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University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA
The University of Southern California (USC) is a private research university located in Los Angeles, California. Established in 1880, USC is one of the oldest private research universities in California and has consistently been ranked among the top universities in the United States. It offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines, including business, engineering, cinema, law, and the arts.
USC has gained fame for its strong academic programs, distinguished faculty, and vibrant campus life. The university is home to more than 50,000 students, including an international student population from over 115 countries. USC provides a supportive and collaborative learning environment, encouraging students to explore their interests, engage in deep intellectual discussions, and develop critical thinking and leadership skills. With state-of-the-art facilities, research centers, and libraries, USC offers students an opportunity to gain knowledge and hands-on experience in their chosen fields.
Apart from its academic excellence, USC is known for its diverse and inclusive community. The university offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, student organizations, and cultural and athletic events to foster student engagement and personal growth. USC's location in the heart of Los Angeles also provides students with numerous opportunities for internships, career connections, and exposure to a vibrant city and its diverse industries. Overall, the University of Southern California offers an enriching and transformative educational experience, preparing students to become leaders in their respective fields and make a positive impact on their communities and the world.
University of Southern California is a private university located in Los Angeles, CA and set in an urban environment. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 12%. The freshman retention rate at University of Southern California is 96.54% and the six-year graduation rate is 93%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 15. The transfer application deadline is February 15.
Explore this school's profile to find out the most essential things about University of Southern California.
Quick Facts
20,620
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
12%
Acceptance Rate
$69,904
Tuition
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
93%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Read on to learn some relevant info about admission policy and requirements at University of Southern California.
According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 8,304 in 2022. University of Southern California has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores for the applicants who choose to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is one of the most difficult schools to get into. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, University of Southern California provides an unmatched educational experience.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 34% and ACT scores 16%. 90.88% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 8.27% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 0.85% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 95.35, 4.11 between 24-29 and 0.54 in the range between 18-23.
The ACT composite average score for all the admitted students in 2022 was 32 while the average GPA was 3.87. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance, as well as an above-average ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 700 and an average SAT Math score of 714.
Deadlines
The deadline for submitting applications to this school is January 15. For transfer students, the application deadline is February 15.
12%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2022, the freshman retention rate for University of Southern California was 96.54%, which is an amazing retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 93%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at University of Southern California in 2022 was 46,405.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 39% for that year. There was a total of 20,620 undergrad students, including 2,672 international students. The school admitted a total of 1,295 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 19,747 male and 22,940 female full-time students in 2022. This school had 9,914 full-time graduate male and 12,511 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to expanding the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. A diverse student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2022, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 5,037, while the number of African American students was 1,325. 3,588 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 1,284 as multirace. The school also had 53 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 29 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 381 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for University of Southern California is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $69,904 in 2022. University of Southern California is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students totaled $1,743 in 2022.
Books and Supplies
The estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another significant financial element. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,200.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
In 2022, the price of room and board at University of Southern California was $19,931 per academic year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school totaled $12,271, according to the data from 2022. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $12,271.
| Tuition | $ 69,904 |
| Room and Board | $ 19,931 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
| Total Expense | $ 91,035 |
Financial Aid
Getting some financial support in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be crucial for finishing your studies. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at University of Southern California, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
According to the most recent data, 1,825 freshmen were awarded financial aid. Students of this school received an average of $60,819 in financial help.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet some eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
There were 7,569 students who attained need-based financial aid of any kind. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 8,423. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $32,172,962, and state $25,726,894. The students of University of Southern California received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $365,509,206, and external in the amount of $17,204,341.
$17,585
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 5,197 students overall (including freshmen) at University of Southern California in 2022. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 1,442 full-time freshmen. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $78,765,242. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $20,277,277 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
-
USC Transfer Fall
USC Transfer Fall
ApplyStart Year: 2025
Start Term: Fall
Application Deadline: 2025-02-15
Majors
Faculty
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio represents the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
In 2022, this ratio at University of Southern California was 16:1. That means that there were 16 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 451 teachers at this school. Out of that number, there were 168 male and 283 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at University of Southern California.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at University of Southern California: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some details about campus life at University of Southern California.
Its campus is 229 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Participating in different student organizations can make your educational experience more interesting and fulfilling.
Based on the most up-to-date information available, there are 850 open-membership organizations at University of Southern California. This number includes sororities and fraternities. 26 percent of male and 27 of female students participate actively in different organizations at University of Southern California. If you are interested in music, you can join the University of Southern California band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. For students who have a passion for media and communication, University of Southern California publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
University of Southern California provides a number of services crucial for a pleasant and secure life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a 24-hour security patrol. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services and Women's Center are available to the students of University of Southern California.
All in all, campus life at University of Southern California is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at University of Southern California.
Career Counselling
At University of Southern California, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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University of Southern California is located in Los Angeles, CA.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for University of Southern California is 69,904 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for University of Southern California is 12%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for University of Southern California is 96.54%.
Contact Information
University of Southern California,
University Park Campus
Los Angeles, CA
90089
213 740-2311
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.