Have questions about which application is right for you or whether you should apply as a first-year or transfer student? Check out our FAQ page for answers to commonly asked questions.
Fall Term Deadlines
| Application | Apply By | Submit Your FAFSA By | Admission Decision Release | Financial Aid Award Release | Confirm Your Enrollment By |
| Early Decision I - First Year | November 1 | November 15 | Early December | Late December | January 10 |
| Early Action - First Year | November 1 | November 15 | Mid December | Early February | May 1 |
| Early Decision II - First Year | January 5 | January 5 | Late January | Late January | February 10 |
| Regular Decision - First Year | January 15 | February 1 | Mid March | Early April | May 1 |
| Transfer | February 1 - Priority June 30 - Regular |
March 2 | Rolling | Within a few weeks of admission decision | Based on Date of Acceptance (rolling) |
Spring Term Deadlines
| Application | Apply By | Submit Your FAFSA By | Admission Decision Release | Financial Aid Award Release | Confirm Your Enrollment By |
| Regular Decision - First Year | October 1 | October 1 | Rolling | Within a few weeks of admission decision | December 15 or within 2 weeks of admission decision |
| Regular Decision - Transfer | October 1 | October 1 | Rolling | Within a few weeks of admission decision | December 15 or within 2 weeks of admission decision |
Other Important Items
| Item | Time Frame |
| Common App goes live | August 1 |
| USD Admission Counselors hit the road. See if we'll be visiting you! | September - November |
| 27-28 FAFSA becomes available | Mid-October |
| Admitted Student Events | February - April |
Frequently Asked Questions:
You’re considered a first-year applicant if you’re currently enrolled in high school and plan to graduate at the end of the academic year, or if you’ve already graduated but haven’t completed any college coursework. This includes students who may have attended a summer session immediately after high school graduation.
You’re considered a transfer applicant if you’ve already completed high school, earned a GED or passed a State High School Proficiency Examination and have enrolled in college classes.
Admission decision timing at USD depends on the application type and term you apply for:
- Early decision I applicants typically receive a decision in early December
- Early action applicants typically receive a decision in mid December
- Early decision II applicants typically receive a decision in late January
- Regular decision applicants typically receive a decision in mid March
- Transfer applicants receive decisions on a rolling basis after the priority deadline
- Spring applicants also receive decisions on a rolling basis
Students will be notified through their applicant portal when a decision is available.
Your financial aid award timing depends on when you apply:
- Early Decision I: Awards are released in late December
- Early Action: Awards are released in early February
- Early Decision II: Awards are released in late January
- Regular Decision: Awards are released in early April
- Transfer applicants: Awards are typically released within a few weeks after your admission decision
Be sure to submit your FAFSA by the priority deadline to receive your financial aid information as early as possible.
After submitting your application to the University of San Diego, you’ll receive access to your applicant portal where you can track your application status, confirm receipt of materials and view important updates from the admissions team. The portal is also where you’ll receive your admission decision and next steps to officially enroll.
Admitted students events at USD are hosted between February and April. These events give you the chance to explore campus, connect with future classmates and get a deeper look at academics and student life before making your final decision. Be sure to check your admission portal or email for specific dates and registration details.
Fall term application deadlines vary based on your application type:
- Early Decision I: Apply by November 1 (deposit due January 10)
- Early Action: Apply by November 1 (deposit due May 1)
- Early Decision II: Apply by January 5 (deposit due February 10)
- Regular Decision: Apply by January 15 (deposit due May 1)
- Transfer students: Priority deadline is February 1, with a regular deadline of Jun 30 (rolling decisions and deposits)
For spring admission, both first-year and transfer applicants follow a Regular Decision timeline:
- Application deadline: October 1
- FAFSA priority deadline: October 1
- Admission decisions: Released on a rolling basis
- Financial aid awards: Sent within a few weeks of your admission decision
- Deposit deadline: December 15 or within two weeks of your admission decision