University of San Diego: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

The Donald P. Shiley Center for Science and Technology at the University of San Diego
The Donald P. Shiley Center for Science and Technology at the University of San Diego.

Walleigh / Flickr / CC BY-SA 3.0

The University of San Diego is a private Catholic research university with an acceptance rate of 49%. The university has a stunning 180-acre campus defined by its Spanish Renaissance architecture style and views of Mission Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Beaches, mountains, and desert are all within an easy drive of the University of San Diego. The university was awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences. The USD Toreros (Bullfighters) compete in the NCAA Division I West Coast Conference for most sports.

Considering applying to the University of San Diego? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, University of San Diego had an acceptance rate of 49%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 49 students were admitted, making San Diego's admissions process competitive.

Admissions Statistics (2018-19)
Number of Applicants 13,755
Percent Admitted 49%
Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 17%

SAT Scores and Requirements

The University of San Diego requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 69% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

SAT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
ERW 600 680
Math 590 690
ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

This admissions data tells us that most of University of San Diego's admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to University of San Diego scored between 600 and 680, while 25% scored below 600 and 25% scored above 680. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 590 and 690, while 25% scored below 590 and 25% scored above 690. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1370 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at University of San Diego.

Requirements

University of San Diego does not require the SAT writing section. Note that San Diego participates in the scorechoice program, which means that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. SAT Subject tests are not required, but will be considered if submitted.

ACT Scores and Requirements

The University of San Diego requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 43% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

ACT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
English 26 33
Math 24 29
Composite 26 31

This admissions data tells us that most of University of San Diego's admitted students fall within the top 18% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to University of San Diego received a composite ACT score between 26 and 31, while 25% scored above 31 and 25% scored below 26.

Requirements

Note that University of San Diego does not superscore ACT results; your highest composite ACT score will be considered. University of San Diego does not require the ACT writing section.

GPA

In 2019, the average high school GPA for incoming University of San Diego freshmen was 3.93, and over 71% of incoming students had average GPAs of 3.75 and above. These results suggest that most successful applicants to University of San Diego have primarily A grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

University of San Diego Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph.
University of San Diego Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph. Data courtesy of Cappex.

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to the University of San Diego. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

The University of San Diego, which accepts just under half of all applicants, has a selective admissions process. If your SAT/ACT scores and GPA fall within the school's average ranges, you have a strong chance of being accepted. However, San Diego also has a holistic admissions process involving other factors beyond your grades and test scores. A strong application essay and a glowing letter of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. Applicants with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their test scores are outside of San Diego's average range.

In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. You can see that the majority of successful applicants had high school GPAs of 3.5 or better, combined SAT scores of 1150 or higher (ERW+M), and ACT composite scores of 24 or better. Your chances of acceptance are best if your numbers are above this lower range.

If You Like University of San Diego, You May Also Like These Schools

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and University of San Diego Undergraduate Admissions Office.

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Grove, Allen. "University of San Diego: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/university-san-diego-gpa-sat-act-786736. Grove, Allen. (2023, April 5). University of San Diego: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/university-san-diego-gpa-sat-act-786736 Grove, Allen. "University of San Diego: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/university-san-diego-gpa-sat-act-786736 (accessed March 28, 2024).