Vanguard University of Southern California
Costa Mesa, CA · Private four-year · City: Midsize
1,987undergraduates
62%admitted
Test-blind (scores not considered)SAT/ACT
$20,273average net price per year
56%graduate in 6 years
74%return for year two
Admissions
- Applicants
- 3,422
- Admitted
- 2,214
- Admit rate
- 62%
- Admit rate, women
- 65%
- Admit rate, men
- 63%
- Admitted students who enroll
- 23%
- First-year students
- 502
- SAT/ACT
- Test-blind (scores not considered)
| High school GPA | Required |
|---|---|
| High school record | Required |
| College-prep coursework | Not considered |
| SAT or ACT scores | Not considered |
| Recommendations | Not considered |
| Essay or personal statement | Required |
| Class rank | Considered, not required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required |
| Work experience | Not considered |
| Legacy status | Considered, not required |
Majors
29 undergraduate programs that awarded a degree or certificate last year, grouped by field. Numbers are how many were awarded.
Business, management, marketing, and related support services (4)
- Accounting Bachelor's (2 awarded)
- Business Administration and Management, General Bachelor's (72 awarded)
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General Bachelor's (10 awarded)
- Organizational Leadership Bachelor's (4 awarded)
Psychology (1)
- Psychology, General Bachelor's (75 awarded)
Parks, recreation, leisure, fitness, and kinesiology (1)
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology Bachelor's (59 awarded)
Health professions and related programs (1)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse Bachelor's (54 awarded)
Education (3)
- Early Childhood Education and Teaching Bachelor's (5 awarded)
- Education, General Bachelor's (44 awarded)
- Music Teacher Education Bachelor's (4 awarded)
Communication, journalism, and related programs (1)
- Communication, General Bachelor's (32 awarded)
Biological and biomedical sciences (3)
- Biochemistry Bachelor's (2 awarded)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General Bachelor's (14 awarded)
- Biomedical Sciences, General Bachelor's (13 awarded)
Visual and performing arts (4)
- Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General Bachelor's (7 awarded)
- Music, General Bachelor's (4 awarded)
- Musical Theatre Bachelor's (11 awarded)
- Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology Bachelor's (2 awarded)
Philosophy and religious studies (1)
- Religion/Religious Studies Bachelor's (18 awarded)
History (1)
- History, General Bachelor's (17 awarded)
Social sciences (2)
- Social Sciences, Other Certificate (under 1 year) (4 awarded)
- Sociology, General Bachelor's (13 awarded)
English language and literature/letters (1)
- English Language and Literature, General Bachelor's (16 awarded)
Physical sciences (3)
- Chemistry, General Bachelor's (3 awarded)
- Environmental Chemistry Bachelor's (3 awarded)
- Physical Sciences, General Bachelor's (4 awarded)
Mathematics and statistics (1)
- Mathematics, General Bachelor's (6 awarded)
Theology and religious vocations (2)
- Bible/Biblical Studies Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Pastoral Studies/Counseling Bachelor's (5 awarded)
Graduate programs (9)
- Clinical Psychology Master's
- Industrial and Organizational Psychology Post-bachelor's certificate, Master's
- Curriculum and Instruction Master's
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General Master's
- Teacher Education, Multiple Levels Post-bachelor's certificate
- Pastoral Studies/Counseling Master's
- Theology/Theological Studies Master's
- Nursing Administration Master's
- Biotechnology Master's
Cost and aid
- Tuition and fees, in-state
- $39,950
- Housing and food on campus
- $10,790
- Books and supplies
- $935
- Other on-campus costs
- $5,875
- Total cost on campus, in-state
- $57,550
- Total cost on campus, out-of-state
- $57,550
- Total cost living at home
- $46,000
Published prices for 2023-24.
| Family income | Per year |
|---|---|
| $0-30,000 | $14,906 |
| $30,001-48,000 | $14,528 |
| $48,001-75,000 | $17,411 |
| $75,001-110,000 | $19,543 |
| Over $110,000 | $27,190 |
Net price is the full cost minus grants and scholarships, for full-time first-year students who got aid in 2022-23.
- First-year students who got any aid
- 100%
- Got grants or scholarships
- 100%
- Average grant or scholarship
- $29,955
- Got a grant from the college
- 100%
- Average grant from the college
- $22,127
- Undergraduates with a Pell grant
- 43%
- First-year students who borrowed
- 95%
- Average amount borrowed
- $6,760
Graduation
- Bachelor's in 4 years
- 52%
- Bachelor's in 5 years
- 55%
- Bachelor's in 6 years
- 56%
- Bachelor's in 8 years
- 63%
- Any degree in 6 years (all students)
- 56%
- Came back for year two
- 74%
| Pell grant students | 49% |
|---|---|
| Subsidized loan, no Pell | 59% |
| Neither | 68% |
| Group | Students | Graduated |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 301 | 58% |
| Men | 133 | 50% |
| Asian | 9 | 78% (small group) |
| Black | 20 | 30% |
| Hispanic | 215 | 53% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 6 | 83% (small group) |
| White | 137 | 65% |
| Two or more races | 14 | 43% (small group) |
| Race unknown | 23 | 48% |
| International | 10 | 60% (small group) |
| Started | Students | Earned a degree or certificate here | Enrolled at another college |
|---|---|---|---|
| Started here, full-time | 378 | 63% | 29% |
| Started here, part-time | 3 | 33% (small group) | 33% |
| Transferred in, full-time | 118 | 60% | 32% |
| Transferred in, part-time | 78 | 69% | 15% |
Graduation rates follow students who started full-time for the first time in fall 2017. Groups under 20 students are marked because a few students change the rate a lot.
Students
- Total students
- 2,219
- Undergraduates
- 1,987
- Full-time undergraduates
- 1,811
- Part-time undergraduates
- 176
- Graduate students
- 232
- Students per faculty member
- 16 to 1
- First-year students from in state
- 90%
- From out of state
- 10%
- From other countries
- 0%
- Undergraduates age 25 and up
- 9%
- Undergraduates taking all classes online
- 8%
- Undergraduates registered with disability services
- 6%
| Women | 65% |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0% |
| Asian | 4% |
| Black | 5% |
| Hispanic | 48% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 1% |
| White | 31% |
| Two or more races | 2% |
| Race unknown | 9% |
| International | 0% |
Campus life
- Setting
- City: Midsize
- Address
- 55 Fair Dr, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626
- County
- Orange County
- Type
- Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs
- Highest degree
- Master's degree
- Academic calendar
- Semester
- Religious affiliation
- Assemblies of God Church
- Athletics
- NCAA
- Teams include
- basketball, baseball, cross country and track
- Offers
- Study abroad, Undergraduate research, Teacher certification, Weekend or evening classes, Online programs, Credit for AP exams, Yellow Ribbon (veterans)
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2022-23 to 2024-25 surveys), and the College Scorecard.