Welcome
Set at the edge of an international gateway on one of the nation’s most beautiful campuses, the University of San Diego prepares students for personal and professional growth and success. Our focus on academic excellence — inspired by faith, infused with contemporary Catholic values and nurtured in a warm, community environment — empowers confident original thinkers to make positive contributions in their communities, and throughout the world.
With more than 9,000 students from dozens of countries and 50 states, USD was the first campus on the West Coast to be designated as a Changemaker campus and is now one of only 42 Changemaker campuses in the world. USD is ranked as one of the best Catholic colleges in America and is consistently among the top five in the nation for study abroad participation. USD has consistently been named among the most beautiful campuses in the nation by The Princeton Review. Governed by an independent Board of Trustees, the university remains dedicated to the values originally articulated by its founders, Mother Rosalie Clifton Hill of the Religious of the Sacred Heart and Bishop Charles Francis Buddy of the Diocese of San Diego.
Education
10,027 Total Students
Fall 2025 Enrollment
Undergraduate: 6,049
Men: 43% / Women: 57%
Graduate: 3,978
Men: 44% / Women: 56%
1,035 Faculty Members
Full time: 529
Part time: 495
2,989 Degrees Awarded
In the 2024-25 Academic Year
Bachelor’s: 1,387
Master’s: 1,221
Law: 312
Doctoral: 69
Our Campus
- Contemporary Catholic values grounded in the liberal arts tradition.
- Private. Coeducational. Residential. Independent.
- Perched on a pristine mesa—easily navigable and pedestrian-friendly.
- Beautiful 16th century Spanish Renaissance architectural style.
- Beaches, mountains, downtown and the Mexican border are all a short drive from campus.
- Carnegie classification of "Doctoral University: High Research Activity."
- Fully accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission since 1956.
Catholic Identity
- As a Catholic university, we offer a values-based education attentive to the full flourishing of all members of our community.
- We cherish our Roman Catholic heritage and the institutions that founded USD: the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Diocese of San Diego.
- Inspired by the Second Vatican Council, we foster faith and engage the world with hope.
- We promote ecumenical and interfaith community and work in solidarity to create justice and peace.
Students
- Enrollment: 10,027 headcount (8,940 FTE) undergraduate, paralegal, graduate and law students
- New Fall Entrance: 1,300 freshmen, 401 transfers, 1,233 graduate students, 244 JD law students
- Demographics: 49% students of color, 5% international students
- Alumni: More than 87,000 living in all 50 states and 100 countries, with 55% living in California
University Rankings
Creating a more inclusive, sustainable and hopeful world
Inclusive Excellence
Inclusive excellence guides USD’s mission, with the Center for Inclusion and Diversity advancing equity, belonging, and opportunities for all community members to thrive.
Sustainability
USD drives sustainability through student initiatives, faculty involvement, and operational efforts that have cut energy, water use, and emissions while expanding renewable energy. With its Energy Master Plan, sustainable investments, and nationally recognized programs, the university is moving toward carbon neutrality by 2035.
Changemaking
USD fosters social change through a campus culture that combines rigorous academics with opportunities for students to become engaged, compassionate citizens. Its globally recognized Changemaker Hub empowers students and faculty to turn ideas into action, addressing critical social issues in the San Diego community.
Study Abroad
USD is a national leader in global education, with more than 75% of undergraduates studying abroad in 2022–23, ranking seventh in the country. Programs span 80+ cities and are offered during semesters, intersession and summer, including study at the USD Madrid Center with homestay options and a travel seminar. Double-degree opportunities in France, Italy, Portugal and Spain allow business students to earn two degrees in four years, while faculty-led programs provide affordable 2–4 week international experiences. Students must be in good academic standing, have completed 45 units and enroll in 12–18 units for semester programs, with financial aid and scholarships available.
Athletics
The University of San Diego has a rich athletic tradition with 66 conference championships, 116 NCAA Tournament appearances and a 91% graduation rate among student-athletes who also contribute thousands of service hours. Competing as the Toreros in NCAA Division I and the West Coast Conference, USD fields men’s and women’s teams across numerous sports and plays football in the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League. State-of-the-art facilities—including the Jenny Craig Pavilion, Torero Stadium, Fowler Park, the Softball Complex and various training centers—support varsity competition, while more than 500 students participate annually in club sports from surfing to rugby.
Campus Community
USD students build community through shared interests, sports clubs, outdoor activities and on-campus living, which is available all four years and required for most first- and second-year students. First-year students join Living Learning Communities, and transfer students participate in Transfer Learning Communities, both of which support academic integration and fulfill core curriculum elements. More than 3,000 students live on campus in residence halls or upper-division apartments staffed by professional directors, ministers and resident assistants, while second-year students benefit from a program emphasizing community, wellness, study abroad preparation and career development.
Career Development
The University of San Diego’s Career Development Center supports students from major exploration through post-graduation planning with its required Career Readiness Program, the Handshake job portal connecting students to more than 40,000 employers, Torero Treks to companies nationwide, the T.E.A.M. mentoring network of 3,300+ alumni and parents, and a Summer Internship Award offering up to $3,000 for career-building experiences. Outcomes show strong success: among the 2022–23 graduating class, 86.1% of full-time employed respondents secured a job within three months, 94.8% reported alignment with their career goals, 43.7% received signing bonuses and 41.5% had multiple offers.
College and Schools
A University of San Diego education is founded on the pursuit of academic excellence. Students choose from undergraduate and graduate degree programs from the seven schools and college that comprise the University of San Diego.