Financial Aid (FAFSA)

View the Graduate Student Financial Aid Page for a variety of resources.

If you have questions throughout the process, please contact the USD Office of Financial Aid via the Torero Hub Request Form. 

View the Federal Student Aid Tutorial and the Webinar summarizing the terminology updates and changes to the FAFSA form.

Follow the steps below to complete the financial aid process:

1. If you have not already done so, please submit/complete your 2024-2025 FAFSA application. USD’s FAFSA School Code* is 010395.
   
   *If you are enrolled in the online Master of Theological Studies in Franciscan Theology (MTS-FT) program, you will use the FST FAFSA School Code G11792.
2. After you have submitted your FAFSA, monitor your MySanDiego student portal for messages and notifications. You should also monitor your USD email as the Office of Financial Aid will also send communications to your USD email address. It is your responsibility to monitor both the portal and your USD email to progress through the financial aid process.
3. When the award is available in the portal, you should review and accept an award amount that best fits your financial need. Please note that you may be offered an award exceeding the amount required to cover the cost of tuition. USD recommends only taking the award amount that you need.
4. The U.S. Dept. of Education requires you to complete Entrance Loan Counseling, a credit authorization for Graduate PLUS Loans, and a Loan Agreement (Master Promissory Note). All information and instructions for these items can be found within the award on your Financial Aid portal.

• Follow the instructions provided within the award to complete the federal requirements to have the funds posted to your Student Account.

Important Items to Note

• During regular processing periods, the red flags in your portal begin to update 5-7 business days after requirements are completed on www.studentloans.gov. Please do not complete any requirements more than once as multiple submissions can delay updates. Contact the Office of Financial Aid via the Torero Hub Request Form. For more information, see the "Applying for Financial Aid" website.
• Federal Direct Loan funds are disbursed no earlier than ten calendar days prior to the first day of the semester.
• If you are denied a Grad PLUS credit application, you can appeal. View the "Appealing Financial Aid" page for details.
• If you are interested in pursuing a private/alternative loan, please follow the instructions, submit the Loan Request form, and submit it to Torero Hub via their Request Form. View the "Private Education Loans" page for details.
• Please reference the following steps to submit your FAFSA:

Military & Veteran's Benefits/Assistance

If you are planning to use VA benefits for funding, it is your responsibility to initiate the certification process. Start the process by requesting your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA office.

After being registered for your courses and receiving your COE, please follow the steps* on the “Request to Certify” page for details on how to get your benefits certified. 

*If you are enrolled in the online Master of Theological Studies in Franciscan Theology (MTS-FT) program, contact the FST Admissions email [email protected] for more information. FST students should not contact the USD Military and Veterans Program Office since benefits are certified separately.

View this recorded webinar that provides an overview of the process.

As a reminder, students need to submit their request to certify for each term that they are enrolled at the University of San Diego.

Your housing allowance will be determined by where you take classes. Both online and residential students who are eligible for VA benefits are normally certified as "full-time" for their Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) but there are some circumstances that a student would be certified at "3/4 time." Please contact [email protected] with questions.

Please note that the housing allowance for students enrolled in an online degree program receive an online housing allowance, which is different from an on campus housing allowance. Please check the GI Bill calculator to see the exact housing rate that applies to you.

If you have additional questions about your benefits certification, contact the Military and Veterans Program Office at (619) 260-7483 or [email protected]. Online MTS-FT students should contact [email protected].

Making a Payment / Paying Out of Pocket

View this recorded webinar that provides an overview of the process.

Students who wish to pay their account balances out of pocket can do so by following the steps below:

• Go to your My.SanDiego.edu portal.
• On the left-hand side, click on the “Torero Hub” dropdown and select “My Student Account.”
• Click on the “My Online Student Account” hyperlink in the “My Student Account” Box.
  • Make sure to disable all ad and pop-up blockers on your browser.
  • A new window leading to your My Online Student Account should open.
• To make a payment, click on the “Make a Payment” button at the bottom right or click on “Make a Payment” on the left-side navigation.
  • Your account balance will be available on the top right of the page.
• Click on the “Student Account Payment” box.
• A section with your balance will appear on the right. You are able to change the amount you would like to pay if needed. Once it is correct, click on the “Add to Payment” button.
• You will then see the amount you are paying under "Student Account Payments." Click the “Continue” button at the bottom right to move forward with the payment.
• In the next step, you will see the amount you would like to pay as well as payment methods. You can add a bank account or use previously saved payment methods. Once your option has been selected, click "Continue."
  • For a new payment method, you will need to add the payment information. The only payment methods available through your portal are checking or savings account payments. USD does not accept credit or debit card payments.
• Verify that all of your information looks correct. If it is correct, click "Pay" at the bottom of the page. A confirmation should pop up on your screen, and you should receive a confirmation email. The payment will also appear on your recent activity after 24 hours.

Please note: USD does not accept Credit or Debit cards. 

If you have any questions about paying out of pocket, please contact Torero Hub via their Request Form.

Monthly Payment/Installment Plans

Students who wish to set up official payment plans should follow these steps:

• Go to your My.SanDiego.edu portal.
• On the left-hand side, click on the “Torero Hub” dropdown and select “My Student Account.”
• Click on the “My Online Student Account” hyperlink in the “My Student Account” Box.
  • Make sure to disable all ad and pop-up blockers on your browser.
  • A new window leading to your My Online Student Account should open.
• Click on "Enroll in Installment Payment Plan."

The payment plan must be set up by the first day of the semester. There is a $50 contract/setup fee for each semester a payment plan is used.

Please note: USD does not accept Credit or Debit cards. 

If you have any questions about paying out of pocket, please contact Torero Hub via their Request Form.

Third-Party Payment/Tuition Assistance

Students utilizing third-party payment are still responsible for making sure payment is made in full by the first day of the semester. Accounts with balances after the official payment due date may be subject to course cancellations or holds during the semester; holds can prevent upcoming registration, graduation, or transcript issuance. If a third party will be paying for some or all of your tuition, the third party has a couple of options to take.

1. Mailing a Physical Check to USD
   If mailing a check is the best option, please plan for shipping and processing time before the received amount is reflected on your student account. Any third party sending a check should write your student ID, name, and the term for which tuition should be applied. Ex. "Diego Torero, 009876543, Spring 2024 Tuition"
   
   Checks can be mailed to the following address:
   • University of San Diego
     Attn: Cashier's Office
     5998 Alcala Park
     San Diego, CA 92110
2. Using the "Guest Payer" Link
   There is a "Guest Payer" option where anyone can submit payment for a student's tuition on a semesterly basis if provided the necessary information:
   • Request an itemized statement for your third party to reference during the process.
   • Instruct the third party to visit the "Guest Payer" link.
   • At the login screen, click "Pay as a guest."
   • Using the itemized statement, the third party should enter your Student ID and Last Name.
   • Click the "Student Account Payment" option and then enter the total tuition listed for the term. It will then require the appropriate party to enter their respective routing and account number (credit and debit cards are not accepted forms of payment). Once submitted, the funds will be applied to your account.

To assist this process, your Program Coordinator can help with the process by preparing an itemized statement, providing a degree plan, and/or preparing a letter for your company. Examples of third-party payers include your employer or a scholarship organization.

International Payments/Wire Transfers

For international students, USD has a partnership with FlyWire that allows students to pay for tuition using their at-home currency with competitive exchange rates, which are often better than those offered at banks!

• An e-mail confirmation is sent to the student when payment is received by USD.
• Flywire Support
  • US Toll-Free: 1-800-346-9252
  • International: 1-617-207-7076
  • Email: [email protected]

For domestic students, contact the Torero Hub via their Request Form.

International Private Loan Lenders

MPower is a private loan lender that has fixed-rate and variable-rate private loans available for graduate students who meet certain requirements. This lender has its own screening process, customer service assistance, and processes, so the Torero Hub is unable to answer specific questions about their loans.

• MPower Support: (202) 417-3800

Additional Funding Opportunities

Be sure to check the minimum requirements for eligibility, and please note that all students in online degree programs are enrolled "part-time."

USD Scholarship Resources

• Scholarships and Grants for Graduate School
• Opportunities for Financial Assistance
• Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund
• Center for Inclusion and Diversity Office of the Tribal Liaison Scholarships

External Scholarships & Resources

• FastWeb.com - free scholarship search platform
• LendEDU.com - tools, calculators, & resources about paying for education
• Prospanica.org - scholarships dedicated to students of a Hispanic/Latino heritage
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness - for US students who have loans and are considering a public service career
• San Diego Foundation Scholarship - for students who have been a resident of San Diego for at least 1 year