Costa Mesa, CA · Clery Act 2023 · Private Nonprofit

Vanguard University of Southern California

According to the U.S. Department of Education's Clery Act filings, this profile covers campus safety, crime statistics, fire-safety data, and peer comparison for this 2,219-student campus.

4.51
Incidents / 1k students
#2,527
Rank of 3,050
#266
CA rank
2,219
Enrolled students

Data updated June 2026

The verdict

Vanguard University of Southern California reports 4.51 on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students, ranking #2,527 of 3,050 ranked U.S. campuses - with more reported incidents than 84% of ranked campuses its size.

4.51
incidents / 1,000 students
#2,527
of 3,050 ranked nationally
84%
report fewer incidents than this campus
8
on-campus incidents, 2023

Safety score = reported on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is safer).

Reporting-period change

What changed in 2023

+5 reported incidents

Vanguard University of Southern California increased from 3 to 8 reported on-campus incidents between the 2022 and 2023 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.

This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.

See national reporting-year changes

Vanguard University of Southern California is a Private Nonprofit institution located in Costa Mesa, CA, enrolling approximately 2,219 students. Clery Act data spanning 2021–2023 records 17 total on-campus incidents across all reported crime categories. Within CA, it ranks #266 by safety score. Verify with the U.S. Department of Education Clery Act database →

With 2,219 enrolled students, this campus sits in the small college bracket, which shapes how raw incident counts should be interpreted.

The most frequently reported category at Vanguard University of Southern California is "Fondling" with 8 cumulative incidents across the reporting window. Compared to 5 peer institutions of similar enrollment size in CA averaging 0.90 incidents per 1,000 students, Vanguard University of Southern California reports 400% more incidents per student.

Fire safety data covers 1 reporting year for on-campus residential facilities, logging 0 total fires. Arrests and disciplinary actions span 9 category-year records, covering liquor law violations, drug law violations, and weapons possession on-campus. No Department of Education Clery Act enforcement actions are recorded against this institution.

Safety Score

4.51 /1K students

incidents per 1,000 enrolled

National Rank

#2527

See peer comparison

State Rank (CA)

#266

within state peers

Incidents (2023)

8

across 11 crime categories

Where Vanguard University of Southern California sits among ranked U.S. campuses

On-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 students, every ranked campus with 2,000+ students

5 safer than 16% of 1,807 ranked campuses

0–1: 874 ranked campuses (48%). Below this entry. 1–2: 281 ranked campuses (16%). Below this entry. 2–3: 186 ranked campuses (10%). Below this entry. 3–4: 135 ranked campuses (7%). Below this entry. 4–5: 84 ranked campuses (5%). This entry sits in this band. 5–6: 71 ranked campuses (4%). Above this entry. 6–7: 36 ranked campuses (2%). Above this entry. 7–8: 37 ranked campuses (2%). Above this entry. 8–9: 103 ranked campuses (6%). Above this entry. This campus 0 9 every ranked campus, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more ranked campuses. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act) · 2023

Safety percentile vs. peers

Vanguard University of Southern California percentile rank 17.1%
National median

Higher percentile = safer than more peers. Rank #2527 out of 3,050 ranked institutions (enrollment >= 500) in the OPE Campus Safety Survey.

Reporting density vs peer median

Vanguard University of Southern California reports 400% more incidents per student than the median of 5 peer institutions.

Academic & Financial Profile

Tuition & Costs

In-State Tuition
$41,700
Out-of-State Tuition
$41,700
Avg Net Price
$21,241
Median Debt
$22,000
Pell Grant Recipients
44%
How does this cost rank in CA? →

Admissions

Acceptance Rate
62%
ACT Average
22

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate
56%
Retention Rate
70%
Median Earnings (6yr)
$43,464
Median Earnings (10yr)
$59,541
Loan Repayment (3yr)
71%

Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.

Crime Statistics by Year

11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus only

Vanguard University of Southern California: on-campus incidents by year

Rising 33% (6 → 8 incidents)

246810 202120222023 6 8 ▲ +33.3%
Crime Type 202320222021
Aggravated Assault 001
Arson 000
Burglary 402
Fondling 431
Incest 000
Motor Vehicle Theft 001
Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter 000
Negligent Manslaughter 000
Rape 000
Robbery 000
Statutory Rape 001

Source: US Dept US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Figures show on-campus incidents

Fire Safety

Year Fires Inj. Deaths Cat I Cat II
2023 0 0 0 0 0

Arrests & Disciplinary Actions

9 category-year records
Disposition26%47%27%ArrestsDisciplinary referralsNo action
9 reported records
Category Year Arrests Discipline
Drugs 2023 0 25
Liquor 2023 0 15
Weapons 2023 1 0
Drugs 2022 0 18
Liquor 2022 0 35
Weapons 2022 0 0
Drugs 2021 0 16
Liquor 2021 0 27
Weapons 2021 0 0

Vanguard University of Southern California vs peer institutions

Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment

Scores are incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer).

Selected

CA

Vanguard University of Southern California

4.51 incidents / 1,000 students
National rank
#2,527
Enrollment
2,219
Data year
2023

Similar Institutions

Closest by National Rank

Institutions ranked nearest Vanguard University of Southern California nationally (rank #2527), regardless of size or state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Vanguard University of Southern California safe?
Vanguard University of Southern California has a safety score of 4.51 (total on-campus incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #2,527 nationally out of 3,050+ ranked institutions. Compare this with peer institutions for context.
What crimes are reported at Vanguard University of Southern California?
Aggravated Assault, Arson, Burglary, Fondling, Incest, and other categories, for calendar year 2023.
How does Vanguard University of Southern California compare to similar schools?
See the Similar Institutions section below for peers of similar enrollment in CA.
Does Vanguard University of Southern California have fire safety data?
Yes. Vanguard University of Southern California reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. No fires were reported in the most recent year.

Understanding Vanguard University of Southern California's Safety Profile

Vanguard University of Southern California in Costa Mesa, CA enrolls 2,219 students and has a safety score of 4.51 incidents per 1,000 enrolled students , ranking #2527 nationally.

Reported incidents cover 2021 to 2023. On-campus incidents increased from 3 in 2022 to 8 in 2023.

Fire safety data covers on-campus residential facilities. No fires were reported in the most recent year, indicating effective fire prevention measures.

What this means for you

Vanguard University of Southern California's 4.51 reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students is a starting point for comparison, not a verdict on any student's safety.

Figures reflect the 2023 Clery Act reporting year as filed with the U.S. Department of Education.

Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCampus Editorial

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.