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 logo

Simpson University

University of San Diego logo

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%
Common app member 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
  • Tuition payment plan

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
  • Psychology
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Liberal Arts
  • Education
  • Legal Profession
  • Business
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
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)
  • Year 1: $90,112
  • Year 2: $84,161
  • Year 3: $87,775
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,227
  • Year 2: $50,270
  • Year 3: $48,770
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,108
  • Year 2: $36,042
  • Year 3: $38,386
Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,289
  • Year 2: $40,281
  • Year 3: $38,233
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $17,753
  • Year 2: $24,421
  • Year 3: $31,400
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,149
  • Year 2: $31,765
  • Year 3: $31,011
Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $19,227
  • Year 3: $19,275
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: N/A
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $56,415
  • Year 3: N/A
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $44,971
  • Year 3: N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $114,672
  • Year 2: $117,572
  • Year 3: $115,744
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,123
  • Year 2: $89,672
  • Year 3: $102,690
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,786
  • Year 2: $84,653
  • Year 3: $98,598
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $96,329
  • Year 2: $91,744
  • Year 3: $93,985
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,367
  • Year 2: $73,391
  • Year 3: $92,346
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,417
  • Year 2: $75,706
  • Year 3: $84,924
Real Estate (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,970
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $84,277
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,809
  • Year 2: $61,962
  • Year 3: $75,083
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,424
  • Year 2: $67,324
  • Year 3: $72,729
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,434
  • Year 2: $61,069
  • Year 3: $72,310

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