Affording a USD Education

If you're like most students and families, you are concerned about paying for college. We understand your concerns and have created this page to help address them. USD's tuition and costs are in the mid-range of selective private universities nationwide. With a generous financial aid and scholarship program, we offer families a tremendous value.

Value is the quality of an education versus what you pay. At USD, you'll receive a values-based education on one of America's most beautiful campuses. Through a comprehensive education firmly rooted in the liberal arts, students build a foundation of knowledge and skills that prepares them both for successful careers and this country's finest graduate and professional programs.

But there is much more. You'll choose from over 75 undergraduate majors, pre-professional studies, graduate programs, education credentials, certification, and career development programs. Our students have two years to decide on a major which allows time for exploration and in turn enriches their lives. In addition, with an undergraduate student population of 4,837, it is easy to earn a Bachelor's degree in four years because students get the courses they need to graduate and we provide them with solid advising and support.

Furthermore, opportunities for internship and research abound on our campus. The region's thriving scientific and entrepreneurial communities have strong relationships with USD. We believe that your career begins on campus and look to strengthen that by providing a solid academic preparation and practical experience.

Which brings us to our faculty, who are teachers first, but they are also scholars and mentors. About 96% of our full-time faculty have Ph.D's or terminal degrees. They are accessible and will actively teach you; no graduate assistants teach classes at USD. Our students build relationships with faculty as mentors, colleagues, and research advisors.

Finally, USD is a community. It is not a place where you take classes and go home to study alone. It is a beautiful campus alive with activity that includes competitive intercollegiate and intramural athletics, world-class theatre, nationally respected speakers, club activities, fraternity and sorority events, honors societies, and much more. Over 90% of our freshman live on campus and a large percentage of students in general call USD home.

There are two things we'd like you to know up front. First, we follow a need-blind admissions policy. That means that we evaluate your application for admission without considering whether you'll apply for need-based aid. Second, about 70% of our students receive some form of financial assistance composed of scholarships, grants, loans, payment plans, and work study. We encourage all students who are interested in attending USD to apply for financial aid, regardless of family financial circumstances.