Empowers innovative, confident, original thinkers to make positive contributions by confronting humanity's urgent challenges in places near and far.

USD is located in one of the world’s great diverse urban centers. San Diego's proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border, where communities and cultures converge, provides our students and faculty members with unique opportunities to learn, to put theory into action and to find new ways to lead purposeful lives.

With more than 8,000 students from 85 countries and 50 states, USD is the youngest independent institution on the U.S. News & World Report list of top 100 universities in the United States. USD's small class sizes, compassionate culture, unique learning opportunities, study-abroad opportunities and state-of-the-art resources ensure that graduates of our undergraduate and graduate programs succeed after graduation and throughout their lives.