California · Private nonprofit · Predominantly bachelor's

University of San Diego

San Diego, California. 5,619 undergraduate students. 95 programs in the federal Field-of-Study dataset.

ANOMALY ENGINE · NOTABLE SIGNALS

Earnings, completion, debt, and enrollment anomalies at University of San Diego

Short-arc shifts (recent 3-year window), peer outliers, earnings trend breaks, completion drops, enrollment cliffs, and debt-to-earnings warnings — surfaced deterministically from the federal record. Multi-decade shifts are reported separately in the Long Arc section, since 25-year tuition drift isn't really an anomaly.

LONG-ARC SHIFT · TRENDING WORSE+15%

In-state tuition

In-state tuition at University of San Diego rose 15% between 2007 and 2010 ($32.6k → $37.4k).

LONG-ARC SHIFT · TRENDING BETTER-100%

3-year cohort default rate

3-year cohort default rate at University of San Diego fell 100% between 2021 and 2024 (0.5% → 0.0%).

LONG-ARC SHIFT · TRENDING WORSE+13%

Out-of-state tuition

Out-of-state tuition at University of San Diego rose 13% between 2021 and 2024 ($52.9k → $59.5k).

SECTION 01 · OUTCOMES SNAPSHOT

University of San Diego earnings, debt, and completion vs. the California median

Each tile compares this institution to the California median for the same metric. Sub-line shows the comparison value, not an interpretation. Sparklines trace the federally available history.

MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10Y
$86,522+33% · 6→10y
California median $42,588
MEDIAN EARNINGS · 6Y
$64,995
Treasury earnings · 6y post-entry
COMPLETION · 150%
81.6%+28% · '97→'24
California median 61.3%
MEDIAN FEDERAL DEBT
$19,019±0% · '97→'10
At program completion
UNDERGRAD ENROLLMENT
5,619+23% · '96→'10
latest IPEDS
RETENTION
89.8%+3% · '04→'10
first-time, full-time
ADMISSION RATE
46.8%+4% · '01→'24
latest cohort
IN-STATE TUITION
$56,444+83% · '01→'10
out-of-state $56,444
SECTION 02 · EARNINGS HORIZONS

How University of San Diego earnings spread, 4 to 10 years after entry

Treasury tax-record earnings for federally aided students who first enrolled at this institution. Each point is a horizon from the most-recent vintage. Single median per horizon (no p25/p75 publishing).

ALL FEDERALLY AIDED STUDENTS · TAX-RECORD EARNINGSVINTAGE 2025-05
Earnings widen with time post-entry. Selection: federal-aid recipients only — not all graduates.Methodology →
SECTION 03 · DEBT-TO-EARNINGS

What loans cost relative to earnings at University of San Diego

Annual debt service as a share of median earnings 10 years after entry, computed under federal Direct loan terms (10-year fixed at 6%). The 8% line is the gainful-employment threshold from federal regulation; above 12% has historically been considered “failing” under prior rule cycles.

Institution-wide

2.9%
0%8% · GE20%+

Median federal debt $19,019 amortized over 10 years vs. median earnings $86,522 (10y after entry).

SECTION 04 · LONG ARC

University of San Diego enrollment, completion, and debt over time

Federally available history. Coverage varies by metric — IPEDS publishes some series only after 2009 and others only before.

UNDERGRAD · 199620105,299
5,2994,29919962010
Undergraduate enrollment.IPEDS EF
COMPLETION 150% · 1997202483.7%
84%64%19972024
150%-time completion rate.IPEDS GR
MEDIAN DEBT · 19972010$11,000
$11,125$10,50019972010
Median federal student debt at exit.SCORECARD
COMPLETION · 150% · 19972024+28%

University of San Diego · completion · 150% rose

65.2% → 83.7%

COMPLETION · 100% · 19972024+30%

University of San Diego · completion · 100% rose

53.4% → 69.3%

UNDERGRAD ENROLLMENT · 19962010+23%

University of San Diego · undergrad enrollment rose

4,299 → 5,299

IN-STATE TUITION · 20012010+83%

University of San Diego · in-state tuition rose

$20,458 → $37,372

OUT-OF-STATE TUITION · 20012024+191%

University of San Diego · out-of-state tuition rose

$20,458 → $59,486

COHORT DEFAULT RATE · 20112024-100%

University of San Diego · cohort default rate fell

2.8% → 0.0%

PELL SHARE · 20082010+33%

University of San Diego · pell share rose

10.3% → 13.7%

EARNINGS_MEDIAN_8YR · 20052020+43%

University of San Diego · earnings_median_8yr rose

$54,200 → $77,744

SECTION 05 · PROGRAMS

University of San Diego programs ranked by 5-year earnings

Each row is one (CIP × credential) program reported by the institution in College Scorecard's Field-of-Study data. Cohort floor is 30 students; below this, federal data is suppressed.

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingCIP 5138 · Doctoral Degree$144,25813 gradsLegal Research and Advanced Professional StudiesCIP 2202 · Master's Degree$130,36138 gradsLawCIP 2201 · First Professional Degree$130,132227 gradsBusiness Administration, Management and OperationsCIP 5202 · Master's Degree$128,241161 gradsRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingCIP 5138 · Master's Degree$119,02389 gradsElectrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringCIP 1410 · Bachelor's Degree$118,39622 gradsAccounting and Related ServicesCIP 5203 · Bachelor's Degree$109,01879 gradsFinance and Financial Management ServicesCIP 5208 · Bachelor's Degree$107,544178 gradsMechanical EngineeringCIP 1419 · Bachelor's Degree$97,12760 gradsInternational BusinessCIP 5211 · Bachelor's Degree$95,36845 gradsEducation, GeneralCIP 1301 · Master's Degree$87,08189 gradsNeurobiology and NeurosciencesCIP 2615 · Bachelor's Degree$84,85195 gradsBiochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyCIP 2602 · Bachelor's Degree$84,84427 gradsBusiness Administration, Management and OperationsCIP 5202 · Bachelor's Degree$84,779138 gradsMarketingCIP 5214 · Bachelor's Degree$80,998127 gradsStudent Counseling and Personnel ServicesCIP 1311 · Master's Degree$74,222Curriculum and InstructionCIP 1303 · Master's Degree$72,45770 gradsMental and Social Health Services and Allied ProfessionsCIP 5115 · Master's Degree$71,96126 gradsPolitical Science and GovernmentCIP 4510 · Bachelor's Degree$71,53463 gradsEconomicsCIP 4506 · Bachelor's Degree$70,25658 gradsRomance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsCIP 1609 · Bachelor's Degree$69,97423 gradsBiology, GeneralCIP 2601 · Bachelor's Degree$68,95056 gradsPsychology, GeneralCIP 4201 · Bachelor's Degree$68,458100 gradsInternational Relations and National Security StudiesCIP 4509 · Bachelor's Degree$68,43737 grads
Showing top 24 of 30 ranked programs.95 TOTAL PROGRAMS
SECTION 06 · BY CIP FAMILY

30 University of San Diego programs with earnings, grouped by field

Programs are grouped by 2-digit CIP family. Programs without reported earnings are hidden to keep the list focused.

EDUCATION · CIP 13

ENGINEERING · CIP 14

FOREIGN LANGUAGES · CIP 16

LEGAL PROFESSIONS · CIP 22

ENGLISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE · CIP 23

BIOLOGICAL & BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES · CIP 26

PSYCHOLOGY · CIP 42

SOCIAL SCIENCES · CIP 45

HEALTH PROFESSIONS · CIP 51

BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT & MARKETING · CIP 52

NATURAL RESOURCES & CONSERVATION · CIP 03

COMMUNICATION & JOURNALISM · CIP 09

CAUSAL DISCIPLINE

University of San Diego graduates earn $X” — not “University of San Diego makes you earn $X”

Median earnings describe what cohorts earned. They do not describe what attending University of San Diego caused. Selection effects (who admits, who enrolls, who completes) are real. We publish federal data with strict descriptive phrasing — and link the methodology where you can read about the limitations directly.

Methodology →