and her fellow religious relied on the belief that studying in beautiful surroundings could improve the educational experience of students. Thus, the university's buildings are designed in a 16th-century Plateresque architecture, a style of the Spanish Renaissance, paying homage to both San Diego's Catholic heritage and the Universidad de Alcalá in Spain.
The campus is located approximately two miles north of downtown San Diego, on the north crest of Mission Valley in the community of Linda Vista. From the westernmost edges of Alcalá Park the communities of Mission Hills, Old Town, Point Loma, Ocean Beach, Bay Park, Mission Beach and Pacific Beach can be seen. Also, the Pacific Ocean, San Diego Bay, the Coronado Islands and La Jolla are visible from the campus.
In February 2022, Travel+Leisure named USD campus as one of the most beautiful college campuses in the United States, and Best Choice Schools ranked it the most beautiful urban campus in the United States.
== Administration ==
Though a Catholic university, …
