The admissions office will begin to review early decision applications in late fall. Applicants will be advised of the decision no later than December 22. The criteria used to evaluate applicants under this program will be the same as the criteria and selection process employed for regular admissions. This is a binding admission process; you will have until January 15 to confirm your place in the entering class by submitting the required seat deposit.
The information below is designed to provide Early Decision Admitted Students with a basic understanding of the steps toward enrollment at the USD School of Law. We will provide you with a variety of information about the law school between now and orientation week in August.
| IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES | |
|---|---|
| December 1, 2025 | Early Decision Applications Due |
| January 15, 2026 | Early Decision Commitment Deposit Due |
| March 2, 2026 | FAFSA Priority filing deadline |
| March 27, 2026 | Law School Campus Visit Day* (for admitted students only) |
| April 10, 2026 | Law School Campus Visit Day 2* (for admitted students only) |
| April 15, 2026 | First Commitment deposit due for all regular decision admits |
| June 1, 2026 | Second commitment deposit due for all regular decision admits |
| August 1, 2026 | Official Transcript Due |
| August 10-12, 2026 | Mandatory First-Year Orientation |
| August 15, 2026 | First Year part-time orientation |
| August 17, 2026 | Fall Classes Begin |
*Additional event information will be available prior to each event
To reserve your place at USD, as stated in the Early Decision Program Agreement that you signed or electronically certified, you will need to do the following:
- Submit a $500 non-refundable deposit by January 15, 2026
- Meet with the USD Law Financial Aid team prior to withdrawing from other law programs
How to Submit your Deposit
Shortly following your offer of admission, you will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to submit an online deposit via our secure MySanDiego Portal. Additionally, we also accept checks or money orders by mail to:
University of San Diego
School of Law, Admissions Office
Warren Hall 203
5998 Alcala Park
San Diego, CA
92110-2492
If you wish to be considered for financial assistance such as student loans and work study, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Information regarding the financial aid process is available on the USD Law Financial Aid website. Updates about Financial Aid, including tuition and cost of attendance information, will become available on the website in mid-February.
USD offers a number of merit and/or need-based scholarships to entering students. Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis and a separate application is not required. Scholarship awarding may occur at any time after admission contingent on the availability of funds.
An official final transcript indicating conferral of your bachelor's degree must be received in the Admissions Office by August 1, 2026.
Admitted students must make best efforts to have their official transcripts on file with the Office of Admissions prior to the first day of classes. Only transcripts that include a degree conferral date meet the official transcripts standard. Note, Per ABA Standard 502(d), unless "extraordinary circumstances" apply, a law school must have official transcripts on file for fall matriculating students by October 15. For students matriculating at any other time, official transcripts must be on file within four weeks of the date classes begin. If the Office of Admissions determines extraordinary circumstances have in fact delayed the receipt of an enrolled student’s official transcripts by stated ABA deadlines, the Office of Admissions will add a written explanation detailing these circumstances to the student's file.
If an enrolled student does not have their final transcripts on file with the Office of Admissions by the applicable deadline, absent a finding of extraordinary circumstances, a student will be automatically withdrawn from the law school. The withdrawn student will remain responsible for all fees and costs associated with their period of enrollment.
Check out the USD Graduate and Law Student Housing Guide 2025 that gives you an overview of housing facts, neighborhoods, apartment ratings and advice from current students.
Feel free to drop by the Student Life Pavilion 401 where you can get more general information about off-campus housing.
Visit our Basic Needs page for more housing resources.
All entering students will be required to either: (1) enroll in the University health insurance plan, or (2) waive participation in the University sponsored plan if the student has adequate health insurance coverage. Additional information will be available on the MySanDiego Portal.