University of San Diego Reviews

  • 78 Reviews
  • San Diego (CA)
  • Annual Tuition: $54,554
88% of 78 students said this degree improved their career prospects
92% of 78 students said they would recommend this school to others
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Student & Graduate Reviews

1337Speaker
  • Reviewed: 10/8/2023
  • Degree: Cybersecurity
"While I am still currently enrolled in the graduate Cyber Security Engineering program, I want to provide a current review that provides some insights into the program. My experience so far with the program is based on an online environment and being several classes into the program. The number one downside of this program is not the actual lesson content, but the implementation of learning. This is to say that in the process of working through the lecture content, you will experience inconsistent grading wherein different instructors will render grades differently. Up to this point, I have experienced instructors who are more understanding, in addition to instructors who choose to grade on whether or not your work meets "their expectations." In other words, this creates a large amount of subjectivity in grading. Another significant downside of this program is the large amount of group projects. If you end up in a group where some students are not attentive to reading the assignment requirements all the way through, this can have major impacts on your grade as well -- in addition to inconsistencies in group experience levels, etc. To summarize, these are some of the experiences which I have had in the program. Ultimately, I am not able to give an overall perspective currently, however, I will point out that this particular program can present challenges when it comes to grading as well as the fact that your grade will depend on others."
Jim
  • Reviewed: 11/28/2022
"The lectures are of below mediocre quality. The level of difficulty and rigor feels equivalent to or even below undergrad level. Tuition is reasonable so it has that going for it. Some teachers are active on slack so it's easy to ask questions and engage with other students. The program is completely asynchronous except for office hours which are recorded so there's no need to attend live, thus it's very convenient. I definitely do not recommend it unless you're from a vastly different background and have minimal knowledge of computer science. Otherwise, you're better off spending your money elsewhere. Note: the program is going through a lot of changes so hopefully it'll get better with time. I'll update my review if possible if that turns out to be the case or just write a new review if I'm unable to edit this one."
Katelyn Johnson-Cryns
  • Reviewed: 11/9/2019
  • Degree: Political Science
"I absolutely loved my experience. The classes, extracurriculars, and overall experience was great. I would encourage anyone considering going to USD to join as many clubs as they can including sororities and if you need to work check out the telefunding center. Everyone lives on Mission Beach which is almost like paradise."
Mary Grabowski
  • Reviewed: 6/18/2019
  • Degree: Liberal Studies
"USD is one of the most beautiful campuses in the United States. The beauty of the campus is unmatched by the professionalism and commitment to our success that comes from all faculty on campus. From the moment I stepped on to the campus I knew that my wildest, most passionate dreams about creating positive change in the world would not only be celebrated, but supported fully by my peers, and educators. If you have a passion for changing the world and want to learn from the best teachers, in the most beautiful city in the world, then USD is your school."
Scott Bergen
  • Reviewed: 5/3/2019
  • Degree: English
"I loved USD! After quite some time away from school working as a teacher and administrator, I've begun looking at grad schools for a Masters in Education and this has given me a chance to consider what I need as a student. This makes me think of my experience at USD, but and I cannot imagine a better experience as an undergrad. The perfect example of what USD does for a student is this: when I arrived, I asked about the retreat program as that had been important to me in HS. It was small but they wanted to expand. By the end of my freshman year, I wasn't just invited to attend a retreat, but I was sent to another university to attend theirs and then start it up at USD. The didn't just teach information, they offered experience and fostered leadership. I took for granted how often I was told by a faculty or staff member: "Good idea...go make it happen and I'll stand beside you the whole way." As a teacher, THAT is education. Anyone can teach reading, writing, and 'rithmatic. USD was concerned with teaching me to be someone, not just to know things."
Education is the key to your future
  • Reviewed: 6/15/2018
  • Degree: Nursing
"The University of San Diego is a private Catholic School. The campus is in San Diego California on top of a hill with amazing views of the coast and city. They offer many baccalaureate degrees, and several degrees in law, nursing, and other doctorate programs. According to U.S. News the Hahn School of Nursing is one of the top masters and Doctorate Nursing Programs in the United States ranking number 28. No matter what your religious beliefs are, the education at USD is first-class. Even though religion on campus is everywhere with the churches and architecture that are centered around Catholicism, students are free and encouraged to maintain their own faith. There are many clubs on campus to stay involved and connect with students who have similar practices or views. From Sunday afternoon brunch in the SLP to always running into a familiar face at Aromas, USD feels like home. The campus is large enough to feel like one of the larger universities where you will constantly meet new people and have new experiences, but small enough to see familiar faces and friends in between classes. There are ample opportunities to be involved in your community. From the wellness center and morning yoga to the graduate bagel breakfasts. There are even many off-campus opportunities like discounted padres tickets. Whatever they do for the students is done with top quality and care. You can't help but feel special to be a part of such a great learning community. The campus is full of incredible views. Have a picnic on the grass behind the IPJ or take in the views above the canyon. There's no place more special and beautiful than USD. BIG DOWNSIDE: parking on campus is tough and expensive. Sometimes finding a spot takes longer than you will be in class, and the parking enforcers take their jobs seriously, tickets are even pricier."
Lauren
  • Reviewed: 3/22/2018
  • Degree: Biology
"I absolutely loved my time spent at USD. It is a gorgeous campus with excellent academics. My classes had approximately 20 students each which allowed for individualized attention from accomplished professors. The university also provides excellent study abroad opportunities to help students to take classes abroad that contribute to their degrees. Although USD does not boast much school spirit, a variety of on campus activities and lively Greek system contributes to a close campus community. I would highly recommend this university!"
Gabby Campos
  • Reviewed: 6/26/2017
  • Degree: Education
"I attended the University of San Diego to obtain a Master's in Education and a Single Subject Teaching Credential. This degree allowed me to change careers and has provided me with the opportunity to make more money in my field with a master's degree. The program was very comprehensive and prepared me for my new career. The professors and advisors were very helpful, supportive, and thorough. They were easily accessible and helped me out immensely over the course of the program. I had strong student teaching placements that helped prepare me to become a teacher and was frequently checked in with regarding my placement and how my teaching was going. I strongly recommend this program because it gives a future teacher a competitive edge and allows for more earning potential."
Anonymous
  • Reviewed: 3/25/2017
  • Degree: Political Science
"The University of San Diego is a private Catholic School in San Diego with a beautiful campus. I was amazed everyday I walked on that campus. One of the true facts about this university is that a lot of very well off individuals go there. The financial aid office was not very helpful and I begged them for more money for my education because I had straight A's and great internship experience. They refused to help me because they are so accustomed to students coming in and swiping their parents credit cards. Now the academics at this school are superb. I felt that I got an in depth and student focused education and the professor's knew who I was. They expected quality work from me and would not settle for anything less. You have to be academically motivated to go to this school because no one will hold your hand through the process. In the International Relations Program there are extremely accomplished professors who care about their students. You have the ability to focus on the non-profit sector, human rights, intelligence, or security studies. I liked that I had the flexibility to take the classes I wanted, which has helped me chose a specialization for my future major. Overall, this college is not the typical college scene. People are extremely studious, greek life is small, football is not a big deal, and it is hard to go out when you are under 21. If you really want to focus on your education and meet some accomplished professor's this is the place for you."
Matthew James
  • Reviewed: 3/21/2017
  • Degree: Nursing
"The University of San Diego offers its students so much more than just a beautiful campus with state of the art facilities. All students are provided every opportunity to succeed in the classroom and beyond. The Entry Level Master's in Nursing Program goes above and beyond to prepare all students to provide compassionate care as healthcare professionals. Faculty and staff are extremely knowledgeable and have the ability to connect students with outside professionals in any field of interest. The University of San Diego network is extremely and well defined and I am honored to be a part of this distinguished group. I would recommend the University of San Diego to anyone looking to further their career and earn a valuable graduate degree."
Steven Espinoza
  • Reviewed: 3/13/2017
  • Degree: Cybersecurity
"This program better helps me further my service to this country. Advancing my skills in cyber security allows for defending our nations networks in a role that may be less lucrative than private companies but intrinsically rewarding. It helps me understand and engineer a system with security as a purpose from the very beginning to be proactive and not reactive. They are complicated systems and involve a huge deal of study that many may not find as their ideal choice but is my purpose and enthusiastically pursue it. I work in the department of defense and have been of service to the United States of America and will continue to for as long as I am able too."
Amit Tugnait
  • Reviewed: 2/2/2017
  • Degree: MBA in Organizational Leadership
"The Professional MBA at USD is a very well developed program designed to give the students real working experience and teaches concepts the student can immediately apply in their current job. The teachers are passionate and really care about the students."
Catherine Hallock
  • Reviewed: 12/28/2016
  • Degree: MBA in Marketing
"Currently, I'm in USD's Professional MBA program and overall I love it. As a newer program, some of the "behind the scenes" parts have been rough, like scheduling and academic advising. Classes weren't available when we they should be, and there were few options and few ways to graduate within a two year time frame. But the actual professors are wonderful. They push your thinking and challenge your comprehension. The majority of focus is on real world examples. The professors will overwhelm you with work, but makes you proud when you realize you have survived. Overall USD is an amazing opportunity for your career with flexible hours that revolve around a full time job."
Alis
  • Reviewed: 7/22/2016
  • Degree: Science & Math
"San Diego University is a great college. I grew up in California and everyone I know went to college at San Diego."
Megan Slack
  • Reviewed: 1/30/2016
  • Degree: Environmental Science
"I felt that the program connected me very well with the organizations in the area that I would like to work for. That opportunity to network in my field has already paid off for me and I'm sure it will continue to do so in the future. However, the program and the school as a whole were extremely expensive and did not provide services that were worth the money. I still had trouble getting time with my advisors and getting into the classes I wanted to take. A few of the classes also did not adequately teach me the material and prepare me for using the skills in the "real world". I would not recommend their graduate program to a friend."
Marie Madison
  • Reviewed: 12/28/2015
  • Degree: Education
"This program has been the ideal in my interest. Each course has enlightened me to the current trends in math and science education. The core courses have prepared me to conduct educational research within my current classroom. I have been given the opportunity to practice incorporation of teaching and learning that has enhanced my teaching and challenged my students academically. Each university professor has been effective instructors. they are very encouraging and professional by quickly responding to any of my concerns. They return emails in a timely manner and have even been willing to give out their personal cell phone numbers in order to correspond to any academic needs. I have been totally inspired by their assistance. I have also grown in my knowledge and expertise in STEM education. This is a great program for any science or math teacher who is interested in increasing their knowledge and performance as a teacher."
Anonymous
  • Reviewed: 10/13/2015
  • Degree: Marketing
"The school has small class sizes when you start taking your major classes (5-20 people). The campus is kept looking clean and well landscaped. Three beaches are only 15 min away. The sunsets are unbeatable. Not too much school spirit but not a lack of it (I believe it's on the rise)."
Anonymous
  • Reviewed: 10/5/2015
  • Degree: Social Sciences
"USD is a high quality institution. It's one of the most beautiful campuses I've ever seen. I wish they would stay a little more true to the Catholic beliefs though."
realtime
  • Reviewed: 8/19/2015
  • Degree: Political Science
"USD's batch of professors is a sad group of teachers that are so far removed from what it means to be a student that they cannot even teach effectively. Their methods, workloads, and assignments are more accurately described as pointless busywork and are more suitable for high-school than a university. Each professor designs their course as if it is the only one that each student is/should take, and completely disregards the fact that many students have to take more than 15 units just to graduate on time because of the cumbersome core requirements--which require more GE classes than any other school I applied to. However, that is all applicable only if a student is lucky enough to be able to get into the class that they want, but this in and of itself is unlikely because even seniors can't get the classes that they want/need."
Olga Samokhvalova
  • Reviewed: 7/24/2015
  • Degree: Nursing
"This is an amazing school I am very exited to start my program!!!"