University of San Diego
- 4 Year
- SAN DIEGO, CA
CollegeGrad School
University of San Diego Reviews
Rating 3.7 out of 5 1,963 reviews
My experience at the University of San Diego (USD) has been fantastic. The campus is beautiful, the weather is great, and the small class sizes foster close interactions with knowledgeable and supportive professors. There are a lot of activities to do off-campus.
I love USD. It has everything I was looking for. The perfect location, the perfect class sizes, the professors are amazing and really approachable, the friendships that you build are for a lifetime. Its not a party school, but there are a lot of things to do. Its a welcoming environment.
The University of San Diego is a phenomenal small private school where the faculty and staff were generally eager to help me succeed in my career path. On-campus transportation is wonderful, and the small school feel is conducive to help form lasting relationships. Old Town is nearby, but being on a hill of sorts makes it difficult to get around if you do not have a vehicle. Academically, the courses offered are rigorous.
I have had an amazing time at the University of San Diego! All the classes that I have taken have been so insightful and I am amazed at how beautiful the campus is every day. I have had a lot of opportunities for growth and learning and I cannot imagine myself anywhere else.
USD is a really great school, but applicants should keep in mind that it is a private Catholic institution. From my experience, there are not a lot of queer students, or at least they're hard to find. As a queer student, it is hard finding that community sometimes. However, I haven't had any bad professor experiences and the campus is beautiful. It is very difficult to get places though as you can't really walk anywhere and rideshare services are expensive. There is also no food on campus that is not University food, so be prepared to be sick of the ~five restaurants you can choose from. Some housing is awesome, some isn't. Do your research before applying to live in specific areas! Overall though, it has been a very welcoming environment and I've never felt unsafe on campus. I've walked around very early in the morning and the only thing I feared was the raccoons (just kidding, I love them. There's lots of them here!).
As a parent of a graduating USD senior, I’m very disappointed that my daughter chose USD. High school parents: in hind sight, I realize USD is extremely overpriced for the education received. If we had it to do over, if your high schooler doesn’t get accepted to a UC, go to a community college and transfer. You’ll save your family a boat load of cash and get a real, rigorous academic experience. USD is for fakes and flakes: white, over privileged, entitled, mediocre kids. My daughter wasn’t challenged academically by her peers, who drove elitist cars, sunbathed at the beach, skipped classes, vacationed in Cabo, Italy, etc. It’s a gorgeous campus, but beauty is only skin deep, and most of the heads she met were empty.
USD provides quality academics with small class sizes and professors that care. The food is pretty good for a college campus, and the college itself is beautiful. Campus life is also pretty fun, if you actively seek it. The surrounding area also makes the college experience better. It does suck in terms of housing availability and everything is expensive.
I have really enjoyed the small classes sizes here at San Diego. It is very nice to be able to go into office hours and talk to my professors. However, at the same time, the school does not feel too small. It is a very nice balance of a small community, but not too small. I have also found it nice to be on a liberal arts campus. As an engineering student, I interact with similar people every day, so it is nice to have friends in other majors, that I had the chance to meet in my required liberals classes. University of San Diego is one of the only liberal arts schools with an engineering program. I have benefitted a lot from balancing my highly technical classes with liberal arts classes. The balanced program is truly making me a more well rounded student and person. Additionally, I have heard from potential employers and recruiters that they appreciate the fact that engineering students at the University of San Diego graduate with both an BA and BS in engineering.
The campus is very nice. I like the culture of the school. The academics is also good. There is some what some student invovlment which is nice.
I am blessed to be a part of the University of San Diego. This school helped me tremendously with their financial, academic, and emotional support. The University of San Diego was a catalyst for me to continue to pursue my college degree; they created their own version of the FAFSA application for undocumented students, which allowed me to receive a scholarship and housing grant. Most importantly, my unique situation and perseverance was acknowledged. This school has given me hope that anything is possible. The rigorous academia prepared me to be the best engineer I could be and I’m humbled to have been a part of the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering and graduated with my B.S in Mechanical Engineering.
Great experience! Beautiful campus and great professors, who care a lot about their students. Love the small class sizes while still having access to a lot of opportunities on campus.
The University of San Diego is a beacon of academic excellence and vibrant campus life. As an incoming transfer student, I've been welcomed with open arms into a community that values diversity, innovation, and collaboration. The campus's stunning architecture and scenic views provide an inspiring backdrop for learning and personal growth. The faculty's dedication to student success is evident in their accessibility and genuine passion for teaching. USD's commitment to service and social justice aligns perfectly with my values, offering countless opportunities to make a positive impact in the world. From cutting-edge research facilities to dynamic student organizations, there's no shortage of ways to get involved and pursue my passions. I'm excited to embark on this new chapter of my academic journey at the University of San Diego, where I know I'll be supported, challenged, and empowered to reach my full potential.
USD has a lot of pros: my dorm is great, the weather is amazing, the classes are small, the food is good, the campus is beautiful. It’s undoubtedly a high-quality school. The main reason I don’t LOVE it here is just because I feel different from the majority of the students. Obviously this is a personal problem, but I’m just saying that I honestly wouldn’t recommend this school to you unless you fit the typical Southern California, upper class vibe. Because I am not like that, it’s been very hard for me to make friends that I feel have the same values as me.
Came home for break and I want to sob and stay home forever. USD is so lame there were so many weekends I stayed in my dorm because there were no parties. And if were any, they were these terrible condo “parties” with 2 guys and 100 girls. I just found out that my friends at other schools go out every weekend no problem to frats or bars and I feel like I’m wasting 18. I’m so miserable here please do not go.
My time at University of San Diego has been amazing, though it has been short. I have only been at USD for one semester, yet it has been the best four months of my life. There is so much to love about it. The community is incredibly strong, and so welcoming to people of all backgrounds. The campus itself is beautiful, safe, and just the right size. And the food--oh! it is amazing. USD is ranked number one in the nation for quality of life, which speaks volumes about student success and happiness there. Even more, the professors at USD are undeniably dedicated. Not only are they experts in their individual fields, they foster a collaborative and creative learning environment for all students. Small class sizes allow for students to thrive, which is what I love most about USD.
While I believe USD is perfect for me, there is always room for improvement. USD inspires excellence, but I believe students and faculty would both benefit from updated common areas and recreational facilities.
While I believe USD is perfect for me, there is always room for improvement. USD inspires excellence, but I believe students and faculty would both benefit from updated common areas and recreational facilities.
The University of San Diego offers a picturesque campus, robust academic programs, and a vibrant student life that many students appreciate. The university's emphasis on small class sizes fosters a sense of community and personalized interactions with professors. The diverse range of extracurricular activities and commitment to community service contribute to a well-rounded student experience. Some individuals might express concerns about the cost of tuition and the availability of financial aid, while others may suggest improvements in certain facilities or services. Overall, experiences at the University of San Diego vary, with students holding diverse opinions on campus culture, administrative policies, and the overall student experience.
If you're looking for a mid-sized school with a more chill environment then you'd expect to find at a big state school, this is the ideal place. The campus feels like a movie set, the weather is perfect 95% of the time, campus food isn't terrible, and San Diego always has something to do in your free time. It's very common for students to go straight to the beach after class, and return in time for dinner and some studying. Every class I've been in is 20-30 students max, so be prepared for it to feel a bit like high school. However, I've found it's not a bad thing--you get to establish good relationship with your professors. Overall, as long as you know you're ok with not having the traditional Greek Row, football tailgate experience, I couldn't recommend this school enough.