University of San Diego vs La Sierra University
Nestled in the vibrant city of San Diego, California, University of San Diego (USD) and La Sierra University (LSU), located in the serene foothills of Riverside, California, offer distinct educational experiences. USD, a private Catholic university, boasts a diverse student body and a strong focus on liberal arts, while LSU, a private Seventh-day Adventist university, emphasizes a faith-based education and health sciences. With acceptance rates of 65% and 75%, respectively, both universities provide accessible pathways to higher education. Explore the detailed comparison table to delve into further differences, including popular majors, student demographics, and graduation rates, to help you make an informed decision about your academic journey.
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![]() La Sierra University |
![]() University of San Diego |
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Overview |
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Location | Riverside, California | San Diego, California |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Quarter | 4-1-4 |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 72.0% | 92.0% |
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No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Protestant | Catholic |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 66.1% | 52.7% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$55
Graduate:
$45
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SAT range | 880 - 1140 | N/A |
ACT range | 18 - 28 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 25.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 2.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 2,726 | 14,326 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,801 | 7,550 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 287 | 1,166 |
Yield rate | 15.9% | 15.4% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $59,289 | $75,982 |
Average net price | $25,230 | $34,155 |
Tuition | $33,228 | $52,120 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,740
Meal plan:
$4,050
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$16,246 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $20,812 |
82.0%
Average amount $34,413 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
59.0%
Average amount $4,980 |
33.0%
Average amount $5,216 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $22,020 |
5.0%
Average amount $12,155 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,351
Men 41.2% Women 58.8% |
5,702
Men 43.9% Women 56.1% |
Graduate students |
387
Men 33.1% Women 66.9% |
3,339
Men 42.4% Women 57.6% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 45.5% |
International students | 14.1% | 6.2% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 850 | 2,484 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | California Washington Colorado Arizona Nevada |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 16:1 | 13:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 44.9% | 80.0% |
Dropout rate | 20.1% | 19.5% |
Transferred out | 34.7% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Real Estate (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
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