USD Acceptance Rate

The University of San Diego (USD), located in San Diego, California, is a private Catholic university known for its competitive admissions process. For the most recent admission cycle (Class of 2028), USD reported an overall acceptance rate of approximately 52.7%, reflecting a moderately selective process. This rate is influenced by factors such as a growing applicant pool, increased interest in USD’s strong liberal arts programs, and its appealing coastal location. While USD does not always publish detailed admission statistics for each cycle, data from recent years, including Common Data Sets available on their official website, provides a reliable benchmark for understanding selectivity trends.

• Overall Acceptance Rate: 52.7% for the Class of 2028, based on historical data from the Common Data Set (approximately 14,000 applicants with around 7,400 admitted).
• Early Action/Decision Rate: Data unavailable for the most recent cycle. Historically, early applicants may see a slightly higher acceptance rate (estimated at 55-60%) due to demonstrated interest.
• International Student Rate: Specific data unavailable. Based on regional norms for selective private universities, the rate is estimated at 40-50%, reflecting additional admission criteria like language proficiency.

Over the past few years, USD’s acceptance rate has shown a trend of gradual decline, indicating increasing competitiveness as more students apply each year. The university’s emphasis on holistic admissions, including academic performance, extracurricular involvement, and personal essays, contributes to this selectivity. Compared to peer institutions like Loyola Marymount University or Santa Clara University, USD’s acceptance rate positions it as moderately selective within the landscape of private West Coast universities. For the most accurate and up-to-date statistics, prospective students are encouraged to visit the official USD admissions page at www.sandiego.edu/admissions/.