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Colleges / University of San Diego

University of San Diego

San Diego, CA 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate53%
Acceptance Rate53%

USD Tuition Information

In 2022, tuition for full-time University of San Diego students was $53,810 a year.

In 2022, tuition increased 3.24%–from $52,120 the prior year. Usually, colleges raise tuition about 3% each year.

Remember, the displayed price of tuition does not give you all the info you need to know how much you will actually have to pay for college. Many students owe way less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts kick in. Plus, student loans can make the amount you do have to pay for college feel more doable until you've finishing school and found a job.

In-state vs. Out-of-state Tuition at University of San Diego

University of San Diego is a private, religious institution, so it has the same tuition for residents of California as it does for residents from other states.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. These institutions offer a lower cost of attendance for students who are residents of that state.

Choosing a college where you qualify for in-state status can cut the cost of college tuition. Don't forget to check your state's rules for in-state tuition. Every state has its own rules about what makes someone eligible for in-state tuition. Most states require students to have resided in the state for a certain period of time before qualifying. There may be additional requirements too, depending on the state you and your parents currently live in.

Explore other California colleges

Is University of San Diego's Tuition Different for International Students?

Tuition at USD is the same for each student.

Students from outside of the U.S. are not eligible for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but may be eligible for private or USD-specific aid and scholarships.

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships and athletic awards.


University of San Diego Room, Board, Fees, and More


Tuition is not the only cost of attending college; room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when estimating the cost of attendance for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at USD.

House and Food Costs at USD

Room and board at USD costs $15,520 a year. This covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a meal plan that allows you to eat all or some of your meals the USD's on-campus cafeterias and dining halls.

Meal-plan costs vary based on on the numnber of meals you intend to eat on-campus

Cost of Books at USD

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The real cost of books depends on the courses you take and what kinds of books and materials they require. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy books from students who have already taken the course.

Yearly Fees

Most schools also have fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

Keep in mind, there could also be optional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like Greek Life, or playing on an intramural sports team. Most colleges offer ways for students who may struggle to participate because of cost can find ways to lower or eliminate these fees.

Transportation costs

The cost of getting around in college depends on a few key factors. Will you drive, fly, or take public transportation to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus small enough that you can easily walk from class-to-class?? Do you plan to bring a car or are you planning to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these questions can drastically impact your transportation budget. Keeping in mind, first-year students are allowed to park a car on campus.

The location of a college or university can impact transportation costs. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the other hand getting around in a city may be expensive, but cities may offer more trains, busses or affordable flights to actually get to school. The University of San Diego campus is located in a urban setting in California, near San Diego.

Other Costs

When budgeting for college, be sure to take into account personal expenses, like movies, takeouts, furniture or appliances for your dorm or housing, and essentials like laundry detergent, toothpaste and toilet paper.


The Full Cost of Attending University of San Diego


Now, let’s do a rundown of all of the costs associated with college, to get a better idea of how much students can expect to shell out for USD.

How Much Does USD Cost?

What will the cost of attending USD be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2022 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition $53,810
Room and Board $15,520
Other expenses $2,700

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus $73,926
Off-Campus $59,630

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

USD’s tuition and fees change based on: •Course load for part-time students


University of San Diego Financial Aid


The majority of University of San Diego undergrads use financial aid to finance their education. In 2022, 2,884 of the 5,702 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. USD meets 78% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $44,517 a year. Around 46% of USD undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. USD graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $27,020 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans $21,848
USD-Specific Loans $10,667
Private Loans $41,038
Most Common Loans for USD Students
Federal Loans 45%
Institutional Loans 7%
Private loans 4%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on USD financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at University of San Diego

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2022, USD awarded 2,853 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $103.1 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $28.18 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

University of San Diego Net Cost

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for USD students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at USD was $44,517 in 2022. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of USD seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus $29,409
Off-Campus $15,113

What will attending USD really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families make more informed decisions about the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the USD's net cost calculator on their website.

University of San Diego Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

USD offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Does USD Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes waiver tuition for certain groups, to make attending more affordable. Some schools offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even with a tuition waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student.

USD has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - Employees or Children of Employees

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.


Learn More About University of San Diego


Choose one of the options below to find out more about about USD:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

Visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about USD

USD Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

$71,226

In State

$71,226

Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$53,810
$53,810
Fees
$744
$744
Housing
$15,520
$15,520
Books
$1,152
$1,152

USD Financial Aid

Students Who Receive Need-Based Aid

54%

Average Financial Aid Package

$41,963

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

9,041

Campus Setting

Urban

Acceptance Rate

53%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$54,554

Out-of-State

$54,554

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Dec 15
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