Los Angeles, CA · Private · 20,443 undergraduates · urban
University of Southern California
Highly selective
USC is the Los Angeles university known for film, alumni loyalty, major athletics, and professional schools that connect directly to the city’s industries. Students enter a large university with strong school identities, from cinematic arts and engineering to business, music, communication, and the liberal arts. The Trojan network is real, but students still have to build work worthy of it.
Institutional profile
Top tier Strong in academic standing, and strong in career outcomes.- Admission
- 10% admitted
- Price by income
- Varies across five income ranges
- Completion
- 93.3%
80,808 applicants in the reported year
Compare recent average annual costs by household income
$92,498 median earnings 10 years after enrollment
What sets USC apart
Professional schools connect directly to Los Angeles
Film, media, business, music, technology, design, and health programs sit near their industries.
The Trojan network is highly visible
Alumni connections influence internships, recruiting, mentoring, and institutional identity.
School spirit crosses a private university
Athletics and campus traditions create shared events across specialized academic communities.
The USC route
Build the work, then activate the network
USC’s location and alumni reach become useful after a student has developed a credible body of work.
Enter a professional community
The academic unit supplies methods, peers, and industry context.
Produce something concrete
Projects, research, performances, and internships create evidence.
Connect the work to Los Angeles
Alumni and city institutions widen its audience and opportunity.
Can I get in?
10% admitted
USC admits by academic route, with portfolios or auditions in several arts programs. Preparation and required materials must fit the school selected.
Recent applicant pool
80,808About 10 in every 100 applicants were admitted.
Academic range
Of admitted students, 32% submitted an SAT, and 14% submitted an ACT. The ACT range comes from a small share of admitted students and does not describe the full class.
In the season card
Where your GPA sits in the entering class
The full entering-class GPA distribution for USC, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.
See where I landIn the season card
What USC weighs when it reads a file
See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Test scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurriculars
- Demonstrated interest
What moves the application
The evidence that separates a strong file
Select the school and program
The application should fit the unit reviewing the file and its professional culture.
Submit artistic work precisely
Portfolio and audition requirements can determine the outcome in creative programs.
Show work with an audience
A production, venture, design, performance, or community result demonstrates follow-through.
Use Los Angeles specifically
Connect the location to a field and institution rather than the idea of entertainment.
How to apply
Rounds, route, and required materials
USC uses the Common Application and may require school-specific artistic materials. Applicants should treat the intended school and any portfolio deadline as central.
Fee waiver: accepted
Major and program admission
Some fields have their own entry path.
The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.
ArchitectureAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Performing and visual artsAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
BusinessAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Communication and journalismAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Computer scienceAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
EngineeringAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
NursingAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Can I afford it?
Compare annual cost by household income.
Need-based aid and merit scholarships can both alter the published price. Merit awards are competitive, and Los Angeles living costs should remain in the plan.
College funding
Scholarships and financial aid
Review available aid, application requirements, and renewal terms.
University of Southern California publishes two merit awards, the largest reaching full tuition or more.
Open across the university · Merit · Competitive
Open across the university · Merit
In the season card
These two awards, by name
What each one is called, what it pays, the grades and scores it asks for, and what to send.
- The name of each award
- What it pays
- The grades and scores it asks for
- How to be considered
- What to send, and where
In the season card
Average annual cost by household income at USC
Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.
- $0–30k
- $30–48k
- $48–75k
- $75–110k
- $110k+
Is it worth it?
Completion, debt, and earnings
Entertainment, technology, engineering, business, health, media, arts, and public service benefit from professional schools and a highly active alumni network.
Degree completion across the reported entering cohort
First-year students who return for year two
And what that comes to against what they earn.
Reported 10 years after enrollment
Academic portfolio
Largest bachelor’s fields
How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
Admits separately
Computer Science
Admits separately
Communication and Media Studies
Admits separately
Human Biology
Psychology, General
What is campus life like?
USC beyond the classroom
University Park supplies a traditional residential center near downtown Los Angeles. Greek life, athletics, school cohorts, clubs, and the city all have prominent roles.
Residential communities anchor the first year
Campus and nearby university housing create an early network within a large institution.
The Village concentrates daily activity
Dining, housing, shops, and gathering spaces make the north side of campus a regular crossroads.
Professional projects begin early
Productions, startups, design teams, publications, service, cultural groups, and athletics connect students across schools.
Greek life and athletics are visible
Fraternities, sororities, games, clubs, productions, and Los Angeles venues create an active scene.
Los Angeles is central but sprawling
Studios, firms, hospitals, nonprofits, and arts institutions are abundant; travel time determines access.