University of San Diego

University of San Diego admissions deadline varies according to programme offered. Tentative deadline for PG courses for the Spring intake is Oct, 2026 for international applicants. International students are required to submit other application materials such as transcripts, test scores and visa documents.

The University of San Diego was the first stand-alone institution in the US to be awarded the prestigious Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies.

The university was also the first campus located in the West Coast to be designated as a Changemaker campus & to this day it remains a part of a very few number of Changemaker campuses in the world.

According to alumni of USD, the university provides great housing facilities for freshmen students who want to live on-campus. First-year students of USD can live at Maher Hall and The Valley. Maher Hall is one of the most popular residence hall of the university. It has multiple room setups, common areas, study spaces, etc. at Maher Hall. On the other hand, The Valley consists of numerous multiple residential buildings as well as a gym, space for outdoor recreation, and a café.

International undergrad students can apply to the University of San Diego through the Common App and submit required materials such as transcripts. However, USD test free policy does not make it mandatory to submit the SAT/ACT score. Applicants can still apply without the SAT. However, international students are required submit English language test proficiency score through IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo. 

Graduates of the University of San Diego are employed in several prominent global MNC's including: Amazon, Deloitte, Walt Disney, Qualcomm, NBC Universal among others.

As per the latest employment data made available by the institute, 88.7% of the students were successfully able to secure employment at some of the best MNC's in the US & across the globe within the first 3 months of completing graduation. 

The University of San Diego offers a variety of programs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. International students applying to the University of San Diego can use the following pathways to apply online.

Level of Study

Pathways

Undergraduate

Common Application and Accompanying USD Member Questions

Postgraduate

USD Website

Though the GPA requirement varies for different courses, the general GPA required for admissions to the University of San Diego is 3.0. 

Apart from this, students must also satisfy the institute's other requirements such as language test scores, valid passport, etc. to have a good chance of securing admission to the University of San Diego.

The University of San Diego acceptance rate is around 47%. It can be inferred that it is pretty selective at granting admissions to its courses.

Interested candidates must perform really well in past academics as well as other university entrance exams to have a chance of securing admissions to the institute. 

Awards of the Undergraduate Merit Scholarships are automatically determined by the office of undergraduate admissions. Eligibility for these scholarships are as follows:

• Scholarships are awarded based on superior academic performance
• Only freshman applicants are eligible
• Students must maintain a CGPA of 3.0 and full-time status

The University of San Diego offers scholarships and fellowships for American Indian and Alaska Native undergraduate and graduate students, including the DAR American Indian Scholarship and the American Indian Graduate Center Scholars (AIGC) fellowships and loans for service. The University of San Diego also offers a special scholarship programme for students in India enrolling in their online programs. Education Future International Scholarship - USA & Non-USA 2024 is a partial funding scholarship available for international students. 

Yes, the University of San Diego offers scholarship opportunities for international students such as Alcala, Trustee, and Presidential scholarships. Scholarships usually range from USD 18,000 TO USD 28,000 (INR 15,03,564 to INR 23,38,877). However, only freshman applicants are eligible for merit scholarships.

The University of San Diego charges different fees for undergraduate and graduate international students. For the 2023-2024 academic year, undergraduate tuition for international students is $55,690 (INR 46,29,331), while graduate tuition is $58,390 (INR 48,53,773).

The minimum admission requirements for the University of San Diego will vary from course to course and depend on the level of study. However, we have given below the checklist for admission requirements for international students.

• Complete Common Application, including USD Member Questions
• Official class 12 mark sheet
• One academic letter of recommendation
• Essay
• English language proficiency
• Official course-by-course evaluation of any foreign college/post-secondary transcripts

Read More: University of San Diego Admissions

The requirements vary for first-year applicants and transfer applicants. Also, the application process is different for domestic and international applicants.

The eligibility criteria and language requirements for applying to different programs offered to international students at San Diego are:

Eligibility Requirements for Undergraduates

• A minimum of C grade or a 3.0 grade point average is required to be eligible for admission.

• Before senior year, applicants should also qualify for a certain number of courses, depending on their departments.

• Apart from their academic achievements, the qualities and abilities of students are assessed through the letters of recommendation and essays they submit.

• Subject Requirements: The specifications for admissions vary, depending on every subject’s requirements. The subject-specific requirements for undergraduates that can be referred to as follows:

Subjects

Years of Study

English

4 years

Mathematics

3 or 4 years

Science

3 or 4 years, including 2 years with lab

Foreign Language

3 or 4 years

Social Studies

2 or more years

Eligibility Requirements for Graduates and Postgraduates

Students must have an undergraduate or bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution to be a part of a graduate/postgraduate programme in the university.

• Country-Specific Requirements for Indian Students

Class 12 Board examination or plus two qualifications are essential. Transcripts from the respective university are required for admission. Students need a minimum of 3.4 grade points. It is mandatory to have the documents required for admission in English. Otherwise, they must be translated into English. Also, students should prove their proficiency in English.

• Indian Undergraduates: The general requirements can be higher, depending on specific courses. The university will not consider ACT or SAT scores till fall 2024.

• Indian Graduates/Postgraduates: Depending on the specification of each department, students have to qualify for GRE or GMAT. The university also considers the experiences and personal attributes of applicants.

The university-wide minimum TOEFL score required for consideration for graduate admission is 85, but specific departments/programs may have different requirements. The School of Leadership and Education Sciences at USD requires a minimum TOEFL score of 83 for the internet-based test and 237 for the computer-based test. The official TOEFL scores, which are not more than 2 years old and have a minimum score of 80 iBT/ 550 PBT, must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Services (ETS) TOEFL using USD’s Institution code 4849.

International students planning to pursue their higher studies from the University of San Diego must be prepared to spend a decent chunk of money upon arrival.  The tuition fee varies with course as does the cost of living which is dependent on the kind of lifestyle students decide to pursue.

The cost of a full-time MBA programme is around INR 23.8 L –INR 42 L. While the estimated cost of living as part of student accommodation is around INR 20-25 L.

The Princeton Review has ranked University of San Diego among the most beautiful campuses in the US. The USD 180-acre space overlooks the city of San Diego, Mission Bay, and the Pacific Ocean.

No, the University of San Diego is not part of the <a href="https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/ivy-league-universities-what-is-all-the-hype-about-articlepage-51">Ivy League institutions</a>.

Though USD isn't part of that group it still maintains a quality standard of education that can be pursued at reasonable costs. 

As per the numbeo.com, San Diego is 263.6% more expensive than Delhi (without rent). A single person estimated monthly costs are USD 1,423 without rent. Also, rent in San Diego on average is about 1,030% higher than in Delhi. A family of four estimated monthly costs are USD 4,976 without rent.

No, the University of San Diego does not maintain off-campus facilities. Interested candidates must refer alternative housing portals such as: Craigslist, RoomChazer, HUGS among others.