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 to speak with a financial aid counselor at (619) 260-2700 (option 4) or by sending an email to [email protected]. Be certain to include your USD Student ID and indicate that you are an online graduate student. 

Follow the steps below to complete the financial aid process:

1. If you have not already done so, please submit/complete your 2022-2023 FAFSA application. USD’s FAFSA School Code* is 010395-00.

   *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 be able to continue with the financial aid process.
3. When the award is available on 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 an 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 are 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.
• Download a PDF instruction sheet for navigating the Financial Aid Portal

Important Items to Note

• During regular processing periods, the red flags in your portal begin to update 5-7 business days after requirements are complete 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 at [email protected] or (619) 260-2700 (option 4) with any questions. For more information, see this Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan guide.
• 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, pursue an endorser, or no longer pursue the loan.
• If you are interested in pursuing a private/alternative loan, please follow the instructions and submit the Loan Request form and submit it to the One Stop team at [email protected]

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.

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

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].

Paying Out of Pocket / Monthly Payment Plans

Students who wish to pay out of pocket may either pay their account in full by the first day of the semester or set up an official payment plan by following these steps:

• Go to your My.SanDiego.edu portal.
• On the Torero Hub select “My Student Account”.
• Locate the “My Online Student Account” channel.
• Select “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.

Payment in full by the first day of the semester can also be made in the “My Online Student Account” channel with a checking or savings account.

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

If you have any questions about paying out of pocket, please contact One Stop by phone at (619) 260-2700 or by email at [email protected].

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 class. 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 obtaining transcripts. 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 require the appropriate party to enter the company’s respective routing and account number (not a credit or debit card). 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/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 – often better than a bank!

• 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 One Stop Student Center by phone at (619) 260-2700, or via email at [email protected] for instructions.

Additional Funding Opportunities

Be sure to check the minimum requirements for eligibility, all students in online degree programs are enrolled “part-time”.

USD Scholarship Resources

• Opportunities for Financial Assistance
• Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund

External Scholarships & Resources

• FastWeb.com – free scholarship search platform
• LendEDU.com – tools, calculators, & resources about paying for education
• ProdigyFinance.com – a lender that offers flexible international student loans
• 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

Itemized Statement Request

Students that need an itemized statement of courses for a given term can submit the Itemized Statement Request form.