University of San Diego: Fees 2026, Scholarships, Admissions 2026, Rankings & Programs

Popular Courses and Fees at University of San Diego 2027

The University of San Diego fees for Indian students are published on a flat per-year basis for undergraduates and on a per-unit basis for most graduate programs, except full-time MBA and Executive MBA which carry a published total program price. Full-time undergraduate tuition for 2026-27 is $64,100 per year, and part-time credit is billed at $2,210 per unit. Most masters programs run 30-36 units over 12-24 months.

Top PG Courses at University of San Diego

Fees shown are total program tuition at 2026-27 rates. Branch-campus or online cohorts can price marginally differently; confirm on the sub-school fee schedule before accepting an offer.

Top UG Courses at University of San Diego

Full-time undergraduate tuition is a flat annual rate across all majors in the College of Arts and Sciences and the four undergraduate schools. The 2026-27 rate below applies to all 43 bachelor’s programs.

Insider note: Indian students lean heaviest on the MS in Cyber Security Engineering and MS in Supply Chain Management because both carry STEM OPT, which gives graduates 36 months of US work authorisation instead of 12. The Knauss School Full-Time MBA remains the flagship for Indian managers aiming at US consulting and tech roles.

Read More: University of San Diego Fees and Cost of Living Guide

University of San Diego Admission 2027

University of San Diego admission for Indian students runs on one dominant Fall intake for first-year undergraduates, with Spring entry opening for select graduate programs. The chart below reflects the Fall 2027 undergraduate cycle; graduate program deadlines are set by each school.

University of San Diego UG Admission Dates 2027

Undergraduate international applicants submit through the Common Application and should finalise WES or ECE credential evaluations before the stated round deadline.

University of San Diego PG Admission Dates 2027

Graduate deadlines vary by school and program; the Knauss School of Business operates on priority rounds while most MS tracks use rolling admissions.

Planning note: Indian applicants targeting the Alcala or Trustee merit scholarships must apply in the Early Action or Early Decision I round. Regular Decision applicants are considered for merit, but the award pool is substantially smaller after the November cycle closes.

Read More: University of San Diego Admissions Guide for Indian Students

University of San Diego Admission Requirements for Indian Applicants 2027

The University of San Diego admission requirements for Indian students cover academic eligibility in Indian scale, an English proficiency test, and a mandatory credential evaluation from a NACES-member service.

PG Requirements at University of San Diego

• Academic: Four-year Indian bachelor’s degree with 55% or CGPA 5.5/10 (recommended) for most MS tracks; CGPA 6.0/10 or 60% recommended for STEM and MBA
• English test minimums: TOEFL iBT 4.5 (1-6 scale, for tests taken after 21 January 2026) or TOEFL iBT 83 (0-120 legacy scale); IELTS Academic 7.0; Duolingo English Test 120; TOEFL Essentials and IELTS Indicator not accepted
• Credential evaluation: Course-by-course report from WES, ECE, IERF, SpanTran or FACS
• Additional: GMAT or GRE waiver available for MBA based on undergraduate GPA and work experience

UG Requirements at University of San Diego

• Academic: Class 12 with 75% to 85% (recommended); test-optional through Fall 2028 so SAT or ACT is not required
• English test minimums: TOEFL iBT 4.0 (1-6 scale) or 80 (0-120 legacy); IELTS Academic 6.5; Duolingo 115; "verify at USD Undergraduate Admissions"
• Credential evaluation: WES or ECE evaluation of the Class 12 transcript

Key insight: The IELTS waiver applies only if your bachelor’s degree was taught in English for all four years and the medium of instruction letter is signed by the Registrar. Indian students from English-medium universities should still send the letter even when the degree looks obviously English-taught, as USD’s processing office rejects waiver claims without documentary proof.

University of San Diego Acceptance Rate 2027

The University of San Diego acceptance rate for the Fall 2026 cycle was 38%, which places the university in the moderately selective bracket for US private institutions. The rate has tightened across the past three cycles as applications climbed, so Indian applicants should treat USD as a target-selective school rather than a safety.

Early Action and Early Decision rounds carry higher admit rates than Regular Decision at USD. Indian applicants with 85%+ in Class 12 and strong extracurriculars realistically convert in the EA cycle.

Reality check: A 38% acceptance rate at the University of San Diego means Indian applicants with Class 12 scores below 75% should treat USD as a reach school. The admissions office reads applications holistically, so a strong SOP and two detailed teacher recommendations can shift decisions in borderline cases.

Read More: University of San Diego Acceptance Rate

University of San Diego Fees and Cost of Living for Indian Students 2027

Total annual outlay for an Indian student at the University of San Diego for 2026-27 ranges from $84,000 to $92,000 (₹79.38 lakh to ₹86.94 lakh), combining tuition, mandatory fees, and estimated San Diego living costs.

USD Tuition Fees for Indian Students 2027

Tuition at the University of San Diego covers tuition only; mandatory fees, health insurance, and books are billed separately on the student account.

Monthly Cost of Living in San Diego for Indian Students

San Diego sits in the top quartile of US cities for cost of living, driven mainly by rent for off-campus apartments in Linda Vista and Old Town near the USD campus.

Insider note: Shared two-bedroom apartments in Mission Valley or Fashion Valley near a trolley stop average $1,400 to $1,600 per bed. On-campus housing is guaranteed for all four undergraduate years and typically runs $1,100 to $1,500 monthly including a required meal plan.

Read More: Cost of Living in USA for Indian Students

University of San Diego Campus, Facilities and Student Life

The University of San Diego campus spans 180 acres on a mesa overlooking Mission Bay, with Spanish Renaissance architecture that gives the university its signature look.

• Location and transport: Linda Vista neighbourhood; eight minutes by car to San Diego International Airport; MTS Trolley Green Line station on campus
• Housing: On-campus housing guaranteed for all four undergraduate years; approximately 46% of undergraduates live on campus
• Notable facilities: Legal Research Center, Donald P. Shiley Center for Science and Technology, and the Jenny Craig Pavilion for athletics and events
• Indian student community: The USD Indian Student Association hosts Diwali and Holi events, and the Mulvaney Center runs academic mentoring tailored to international cohorts

What Indian students say: The campus is small enough that professors learn your name by the second week, which Indian applicants from large Indian universities often find a sharp cultural shift. The downside is that Linda Vista itself is quiet after 9pm, so social life pulls students toward Pacific Beach or Downtown on weekends.

University of San Diego Scholarships 2027

The University of San Diego scholarships for Indian students are predominantly merit-based with automatic consideration on application; no India-exclusive award exists, but Indian applicants compete on equal terms with domestic candidates for all merit tracks.

Planning note: Indian applicants who miss the Early Action deadline forfeit roughly 60% of merit scholarship bandwidth. The pool is reset each cycle, so applying Regular Decision does not automatically disqualify a candidate, but awards tend to be smaller and more need-balanced.

Read More: University of San Diego Scholarships Guide

University of San Diego Rankings 2027

The University of San Diego rankings are strongest in the US News Best Colleges national ranking, where the university sits at #110 for the 2026 edition, holding steady year on year.

The US News Best Value Schools ranking places USD at #58, which measures tuition cost against academic quality and institutional aid. The Knauss School of Business MBA is separately ranked by US News Best Graduate Schools.

Key insight: The University of San Diego is a nationally recognised private university rather than a top-100 research powerhouse, so its US News rank matters more to Indian recruiters and visa officers than its QS position. For STEM OPT eligibility, the US News national ranking is the credential US employers screen on.

Read More: University of San Diego Rankings Analysis

University of San Diego Placements and Career Outcomes 2027

The University of San Diego placements for Indian students run through the Career Development Center for undergraduates and a dedicated Knauss MBA Career Services team for business graduate students.

• Full-time job offer rate: 97.6% of USD graduates receive a full-time offer within three months of graduation
• Average Full-Time MBA starting salary: $97,673 (₹92.30 lakh), per the Knauss School 2024 employment report
• Top sectors for Indian graduates: technology, consulting, finance and healthcare, concentrated in San Diego, Los Angeles and the Bay Area
• Career support: on-campus recruiting, employer networking, resume reviews, and alumni mentoring through the Torero Network
• Post-study work: F-1 OPT provides 12 months of US work authorisation, extended to 36 months total for STEM-designated degrees including the MS in Cyber Security Engineering and MS in Applied AI

Insider note: Indian MBA graduates from the Knauss School place well into mid-sized Southern California firms, but Fortune 500 recruitment is thinner than at UCLA Anderson or USC Marshall. Indian students targeting FAANG or top consulting roles should supplement USD’s on-campus recruiting with their own Bay Area outreach.

University of San Diego vs Peer Universities

The peer set below benchmarks USD against three California private universities and one East Coast comparator, matched on size and selectivity.

USD stands out among this peer group for its guaranteed four-year on-campus housing and its focused Knauss School of Business MBA with 22-month or 17-month accelerated options. For Indian applicants, the University of San Diego is the strongest fit when climate, campus culture and smaller class sizes matter more than top-30 brand recognition.

The University of San Diego fits Indian applicants who want a mid-sized Catholic private university with STEM OPT eligibility, a 97.6% graduate employment rate, and a total annual cost around $84,000 (₹79.38 lakh) that is offset by merit awards up to $28,000 (₹26.46 lakh). The Knauss MBA at $97,673 (₹92.30 lakh) median starting salary makes the ROI math work for applicants targeting Southern California employers through the F-1 and OPT visa pathway.

USD is not the right fit for Indian applicants chasing a top-50 US News brand or FAANG-feeder STEM pipeline; Santa Clara University and USC Marshall remain stronger for Silicon Valley tech recruitment. Students who need the broadest financial aid should also compare state-flagship options before committing to a private tuition sticker.