University of San Diego vs Simpson University
University of San Diego (USD) and Simpson University are two distinct institutions with unique offerings. USD, a private Catholic university, boasts a 65% acceptance rate, while Simpson, a private Christian university, has a more selective 50% acceptance rate. USD's student body is significantly larger, with over 9,000 undergraduates compared to Simpson's approximately 1,000. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with USD excelling in fields like business, engineering, and nursing, and Simpson specializing in liberal arts, education, and natural sciences. USD's graduation rate stands at 83%, while Simpson's is slightly lower at 78%. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between these two universities. Explore the table to discover which institution better aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
![]() Simpson University |
![]() University of San Diego |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Redding, California | San Diego, California |
Campus setting | City: Small | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | 4-1-4 |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 57.0% | 92.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Evangelical | Catholic |
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 66.9% | 52.7% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$55
Graduate:
$45
|
|
SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | 953 | 14,326 |
Total number of admissions given out | 638 | 7,550 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 134 | 1,166 |
Yield rate | 21.0% | 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 |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price | $58,121 | $75,982 |
Average net price | $25,311 | $34,155 |
Tuition | $34,400 | $52,120 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,300
Meal plan:
$5,600
|
$16,246 |
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
99.0%
Average amount $23,390 |
82.0%
Average amount $34,413 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
41.0%
Average amount $5,439 |
33.0%
Average amount $5,216 |
Students taking out private loans |
8.0%
Average amount $17,383 |
5.0%
Average amount $12,155 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
806
Men 42.8% Women 57.2% |
5,702
Men 43.9% Women 56.1% |
Graduate students |
187
Men 37.4% Women 62.6% |
3,339
Men 42.4% Women 57.6% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | N/A | 45.5% |
International students | 1.6% | 6.2% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 544 | 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 |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 13:1 | 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 |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 44.8% | 80.0% |
Dropout rate | 19.4% | 19.5% |
Transferred out | 35.8% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
|
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)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.




































































































































































