10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
+$78,180at year 10Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
Private nonprofit · COLLEGE PAYOFF
University of San Diego
San Diego, CA · 44 field-and-degree records
Earnings reported for 42 · Federal debt reported for 22
Based onObserved earnings + college priceEstimate10-year payoff
Estimated 10-year payoff
Positive payoff
+$78,180 over 10 years
Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.
7.9 yrsTime to earn back the modeled cost
+26%Estimated return after 10 years
$82,964Observed earnings · year 5
$49,910Highest annual price before payoff reaches $0
The price benchmark is $19,545 per year below this threshold.
Start with your question
What do you want to understand?
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK
Estimated payoff over ten years.
The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.
FEDERAL COST DATA
Four ways to read college price.
Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.
PUBLISHED STUDENT BUDGET · 2024–25
What makes up the annual price?
Sticker-price components reported to IPEDS. Grants and scholarships are not subtracted here.
Living off campus: $22,086 housing and food allowance plus $6,931 in other expenses.
Do not confuse this with net price. Net price subtracts average grants and scholarships. DegreeVerdict continues to use the separately labeled average net price in its standard college ROI scenario.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$199,640
$14,000Annual price+$143,640
$28,000Annual price+$87,640
$30,000Current college-wide context+$79,640
$42,000Annual price+$31,640
$56,000Annual price−$24,360
$70,000Annual price−$80,360
HOW STUDENTS ATTEND · 2023-24
Most students study without distance-education courses.
IPEDS enrollment counts show course delivery across the whole institution. They do not indicate whether a specific degree can be completed online.
Institution-level attendance context from IPEDS. Program delivery is reported separately on degree pages and in the program directory. These figures do not enter ROI.
College identity and local contextAccreditation, institution type, dual enrollment and state prices
COLLEGE AT A GLANCE
Institution details
Current federal characteristics describing the college, not the outcomes of a specific program.
- Accreditor
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
- Main award level
- Bachelor’s degrees
- Campus setting
- City
- Admissions
- Selective admission
- Delivery
- Campus or mixed delivery
- Federal designation
- No special designation reported
DUAL-ENROLLMENT CONTEXT · 2024
73 high-school students took college courses.
IPEDS counts students enrolled in college credit while still in high school. A large dual-enrollment population can shape headline enrollment figures, especially at community colleges.
This is participation, not a college completion rate. It does not indicate how many students later enrolled after high school, earned a credential or entered the workforce.
STATE PRICE CONTEXT · 2024
Prices in California run 11% above the U.S. level.
BEA Regional Price Parities compare price levels across states. A value of 100 equals the national average.
What it costs and what graduates earn
$30,365Average net price / year
$78,720Cost of attendance
$22,940Median federal student debt · completer borrowers
$243/moPublished 10-year payment estimate
$82,964Median earnings · year 5 after completion
83.7%Completion rate
52.4%Admission rate
5,671Student size
Debt covers federal student-loan borrowers who completed. It does not include Parent PLUS or private loans. We show admissions scores only when a valid federal value is available.
What the numbers say about University of San Diego
What does University of San Diego cost?
University of San Diego reports an average annual net price of $30,365 after grants and scholarships. This is an institution-wide average, not an individual aid offer.
What do University of San Diego graduates earn?
The observed median earnings figure is $82,964 5 years after completion. It describes a federal cohort, not a guaranteed starting salary.
How much federal debt do University of San Diego graduates have?
Completer borrowers report median cumulative federal student debt of $22,940. Parent PLUS and private loans are not included.
Is every degree at University of San Diego worth the same?
No. The current release contains 44 field-and-degree records for University of San Diego; 42 report year-4 earnings and 22 report federal debt. Outcomes can differ substantially by field and degree level.
DEBT AFTER COLLEGE
Are borrowers making progress?
Repayment progress, default and debt at exit describe different federal borrower cohorts. They are shown separately and do not change the ROI estimate.
Source: College Scorecard. Repayment progress is the share of borrowers who reduced principal by at least $1 at the stated measurement point. Debt covers federal student loans; Parent PLUS and private loans are excluded. Cohorts and reporting periods differ across measures.
Who studied here during the year
11,038Students enrolled at any point
6,263Undergraduate students
4,775Graduate students
Unduplicated students enrolled at any point from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. This full-year measure is different from a fall headcount and does not enter ROI.
More student and earnings detailPrice by family income, retention, equity and common industries
WHO PAYS, WHO FINISHES, WHO EARNS
Outcomes are not the same for every family.
These federal cohorts add context that a single college average can hide. Missing figures remain unreported rather than estimated.
Complete within 150% of the expected time
82% received a Pell Grant within eight yearsMedian Parent PLUS debt
881 parent borrowers in the reported cohortMedian federal student debt
73% making progress in repayment after three yearsStudent family incomeMedian earnings after 10 yearsObserved federal cohorts
Lower income$81,025Earnings are not a guarantee
Middle income$85,489Earnings are not a guarantee
Higher income$89,564Earnings are not a guarantee
Three-year repayment progress
Lower income71%
Middle income79%
Higher income85%
Undergraduate student composition
White43%
Black5%
Hispanic28%
Asian7%
Source: College Scorecard, June 2026 release. Parent PLUS debt belongs to parents; student-debt measures exclude Parent PLUS and private loans. Cohort definitions differ by measure.
NATIONAL CONTEXT
How this college compares
Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.
WHAT STANDS OUT
A faster read on this college
These summaries use every reportable field-and-credential record at this institution. They do not fill privacy-suppressed outcomes.
EARNINGS OVER TIME
What graduates earned in later years
$55,049Year 1
$85,309Year 4
$82,964Year 5
Each year can represent a different federal cohort, so the points do not track the same people over time.
Your choice of degree can change the payoff.
Graduate earnings differ by field and credential, even within the same college.
1Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Doctoral Degree$178,9502Business Administration, Management and Operations · Master's Degree$163,3113Real Estate · Master's Degree$155,9484Computer Science · Bachelor's Degree$149,8475Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies · Master's Degree$148,2356Criminal Justice and Corrections · Master's Degree$148,0257Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · First Professional Degree$145,3728Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management · Master's Degree$141,878Observed year-4 earnings · compare the same field and credential across colleges
Programs that stand out against the same-degree benchmark
This view rewards performance relative to the same field and credential, not simply majors that pay more everywhere.
1Criminal Justice and CorrectionsMaster's Degree · $148,025 reported+122%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt2Security Science and TechnologyMaster's Degree · $137,533 reported+67%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt3Business Administration, Management and OperationsMaster's Degree · $163,311 reported+58%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt4Legal Research and Advanced Professional StudiesMaster's Degree · $148,235 reported+47%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt5Psychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree · $74,178 reported+46%vs same-degree national median$24,293federal debt6Accounting and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree · $109,142 reported+43%vs same-degree national median$24,969federal debt
Comparable colleges in CA
Currently operating private nonprofit institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive, not a quality ranking.
Atherton, CA
Menlo College
- Annual net price
- $31,100
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $81,997
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- +22%
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science
- Annual net price
- $35,558
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $85,673
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- +26%
Saint Mary's College of California
- Annual net price
- $30,378
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $74,189
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -3%
University of Southern California
- Annual net price
- $32,740
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $91,408
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- +49%
Compare fields and degree levels
Showing the 40 highest-earning records from 44 field-and-degree records. Use the program directory to search the complete set.
| Major or field | Degree level | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 2024–25 graduates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Doctoral Degree | $178,950 | Not available | 34 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's Degree | $163,311 | Not available | Not reported |
| Real Estate | Master's Degree | $155,948 | Not available | Not reported |
| Computer Science | Bachelor's Degree | $149,847 | $19,719 | Not reported |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | Master's Degree | $148,235 | Not available | Not reported |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | Master's Degree | $148,025 | Not available | Not reported |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | First Professional Degree | $145,372 | Not available | Not reported |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | Master's Degree | $141,878 | Not available | Not reported |
| Security Science and Technology | Master's Degree | $137,533 | Not available | Not reported |
| Law | First Professional Degree | $134,065 | Not available | Not reported |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Master's Degree | $124,822 | Not available | 0 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $110,314 | $29,276 | Not reported |
| Accounting and Related Services | Bachelor's Degree | $109,142 | $24,969 | Not reported |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics | Master's Degree | $104,240 | Not available | Not reported |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | Bachelor's Degree | $93,099 | $23,508 | Not reported |
| Mechanical Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $91,848 | $26,093 | Not reported |
| Education, General | Master's Degree | $91,474 | Not available | Not reported |
| International Business | Bachelor's Degree | $85,285 | $19,197 | Not reported |
| Marketing | Bachelor's Degree | $83,562 | $21,375 | Not reported |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | Bachelor's Degree | $83,380 | $27,500 | Not reported |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | Master's Degree | $80,953 | Not available | Not reported |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Bachelor's Degree | $79,678 | $22,250 | Not reported |
| Real Estate | Bachelor's Degree | $78,044 | $21,000 | Not reported |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | Master's Degree | $77,579 | Not available | Not reported |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | Master's Degree | $75,964 | Not available | Not reported |
| Legal Support Services | Graduate/Professional Certificate | $74,783 | Not available | Not reported |
| Psychology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $74,178 | $24,293 | Not reported |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | Bachelor's Degree | $72,910 | $25,000 | Not reported |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | Master's Degree | $72,038 | Not available | Not reported |
| Special Education and Teaching | Master's Degree | $71,030 | Not available | Not reported |
| Communication and Media Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $68,913 | $25,000 | Not reported |
| English Language and Literature, General | Bachelor's Degree | $68,752 | $24,000 | Not reported |
| Curriculum and Instruction | Master's Degree | $68,584 | Not available | Not reported |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | Master's Degree | $68,167 | Not available | Not reported |
| Legal Support Services | Post-baccalaureate Certificate | $62,873 | $20,437 | Not reported |
| Political Science and Government | Bachelor's Degree | $62,301 | $26,000 | Not reported |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $61,509 | $24,100 | Not reported |
| Biology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $59,950 | $25,000 | Not reported |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | Bachelor's Degree | $58,517 | $23,000 | Not reported |
| Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution | Master's Degree | $55,177 | Not available | Not reported |
Graduate counts come from IPEDS and group related majors into the same federal field. Missing earnings or debt values remain labeled as unavailable.
Search every University of San Diego program record →Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.