University Of San Diego

University of San Diego's published cost of attendance is $78,720. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels.

Low-income families pay approximately $15,586; middle-income families pay around $19,557; higher-income families pay approximately $46,989. Azimuth ranks University of San Diego #1260 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. The university's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid distributed through the FAFSA and institutional evaluation.

Families should review USD's [financial aid page](https://www.sandiego.edu/financial-aid/) for current aid policies, merit scholarship eligibility, and the full range of available funding sources. The gap between published cost and net price reflects the institution's commitment to need-based aid, though the specific aid package depends on individual circumstances and demonstrated financial need.

Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,940, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $56,559; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $85,309, median federal debt of $22,940 projects to a monthly payment of about $259 under standard ten-year repayment.

For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $85,309, placing University of San Diego in the 87.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $11,315 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of San Diego in the 87.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.

That figure runs above the $67,139 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band). Azimuth ranks University of San Diego #161 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

The earnings pattern at University of San Diego is anchored by its dominant concentration in Business. The Finance program graduates 204 students with median earnings of $93,099 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #82 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Business Administration and Psychology, General also contribute to the earnings profile, with graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $79,678 and $74,178 respectively. Programs in Business represent 41% of degree output, followed by Social Sciences at 11% and Engineering at 8%, a mix that reflects University of San Diego's professional-degree orientation.

University of San Diego's program mix is anchored in business and applied professional fields — a signature consistent with its identity as a mid-sized private nonprofit university in a major coastal market. Business-oriented programs account for the largest share of degree output, with Business representing 41% of graduates, followed by Social Sciences at 11% and Engineering at 8%.

The dominant program family — Business — shapes both the institution's earnings profile and its labor-market alignment with San Diego's finance, consulting, and professional-services sectors. The program with the strongest combination of scale and earnings is Finance, which anchors University of San Diego's economic output across its 37 programs.

Among the most popular fields, Finance program graduates 204 students annually with median earnings of $93,099 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks the program #82 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business Administration and Psychology, General round out the high-enrollment tier, each feeding graduates into applied business and professional roles with competitive early-career pay.

The highest-earning programs at University of San Diego are concentrated in finance, accounting, and quantitative business fields. Accounting leads with median earnings of $109,142 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks the program #44 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Finance and Digital Marketing follow closely, with graduates entering high-mobility direct-to-workforce pathways in sectors where San Diego's proximity to major financial and technology employers provides a meaningful recruiting advantage. For context on how these program families align with national labor-market demand, see the [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/).