Interview	Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status	Considered
Religious Affiliation/Commitment	Considered

Make sure to check with USD for more information on admission factors.

USD Application Requirements

To apply to USD, all applicants must submit the following items. Make sure to check in with USD's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Interview
Transcript(S) of College Record
Standardized Test Scores
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)
Letter(s) of Recommendation	1
Written Essay or Personal Statement	√
Transcript of High School Record	√

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into USD?

Students admitted to USD have an average unweighted GPA of 4.0.

Out of all students that were admitted, 36% submitted a class rank. At USD 29% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 68% were in the top 25% and 96% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At University of San Diego, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	50%
3.75 and 3.99	22%
3.50 and 3.74	18%
3.25 and 3.49	7%
3.00 and 3.24	2%
2.50 and 2.9	1%
2.00 and 2.49	––

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to USD directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

USD does not consider ACT or SAT scores as part of the admissions process.

USD does not have a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

More Information on Transferring to University of San Diego

For transfer students, it is moderately difficult to get admitted to USD.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is May 1. Applicants should hear back by June 15.

Transfer students can enroll in USD during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Spring Term

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USD Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to USD?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to USD.

Does USD accept transfer credits?

✅ USD accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. USD accepts:

• CLEP subject tests

Does USD accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ USD accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits and Advanced Placement (AP) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to USD?

✅ USD is not test optional. Test scores will not be considered during the admissions process, even if you submit them.

What is USD's acceptance rate?

✅ USD's acceptance rate is 53%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at USD?

❌ USD does not offer early decision.

Want To Learn More About USD?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

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