University of San Diego appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Most Affordable Accelerated Master’s in Public Safety Administration Online
Ranked 142nd nationally by Forbes, the University of San Diego is a premier nonprofit, Catholic ACCU member in Southern California that confers 44 bachelor’s, 36 master’s, and three doctoral degrees, including four fully online, at a 14:1 student-teacher ratio with 89 percent retention. For example, the MS in Cyber Security Operations & Leadership follows a 31-unit, 20-month online curriculum headed by Dr. Michelle Moore to cover topics from Secure Software Design to Vulnerability Detection with immersive practicum for CISSP certification. Chaired by Dr. Erik Fritsvold, the 31-unit MS in Law Enforcement & Public Safety Leadership allows up to 12 FBI National Academy and Command College transfer units to finish the 500-level online courses like Community Assessment within one year.
Online on Blackboard since Fall 2016, the MS in Health Care Informatics has started a 37-unit, HIMSS-approved sequence led by Dr. Jonathan Mack every seven weeks with Health Care Analytics and Health Care Leadership specializations for experienced clinicians to earn an average $76,818 salary. Directed by Dr. Reyes Quezada, the Master of Education builds a 30-unit, CAEP-accredited plan aligned to Common Core Standards for certified K-12 teachers to advance endorsements in School Leadership, Literacy, Curriculum & Instruction, Inclusive Learning, or STEAM.
Other online University of San Diego programs include the Mental Health First Response Certificate, Nonprofit Management Certificate, and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Certificate.
About the University of San Diego
The University of San Diego originated on December 12, 1949, when Bishop Charles Francis Buddy and Mother Rosalie Clifton Hill broke ground to build the San Diego College for Women. In 1952, an inaugural all-female class arrived at Alcala Park for private Catholic instruction. In 1954, it became coeducational by opening the College for Men and School of Law together. In 1957, Bishop Leo Maher Hall was unveiled to house the Immaculate Heart Major Seminary. Two years later, the famous blue-domed Immaculata Church was consecrated on-campus. In 1972, the institutions melded into one called the University of San Diego. By 1998, Joan B. Kroc notably donated $25 million to establish the Institute for Peace & Justice. In 2010, USD was designated an “Ashoka U Changemaker Campus.”
Endowed for $530 million, the University of San Diego now employs 476 full-time faculty teaching 5,741 undergrad and 1,773 post-grad Toreros from 71 countries online or on the 180-acre, Spanish Renaissance-style campus with 90+ clubs like Kappa Kappa Gamma. In 2019, San Diego earned the CASE District VII Bronze Award of Excellence. In 2015, USD received the Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization. The University of San Diego won a 2019 National Science Foundation Grant for its Project VisMO too. The U.S. News & World Report applauded USD for the 19th best criminal justice and 42nd top teaching programs online. On Niche, USD boasts America’s eighth-best Catholic education, 77th top business school, and 83rd best location. The Wall Street Journal picked the University of San Diego 159th overall. The Princeton Review named USD seventh for quality of life.
University of San Diego Accreditation Details
On June 15, 2012, the University of San Diego received formal notification from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission that the Level VI accreditation was renewed through the Fall 2021 visit under the fourth president, Dr. James T. Harris, who accepted the CASE Chief Executive Leadership Award. Located 495 miles up Interstate 5 in Alameda, this superb eight-territory West Coast Region accreditor is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). Certain graduate programs also have the following current accreditations:
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- American Bar Association Section on Legal Education
- Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation
- American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation
- Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education
University of San Diego Application Requirements
Enrollment at the University of San Diego is classified as “very selective” by Peterson’s because only 7,031 of the 13,287 Fall 2018 applicants were triumphant for 53 percent acceptance. Post-grad Toreros must have culminated at least 120 semester or 180 quarter credits of regionally accredited bachelor’s preparation. The Online MS in Health Care Informatics has one prerequisite course titled Medical Terminology. MS in Cyber Security Operations & Leadership cohorts should have a basic understanding of Java and C++ programming. Cumulative GPAs of 2.75 and higher are required. Note the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Sciences mandates a minimum 3.0 GPA. Lower grades might qualify with above-average GRE or GMAT scores. Online master’s students need one year of relevant full-time work experience. The Master of Education only selects current K-12 teachers with 2+ years of classroom practice. International students must achieve a minimum 90 TOEFL iBT or 7.5 IELTS score.
The Professional & Continuing Education Office conveniently has rolling online graduate admission. Final University of San Diego deadlines is August 5th for Fall, December 2nd for Spring, and April 13th for Summer registration. Current term start dates are September 10th, October 29th, January 14th, March 3rd, May 12th, and June 30th. April 1st is the priority financial aid deadline for graduate students. Accordingly, complete the USD Application online with a $55 non-refundable fee. Forward official bachelor’s transcripts to 5998 Alcala Park in San Diego, CA 92110. Submit optional test scores using GRE code 4849 or GMAT code 29B-Q2-68. Send supplemental materials, such as the employer support letter, two recommendations, resume, purpose statement, and teaching certificate. Contact (619) 260-4524 or grads@sandiego.edu with questions.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2018-19, the University of San Diego had average annual full-time graduate tuition of $26,712. Post-grads cover the $35 association fee, $170 health fee, and $35 student life fee. Unless waived, health insurance coverage is $3,032 every 12 months. Enrollment deposits range from $0 to $1,000. Attendance costs vary considerably by program. The College of Arts & Sciences charges $1,525 per unit. School of Business cohorts spends $1,520 per unit. The Master of Education is the cheapest at $712 per unit online. MS in Executive Leadership students pays the most at $1,795 per unit. Online MS in Cyber Security Operations & Leadership courses is priced at $925 per unit. With the Union Discount, the MS in Law Enforcement & Public Safety Leadership can require as little as $699 per unit.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid in Hughes Administration Center Room 319 connects 85 percent of new USD Toreros to median tuition assistance of $28,994 apiece for $29.28 million combined. Graduate funds include the Katherine Francola Scholarship, William Headley Scholarship, Grillo-Marxuach Family Scholarship, Joan Kroc Merit Scholarship, Kyoto Scholarship in Peace Studies, Kroc School Gandhi Fellowship, SOLES Diversity Scholarship, Diocese of San Diego Employee Scholarship, W. Scott McIntyre Memorial Scholarship, and Richard Shaw Scholarship. The Dean’s Graduate Merit Scholars Program gifts up to full tuition once for outstanding post-grads with minimum 3.5 GPAs. The $2,000 Kyle O’Connell Memorial Scholarship has a February 25th deadline for graduate students choosing health care careers. Federal resources, such as the Grad Plus Loan and Teach Grant, require FAFSA applications coded 010395. Master’s majors could also pursue the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program, Fulbright Grant, Lloyd Balfour Fellowship, ISC2 Graduate Cybersecurity Scholarship, Foster McGraw Scholarship, and more.
Keep reading about the University of San Diego on the Professional & Continuing Education Office website.
Related:
TOP 25 MOST AFFORDABLE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY ONLINE PROGRAMS
30 PROS AND CONS FOR GETTING A FAST ONLINE MASTER’S DEGREE
ARE ONLINE MASTER’S PROGRAMS EASIER TO GET INTO?
5 TYPES OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS RECOGNIZED BY THE IRS
89 RACIAL EQUITY RESOURCES FOR HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITIES
