University of San Diego acceptance rate and admissions profile
University of San Diego is a private college in California that admits roughly 52% of applicants, which puts it in the moderately selective range. A rate like this means it admits more applicants than it rejects; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.
Use this page to see what University of San Diego weighs, where it ranks among California schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1360, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.
Will I get into University of San Diego?
Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into University of San Diego, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.
What are my chances of getting into University of San Diego?
At University of San Diego, your real chance depends on far more than the published 52% admit rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for University of San Diego in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.
Is University of San Diego hard to get into?
University of San Diego is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 52% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.
What GPA do you need to get into University of San Diego?
There is no hard GPA cutoff at University of San Diego, but admitted students often present roughly a 3.2 to 3.7 GPA. University of San Diego reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.
What SAT score do you need for University of San Diego?
University of San Diego does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1360. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at University of San Diego.
What University of San Diego looks for
What University of San Diego weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.
University of San Diego signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay above the rest of the file. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from University of San Diego's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.
SAT score positioning at University of San Diego
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.
How University of San Diego compares in California
University of San Diego ranks #20 most selective of 61 schools in California in our database.
Among the 61 California schools we track, University of San Diego ranks #20 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like California Institute of Technology (3%) and Stanford University (4%) sit nearby, which makes California a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.
Similar to University of San Diego
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
If University of San Diego is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: Wofford College, Bard College, and Spring Arbor University. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.
Frequently asked questions
What does University of San Diego value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, University of San Diego weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
Does University of San Diego consider legacy or demonstrated interest?
Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. University of San Diego's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.
How can I improve my chances at University of San Diego?
Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at University of San Diego specifically.
What are the admission requirements for University of San Diego?
University of San Diego reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.
Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.