USD Magazine Spring 2026

Together, they form a vital part of USD’s community — and these nontraditional students are an essential part of our intellectual life. USD supports every student with a holistic, wraparound approach — from academic advising and wellness services to identity-based resource centers and individualized coaching. Some nontraditional students need extra guidance to thrive, while others navigate campus independently, but every student benefits from the community and resources in place. The following students’ paths to USD are as varied as their ambitions. These stories capture their journeys to campus and reveal how they’re shaping their futures.

THERE’S MORE THAN ONE PATH THAT LEADS STUDENTS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO. IN FACT, MANY TOREROS ARRIVE AFTER JOURNEYS THAT LOOK NOTHING LIKE THE TYPICAL HIGH SCHOOL-TO-COLLEGE ROUTE. SOME HAVE LED TROOPS, RAISED CHILDREN OR BUILT CAREERS BEFORE EVER SETTING FOOT ON CAMPUS. OTHERS ARE FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS, TRANSFERS, FORMER FOSTER YOUTH, STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES OR NEURODIVERGENT LEARNERS.

By Talya Sanders

ROADS LESS TRAVELED 10 | University of San Diego Magazine