The University of San Diego is a revered Roman Catholic establishment that accepted its first students in 1952. Today, it prides itself on welcoming students of every religion and culture with egalitarianism and inclusion. USD nurtures an educational environment based on freedom of thought. Its southernmost California location is merely a short drive to the Mexican border and features some of the most beautiful beaches and pristine mountains anywhere. It holds the Carnegie classification of “Doctoral/Research University.”
Mission/Vision
The University of San Diego’s mission is to raise the standard bar of academic development and achievement continually through encouraging freedom of thought and scholarly inquiry. Its vision is to prepare students to be informed democratic and ethical world citizens, who are able to develop and express their own opinions effectively. Toward that end, USD upholds the highest values and morals and aims to inspire students to serve with compassion, endeavoring ever forward toward peace and justice on a global scale.
Campus Setting
There are many reasons that The Princeton Review ranked the University of San Diego 6th out of 384 for “Most Beautiful Campus” in the country with U.S. News and World Report ranking USD in the top 50 in its list of “Most Beautiful College Campuses.” In fact, there are about 180 acres of well maintained, landscaped acres that feature romantically charming Spanish Renaissance architecture.
Every one of those acres provides opportunities for students to relax, study outside, talk with friends, stay fit and have fun. There are almost 200 organizations and clubs from multicultural to educational and recreational. The campus amenities include two gyms, workout facilities and a swimming pool along with multiple sports activity choices, including inner-tube water polo, softball and flag football.
The heart of this campus is the Student Life Pavilion where students gather to hang out, shop at the full-service market, dine, watch a free movie or listen to a band. The residential campus has 10 individual living areas where Toreros can be heard releasing stress before finals with the traditional Midnight Scream.
Academics
The University of San Diego has 405 full-time faculty members; 204 of those are a part of the College of Arts and Sciences where 31 majors are offered. This prestigious and historical college of USD boasts 22 professional and honor societies.
USD offers a total of 41 bachelor’s degrees, 50 minors, 39 master’s degrees and three doctorates among others. The university’s schools and colleges include The School of Business Administration, The Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, The Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, The Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, The School of Law and The School of Leadership and Educational Sciences.
The University of San Diego endeavors to prepare every student to be a valuable world citizen and approximately two-thirds of its undergraduates study abroad.
Rounding out the academic benefits of USD are the acclaimed Copley Library and a seven-level, Legal Research Center, which is the region’s first law library.
Athletics
USD is represented by 17 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I teams including football, swimming and diving and women’s softball. USD is also represented in Division I sport that include rowing, basketball, tennis, track and field, baseball, cross country, men’s golf, volleyball and soccer. The campus boasts the Jenny Craig Pavilion, which seats 6,000 for many athletic events. USD is also proud of its Torero Stadium, Cunningham Baseball Field and Manchester Canyon Field.
Tuition & Financial Aid
USD offers competitive, private university tuition. Resident housing varies depending on accommodation and meal plan choice. The university offers financial aid support services for scholarships, grants and loans for eligible students. Please refer to the school’s website for the most up-to-date tuition and financial aid information.
Accreditation
The University of San Diego is a Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) fully accredited school and has been since 1956.
Admissions
A complete application is required for freshman, transfer and internationally applying students. The application must include the following documents.
– Application fee of $55 for freshman, transfer or international students
– Official high school transcript from all high schools attended in English
– Official SAT Reasoning Test scores submitted directly from College Board or Official ACT with Writing scores submitted directly from American College Test (ACT) for freshman
– Official TOEFL iBT score of 80 or IELTS score of 6.5 Official TOEFL iBT score of 80 or IELTS score of 6.5 for International applicants. This may be waived if certain other requirements are met
– Official college transcripts from all institutions attended for transfer students
– One academic letter of recommendation for all applicants in English
– Essay for all applicants
Contact Information:
Phone (619) 260-2700
usdofas@sandiego.edu
University of San Diego
Hughes Center 319
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, CA 92110