The University of San Diego acceptance rate for Fall 2026 is about 38%, on roughly 22,600 applications, according to USD’s admission office. The 52% to 54% figures you still see on directory sites describe the Fall 2024 and Fall 2025 cycles, when about 17,000 to 17,500 students applied. In one year, applications jumped 29.8% while admits fell 7.1%.
The University of San Diego (USD) is a private Catholic university. It is not UC San Diego, a University of California campus, and it is not San Diego State, a Cal State campus. Enrolled first-years in Fall 2025 averaged a 4.02 GPA, and USD is test-free through Fall 2027.
USD in Brief: Not UC San Diego, Not San Diego State
The current USD acceptance rate is about 38% for Fall 2026, per USD’s admission page. The core facts, each tied to its year:
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Private Catholic university in San Diego |
| Acceptance rate | About 38% (Fall 2026, USD); 53.6% (Fall 2025, CDS) |
| Undergraduates | 5,851 (Fall 2024, NCES) |
| Average GPA, enrolled first-years | 4.02 (Fall 2025, CDS) |
| Testing | Test-free through Fall 2027 |
| Tuition and fees | $65,199 (2026-27) |
| Six-year graduation rate | 84% (Fall 2018 cohort, NCES) |
Source: USD Undergraduate Admission; USD Common Data Set 2025-26; NCES College Navigator; USD One Stop (2026-27).
Search results often mix up three San Diego schools. UC San Diego is a public UC campus, and San Diego State belongs to the CSU. Here is how all three compared in the same cycle.
| School | Type | Applied | Admitted | Admit rate | Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of San Diego | Private Catholic | 17,468 | 9,359 | 53.6% | 13.9% |
| UC San Diego | Public (UC) | 136,750 | 39,054 | 28.6% | 20.0% |
| San Diego State | Public (CSU) | 95,444 | 35,709 | 37.4% | 19.4% |
Source: Common Data Set 2025-26 of each school (Fall 2025, the latest cycle all three have published).
USD had the highest admit rate of the three in Fall 2025. Its Fall 2026 figure of about 38% now matches San Diego State’s Fall 2025 level.
University of San Diego Acceptance Rate 2025 vs 2026: Why You See 54% and 38%
USD admitted 53.6% of first-year applicants in Fall 2025 (9,359 of 17,468, per USD’s Common Data Set) and about 38% in Fall 2026. Between those two cycles, applications rose 29.8% and admits fell 7.1%. Both rates are real; they just describe different years.
| Fall | Applied | Admitted | Enrolled | Rate | Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 13,755 | 6,697 | 1,142 | 48.7% | 17.1% |
| 2020 | 13,171 | 7,731 | 997 | 58.7% | 12.9% |
| 2021 | 14,326 | 7,550 | 1,166 | 52.7% | 15.4% |
| 2022 | 14,334 | 7,541 | 1,234 | 52.6% | 16.4% |
| 2023 | 15,921 | 7,452 | 1,245 | 46.8% | 16.7% |
| 2024 | 17,010 | 8,909 | 1,104 | 52.4% | 12.4% |
| 2025 | 17,468 | 9,359 | 1,300 | 53.6% | 13.9% |
| 2026 | 22,673 | 8,696 | 1,400 | About 38% | 16.1% |
Source: USD Common Data Set 2019-20 to 2025-26 (section C1); Fall 2026: USD Admissions (38%, about 22,600 applications) and College Board BigFuture (counts supplied by the school).
Here’s what the data actually shows. If USD had admitted the same 9,359 students against 22,673 applications, the rate would have been 41.3%, so about 12.3 of the 15.2-point drop comes from the surge in applications and 2.9 points from fewer admits. Holding 53.6% would have meant admitting about 12,150 students, based on the counts USD supplied to College Board.
Applications are up about 65% since Fall 2019, while the rate stayed between 46.8% and 58.7% for seven straight cycles before the Fall 2026 drop.
Each site pulls from a different cycle.
| Source | Figure shown | Cycle it matches |
|---|---|---|
| USD admission page | 38% | Fall 2026 (labeled) |
| College Board BigFuture | 38.35% | No label; matches the Fall 2026 scale |
| USD Facts page | 17,468 applied, 9,359 admitted (53.6%) | Fall 2025 CDS, exactly |
| NCES College Navigator | 52% | Fall 2024 (17,008 applicants) |
| US News | 54% | No year shown; Fall 2024 or 2025 level |
| Niche | 52% | No year shown; Fall 2024 or 2025 level |
Source: the pages listed, accessed October 15, 2026; cycle matching by CalChannel against USD’s Common Data Set.
How CalChannel compiled these figures: totals come from section C1 of each USD Common Data Set, 2019-20 through 2025-26 (the 2025-26 file covers the Fall 2025 class), accessed October 15, 2026. Rate is admitted divided by applied; yield is enrolled divided by admitted. With no 2026-27 file yet, the Fall 2026 row takes the rate from USD’s admission page and the counts from BigFuture.
University of San Diego Acceptance Rate Out of State vs In State
USD admits out-of-state applicants at almost the same rate as Californians. In Fall 2025, the gap was 2.3 percentage points, and international applicants were admitted at 49.2%.
| Group (Fall 2025) | Applied | Admitted | Enrolled | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 9,397 | 5,154 | 728 | 54.8% |
| Other states | 7,125 | 3,740 | 505 | 52.5% |
| International | 946 | 465 | 46 | 49.2% |
Source: USD Common Data Set 2025-26, section C1.
The year before was even closer: 52.8% for Californians and 52.6% for out-of-state applicants in Fall 2024. About 39% of Fall 2025 enrolled first-years (505 of 1,300) came from other states.
So the data show no meaningful edge for California residents. The Fall 2026 split by residency won’t be known until USD posts its 2026-27 Common Data Set.
What GPA Do You Need for USD?
There are no published University of San Diego GPA requirements, so there is no minimum on paper. In practice, fewer than 1 in 20 enrolled first-years in Fall 2025 had a GPA below 3.50.
The University of San Diego average GPA for enrolled first-years was 4.02 in Fall 2025, with a middle 50% of 3.82 to 4.24.
| GPA, Fall 2025 enrolled first-years | Share or value |
|---|---|
| 4.0 and above | 57.8% |
| 3.75 to 3.99 | 24.0% |
| Below 3.50 | 4.5% |
| Average | 4.02 |
| Middle 50% | 3.82 to 4.24 |
Source: USD Common Data Set 2025-26, sections C11 and C12.
For Fall 2026, USD’s admission page shows a middle 50% weighted GPA of 3.8 to 4.2 on its stat tile, though the FAQ on the same page lists 3.9 to 4.3. College Board BigFuture reports 77% of enrolled students at 3.75 or higher, likely for a different class than the 81.8% in the Common Data Set.
Is USD Test Optional?
It goes further than that. USD is test-free through Fall 2027, which means SAT and ACT scores are not reviewed at all.
USD made that commitment in October 2020 for 2021 applicants and has extended it since. The school calls the policy “test-free”, while US News labels it “test-blind”.
How to Get Into USD: Early Action, ED I, ED II and Regular Decision
Students apply through the Common Application plus USD’s Member Questions. The review is holistic: academics, course rigor, leadership, community involvement, social justice and global awareness all count. First-year applicants also submit an official high school transcript, one academic recommendation from a counselor or teacher, and a $75 application fee; USD offers fee waivers for financial hardship.
The University of San Diego application deadline for Fall 2027 depends on the round you choose.
| Round | Deadline (Fall 2027 entry) | Binding? | Decision date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Action | November 1, 2026 | No | Not published for Fall 2027 |
| ED I (first Early Decision round) | November 1, 2026 | Yes | Not published |
| ED II (second Early Decision round) | January 5, 2027 | Yes | Not published |
| Regular Decision | January 15, 2027 | No | Not published |
Source: USD Undergraduate Admission, Apply page (accessed October 15, 2026).
University of San Diego early action is non-binding. In the Fall 2024 and Fall 2025 cycles, the Common Data Set listed a December 15 notification date for Early Action.
But there’s a catch. Early Decision is binding, and USD says it does not raise your chances because the same criteria apply in every round. Applicants denied in Early Decision are not moved to Regular Decision.
USD has not published how many students applied or were admitted in each round. Its Common Data Set through Fall 2025 reports no early decision plan, so there is no history to judge an Early Decision advantage.
If You Are Waitlisted
Waitlist outcomes swing hard from year to year.
| Fall | Offered a spot | Accepted a spot | Admitted from waitlist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3,072 | 1,360 | 37 |
| 2023 | 3,617 | 2,095 | 102 |
| 2024 | 3,885 | 1,986 | 1,441 |
Source: USD Common Data Set, section C2 (Fall 2025 waitlist figures are not in the 2025-26 file).
For students who stayed on the list, the odds ranged from under 3% to over 70% in recent years. Plan as if you will not come off it.
What Is the University of San Diego Transfer Acceptance Rate?
USD admitted 64.6% of transfer applicants in Fall 2025: 1,119 of 1,731, with 401 enrolling, per the Common Data Set. The USD Facts page shows 1,118 of 1,730, which gives the same rate.
USD’s transfer guidance encourages applicants to arrive with the following.
- 24 transferable semester units (or 36 quarter units)
- A GPA above 3.0
- Completed English Composition and College Algebra
These are recommended minimums, not hard cutoffs. For transfer entry, USD lists an extended Spring 2027 deadline of November 1, 2026; for Fall 2027, Priority Decision is February 1, 2027 and Regular Decision is June 30, 2027.
USD Tuition and Cost of Attendance 2026-27
Tuition at USD is $64,100 for 2026-27, plus $1,099 in fees, according to USD’s tuition and fees page. Add on-campus housing, a meal plan and health insurance, and the full sticker budget comes to $88,397.
| Item | 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $64,100 |
| Fees | $1,099 |
| On-campus housing | $13,450 |
| Meal plan | $5,750 |
| Health insurance | $4,158 |
| Total | $88,397 |
Source: USD One Stop, Undergraduate Tuition and Fees (accurate as of July 2026).
Net price is what families paid after grants, and NCES College Navigator reports it by family income. Those figures cover 2023-24, so they are older than the 2026-27 sticker price.
| Family income | Average net price (2023-24) |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30K | $15,586 |
| $30K to $48K | $17,441 |
| $48K to $75K | $19,557 |
| $75K to $110K | $27,012 |
| Over $110K | $46,989 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES College Navigator.
Enrollment, Ranking and Graduation at USD
The USD student population included 5,851 undergraduates in Fall 2024, per NCES. The Fall 2025 first-year class had 1,300 students, and College Board BigFuture reports about 1,400 for Fall 2026. About 56% of Fall 2025 first-years came from California and 39% from other states.
On the University of San Diego ranking, list positions shift with every edition, so CalChannel does not quote one here. The six-year graduation rate is 84% for the Fall 2018 cohort (NCES), a steadier signal of how students actually fare.
Should USD Be on Your List?
If you need a public-university price, USD works differently: its 2026-27 sticker budget is $88,397 before any aid. If USD is your clear first choice and the cost works, the two Early Decision rounds are the binding options, with no published evidence of an edge.
If you are comparing private colleges in California such as LMU, Santa Clara or USF, plan around 38% for USD, not “about half”.
Our take: treat USD as a school that now admits fewer than 2 in 5 applicants, not the coin flip older figures describe. Build your list on the Fall 2026 number, and check the next Common Data Set when USD posts it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the University of San Diego the Same as UC San Diego?
They are different schools. The University of San Diego is a private Catholic university, while UC San Diego is a public campus of the University of California. The two run separate admissions with very different selectivity. In Fall 2025, USD admitted 53.6% of first-year applicants and UC San Diego admitted 28.6%, per each school’s Common Data Set.
Is It Hard to Get Into USD?
It has become harder. The University of San Diego acceptance rate fell to about 38% for Fall 2026, on roughly 22,600 applications, according to USD. The school describes itself as “moderately selective”. Enrolled first-years in Fall 2025 averaged a 4.02 GPA, and fewer than 1 in 20 had a GPA below 3.50.
Is University of San Diego a Good School?
That depends on what you need, but a few numbers help. Its six-year graduation rate is 84% for the Fall 2018 cohort, per NCES. It is a private Catholic university with a 2026-27 sticker budget of $88,397, so cost matters as much as fit. Families earning up to $30,000 paid an average net price of $15,586 in 2023-24, a very different figure from the sticker price.
Does Applying Early Decision Help at USD?
USD says it does not. Its admission page states that Early Decision does not improve your chances, because every round uses the same criteria. USD calls its two binding rounds ED I and ED II, and it has not published admit data for either. Its Common Data Set through Fall 2025 reports no early decision plan, so there is no track record to check.
Does USD Publish Acceptance Rates by Major or for International Students?
Neither USD’s Common Data Set nor its undergraduate Apply page reports acceptance rates by major. For international applicants, the Fall 2025 admit rate was 49.2% (465 of 946). Out-of-state applicants were admitted at 52.5% and Californians at 54.8% in the same cycle. All three rates come from the 2025-26 file, the latest one USD has posted.
Sources
- University of San Diego, Undergraduate Admission: Apply page and Transfer page, and Application Requirements page, accessed October 15, 2026.
- University of San Diego, Common Data Set 2019-20 to 2025-26, sections C1, C2, C11, C12, C21, C22 and D2.
- U.S. Department of Education, NCES, College Navigator: University of San Diego, Fall 2024 admissions, net price 2023-24 and graduation rate.
- University of San Diego One Stop, Undergraduate Tuition and Fees 2026-27.
- UC San Diego Institutional Research, Common Data Set 2025-26.
- San Diego State University Analytic Studies and Institutional Research, Common Data Set 2025-26.
