How to get into University of San Diego
How to get into USD: a Catholic university on a Spanish-Renaissance campus with strong international relations and business programs
52.4%
Acceptance rate
$59,486
In-state cost
What makes University of San Diego admissions different
The University of San Diego is a mid-size (~5,700 undergrad) private Catholic university on a hilltop campus in San Diego, CA, built in a distinctive Spanish-Renaissance architectural style overlooking Mission Bay. USD has strong programs in International Relations and Diplomacy (the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies and the affiliated undergraduate International Relations major), Business (the Knauss School of Business is AACSB-accredited and well-regarded regionally), Engineering (the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering), and Nursing. The Catholic identity is woven into campus culture but the application doesn't gate on religion. ED is binding and provides a meaningful admit-rate bump; the Trustee Scholarship is the school's named full-tuition merit award.
What an actually competitive application looks like
- 1.
Apply Early Decision I (Nov 15) or Early Decision II (Jan 15) if USD is your clear top choice. ED is binding and provides a meaningful admit-rate bump.
- 2.
Apply Early Action (Dec 1) for non-binding early decision and merit consideration.
- 3.
Apply for the Trustee Scholarship (full tuition, four-year merit award) by the published deadline — Trustee Scholarship requires a separate supplement and is awarded competitively from the admit pool.
- 4.
Pick the right college. The Knauss School of Business, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, and the Hahn School of Nursing each read with their own signal.
- 5.
Write the 'why USD' supplement around the Catholic mission, a specific USD program (the Kroc School integration, the International Relations major, the Honors Program), and the San Diego location pipeline (border studies, biotech, defense).
- 6.
Maintain a strong GPA in rigorous coursework. USD has been test-optional and the policy continues; submit SAT 1320+ / ACT 30+ if scores reinforce.
Common mistakes that hurt applicants here
- ✕
Confusing the University of San Diego (private Catholic) with San Diego State (public). They are entirely different schools.
- ✕
Missing the Trustee Scholarship deadline. The Trustee is the school's headline merit award and runs on a separate application track.
- ✕
Writing a 'why San Diego' supplement that's about beaches and weather. The supplement is read for academic specificity.
- ✕
Underestimating cost. USD's COA is among the higher private-university bands in California; merit aid offsets but doesn't eliminate the gap.
The specifics for University of San Diego
Application deadlines
- Early Decision I2025-11-15Binding.
- Early Action2025-12-01Non-binding.
- Early Decision II2026-01-15Binding.
- Regular Decision2026-01-15
- Trustee Scholarship applicationVariesSeparate Trustee supplement required.
What makes this admissions process distinctive
USD's headline merit award — full tuition, four-year scholarship for top-of-pool admits. Separate Trustee supplement required and competitive.
Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies integration ↗
USD is one of a small number of universities with a dedicated graduate school of peace and justice studies. The undergraduate International Relations and Peace and Justice programs integrate with the Kroc School.
Catholic mission and Spanish-Renaissance campus
USD is a Catholic university affiliated with the Diocese of San Diego. The distinctive Spanish-Renaissance campus architecture and the Catholic intellectual tradition shape institutional identity.
What graduates actually do
USD is a Catholic university with strong Southern California professional networks in business, law, and the military. Graduates feed San Diego's defense and biotech sectors (General Dynamics NASSCO, Qualcomm, Illumina), Navy and Marine Corps leadership pipelines, and Southern California real estate and law. The School of Business and the School of Law are well-regarded for regional placement. Strong study-abroad culture.
Notable alumni
- Eric Musselman — College basketball coach
- Brian Burke — Former NHL executive
- Susan Davis — Former U.S. Congresswoman from California (faculty)
Transfer pathway
USD accepts California community college transfers with a 3.0+ GPA via ASSIST.org articulation. San Diego Mesa College, Grossmont College, and MiraCosta College are the largest feeders. The university participates in the Jesuit/Catholic Transfer Network and offers transfer-specific merit aid. Transfer admit rate runs above the freshman rate.
Articulation partners
San Diego Mesa College · Grossmont College · MiraCosta College · San Diego City College · Palomar College
Specifics verified 2026-05-18 from the school's own admissions page + Common App (supplements re-verified this pass). Always confirm current-year details directly on the school site before applying.
If you're on the bubble
USD rewards ED applicants who apply for Trustee in parallel and write Catholic-mission-and-USD-specific supplements. Strong-stat early applicants with specific supplements are competitive for admission and named merit.
Next steps
Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.