University of San Diego
5998 Alcala Park
San Diego, California 92110-2492
(619) 260-4600 or
http://www.sandiego.edu
ENROLLMENT
Undergraduates:
Full-time:
4,160
Part-time:
196
Graduate School:
2,338
FRESHMAN ADMISSION
PROFILE
Number who applied:
4,835
Number accepted:
3,373
Number enrolled:
1,041
Average SAT scores:
V 570 M 570
Average ACT score:
25
Average GPA:
3.6
Freshman retention rate:
90%
COSTS:
Tuition:
$31,128
Room and Board:
$10,800
Fees, books, misc.:
$2,200
FINANCIAL AID:
Freshmen receiving aid:
60%
Average financial aid package:
$17,000
FACULTY:
Full-time:
291
Part-time:
242
Ph.D.:
97%
Student-faculty ratio:
18:1
University of San Diego
San Diego, California
College Description
A friendly campus atmosphere, the opportunity for close rapport between faculty and students, and small classes that facilitate personal attention and faculty accessibility characterize the educational environment at the University of San Diego. Known for its firm commitment to the liberal arts, USD has created academic programs providing students with skills necessary to grow and advance personally and professionally. Beyond the traditional arts, sciences, and humanities, USD has developed exceptional programs in business, engineering, marine science, international relations, and the health sciences. With a holistic philosophy, USD seeks to foster competence, international and cultural sensitivity, professional responsibility, and a spirit of volunteerism in each student. Both independent and Catholic, the University places a special emphasis on the exploration of human values.
The 180-acre campus sits on a mesa commanding inspiring views of the Pacific Ocean, Mission Bay, San Diego harbor, and the surrounding mountains. USD is conveniently located minutes away from the cultural, recreational, business, and residential areas of San Diego, California's birthplace and second-largest city.
The students who share in the life at USD and contribute to its growth are a diverse group representing all fifty states and more than fifty countries. There are currently 4,000 undergraduates out of a total University enrollment of 6,100 students. Fifty percent of USD's undergraduate students reside on campus.
Academic Life
The University's 40 majors fall within the traditional arts and sciences, humanities and social sciences, as well as business, engineering, education and marine science. Teaching credential programs are available in bilingual/cross-cultural studies, elementary and secondary education, special education, counseling and educational administration.
The Freshman Preceptorial program begins each USD student's academic career with a combination of advising, orientation and an introduction to college-level scholarship. The preceptor, instructing in a supportive, small-group environment, has frequent contact with each advisee and continues advising throughout the student's general education program. Once students declare a major, the responsibility of advising shifts to the department chairman, who provides guidance in regard to specialized and professional study.
The University operates on a 4-1-4 academic calendar. Normally, the student is in residence for eight semesters and completes approximately forty-four courses, completing a minimum of 124 units. The honors program at USD gives promising students the opportunity for both independent academic research and intensive exchange of ideas with other honors students.
Students interested in studying abroad may enroll for a semester or year of study in several different programs in England, Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Japan. USD also conducts a five-week summer session in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Campus Life
Numerous campus activities are available to students, including social and cultural events, informal parties, special interest groups and clubs, and intercollegiate and intramural sports. The Recreation Department complements the academic experience at the University by offering students many opportunities to use their leisure time constructively and enjoyably. The Shiley Theatre is the center of many cultural activities on campus, including concerts, lectures, plays and recitals. There are also more than sixty student-controlled clubs and organizations, including nationally affiliated fraternities and sororities, national honor societies, and service organizations.
Residence halls consist of traditional dormitories, suites, and apartment-style buildings. Several meal plans accommodate different schedules and tastes in food, and the University Center houses a dining hall, a deli, an ice-cream/pastry shop, and a grill with burgers, rice bowls and pizza.
Located on the southern tip of California, San Diego offers a wide variety of recreational, business, science, art and cultural activities. With an average daily temperature of 64 degrees in February and 76 degrees in August, the area is perfect for biking, jogging, tennis, softball, and all aquatic sports. In addition, San Diego is noted for an outstanding zoo, museums, Spanish missions, Sea World, and major sports programs. The proximity to Mexico provides an excellent opportunity for gaining firsthand insights into Mexican culture. The city of San Diego also offers educational advantages to students in the fields of social services, education, environmental and marine science, art, music, and archaeology. The International airport, downtown, Mission Bay, and the Aquatic Center are just a few minutes from the campus.
Facilities and Resources
Named Alcala Park after the Spanish university city of Alcala de Henares, the campus is built in the style of the sixteenth-century Spanish Renaissance. Several important academic buildings have been constructed in recent years, as well as Hughes Center, a new administration building.
Copley Library, the hub of undergraduate academic life, houses a constantly growing collection of more than 300,00 volumes and more than 1,800 periodicals. Used by undergraduate students as well as by law students, USD's Legal Research Center contains the Law Library, which houses more than 253,000 volumes and microfiche.
The University Center, a two-story, 78,000-sq.-ft. facility, serves as the hub of student life on campus. It offers students and faculty the use of music and study lounges, a game room, student organizations offices, and a choice of five dining areas, including a grill, a deli and a bakery. Aromas Coffee House in Maher Hall has won first place nationally as the best coffee house among campuses of 5,000-6,000 students.
Camino Hall is home to Shiley Theatre and also holds offices of the Fine Arts Department, soundproof practice rooms for music students, foreign language laboratories and chemistry labs. Founders Hall includes Founders Chapel and the Founders Art Gallery, which features exhibits by both professional and student artists.
The residence halls consist of traditional dormitories, suites, and apartment-style buildings. The new Jenny Craig Sports Pavilion broke ground in 1998 and will be completed in the near future.
Athletics/Sports
USD's intercollegiate athletic program has both scholarship and non-scholarship sports. Scholarships are available in men's basketball, baseball, cross country, golf, soccer and tennis, and women's basketball, cross country, soccer, swimming, tennis, and volleyball. The women's and men's teams are all members of the prestigious West Coast Conference and play a strong regional schedule. The football program competes at the NCAA I-AA level as a member of the Pioneer Football League. Men's and women's crew compete in a national schedule which is not associated with a specific NCAA division. Women's swimming competes in the Pacific Collegiate Swimming Conference and Softball in the Western Intercollegiate Softball League.
In addition to NCAA sports, many USD sports clubs maintain competition schedules, including cycling, dance, surfing, rugby and lacrosse teams. USD's intramural sports boast participants from two-thirds of the University community and include flag football, tennis, swimming, volleyball, softball, golf, basketball, racquetball, and inner tube water polo.
USD students have full access to the Mission Bay Aquatic Center for rental equipment and courses in sailing, scuba diving, wind surfing, Olympic rowing, kayaking, surfing, and water-skiing.
Financial Aid
The primary purpose of the financial aid program at USD is to provide financial assistance to students who, without such aid, would be unable to attend the University. Each financial aid package is individually designed to meet a student's need, as indicated by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the USD Financial Aid Application (USDFAA). Fifty percent of the students receive aid consisting of scholarships, grants, loans, and campus employment in packages ranging from $200 to $20,000 per academic year. A job placement center is available to students wishing to find off-campus employment. In addition, the University offers academic and leadership scholarships, which are not dependent on need.
The deadline for submitting all financial aid documents is February 20.
Admission Requirements
Admission is based upon evidence of the applicant's ability to achieve success — academically, socially, and personally — at the University of San Diego. The admission criteria are selective, and decisions are made by an admission committee, which reviews each application individually. Decisions are based on the student's high school record, satisfactory SAT I or ACT scores, a letter of academic recommendation, and an essay. We do not require interviews.
Applicants are expected to present a well-balanced secondary school program comprised of at least four academic subjects each year. Both the quality of the student's performance and the content of the program are considered.
Transfer students who present a 2.7 or better grade point average are generally admissible if they have a well-balanced course selection and will have completed at least 24 transferable units by the time they transfer. USD welcomes international students who can demonstrate an ability to undertake college work with success in the United States. TOEFL and SAT I scores are required for their admission.
Complete applications for both freshmen and transfers are due by January 15. Applications are reviewed as they are received, and candidates are notified of acceptance by April 15. Non-binding early action applications are due by December 1 and notification if by January 31. USD observes the Candidate's Reply Date (May 1) set by the College Board and requests accepted applicants to notify the University of their intentions by that date.
