Vanguard University of Southern California
Costa Mesa, CA · Private nonprofit · offers Graduate degrees
62%Acceptance rate
$21,241Average net price / year
57%Graduation rate
$59,541Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$22,000Median debt at graduation
1,933Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $41,700
- Total cost of attendance
- $52,665
- Room & board
- $13,450
- Books & supplies
- $1,060
- Average net price
- $21,241
Net price by family income
- $0–30k
- $17,225
- $30–48k
- $18,462
- $48–75k
- $18,976
- $75–110k
- $24,117
- $110k+
- $27,684
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 62.4%
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 57%
- First-year retention
- 70%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $43,464
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $59,541
- Median debt (graduates)
- $22,000
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 44%
- Students with federal loans
- 57%
Programs: what graduates earn
13 of 47 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Bachelor's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 39 | $102,915 | $18,930 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 60 | $58,539 | $26,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 27 | $39,397 | — |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | — | $35,701 | — |
| Education, General | 14 | $35,495 | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 50 | $29,943 | — |
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries | 12 | $37,493 | — |
| Psychology, General | 74 | $35,393 | $16,266 |
| Sociology | 25 | $34,349 | — |
| Marketing | 10 | $42,899 | — |
Master's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curriculum and Instruction | 22 | $60,756 | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 40 | $47,596 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 24 | $134,779 | — |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 1,933
- Graduate students
- 415
- Part-time
- 11%
- Women / men
- 67% / 33%
- White
- 31%
- Hispanic
- 47%
- Black
- 5%
- Asian
- 4%
- International
- 0%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 13:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $85,446 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 100%
- Accreditor
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
- Website
- www.vanguard.edu
- Also known as
- Vanguard University
Most popular fields
- Communication & Journalism – 6% of degrees
- Education – 7% of degrees
- English – 2% of degrees
- Biological Sciences – 7% of degrees
- Parks, Recreation & Fitness – 12% of degrees
- Philosophy & Religious Studies – 5% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Vanguard University of Southern California?
62.4% of applicants were admitted.
How much does Vanguard University of Southern California cost?
The average net price after grants is $21,241 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $41,700 and the full cost of attendance is $52,665.
How much do Vanguard University of Southern California graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $59,541 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
57% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Other colleges in Costa Mesa
| College | Net price | Acceptance | Graduation | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange Coast College Costa Mesa, CA · Public · 16,091 students |
$7,203 | — | 48% | $47,348 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa Costa Mesa, CA · Private for-profit · 395 students |
$21,920 | — | 82% | $26,897 |
| Pacific College Costa Mesa, CA · Private for-profit · 225 students |
$29,363 | 56% | 63% | $70,064 |
| Homestead Schools-Costa Mesa Costa Mesa, CA · Private nonprofit · 32 students |
— | — | — | $59,398 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.