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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 institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 9%. The freshman retention rate at University of Southern California is 95.56% and the six-year graduation rate is 92%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 15. The transfer application deadline is February 15.
Read more about what you can expect if you get into University of Southern California.
Quick Facts
20,630
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$73,260
Tuition
8:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
92%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Learning as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission increases your chances of getting admitted. How difficult is it to get admitted to University of Southern California and what are the admission requirements?
According to the newest information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 16,100 in 2025. University of Southern California has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores if the applicant chooses to submit them. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is one of the most difficult schools to get into. This eminent school with a rich history offers an unparalleled learning experience to its students.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 30% and ACT scores 12%. 91.1% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 7.9% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 1.1% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 95.1, 4.7 between 24-29 and 0.2 in the range between 18-23.
The average ACT score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 32 and the average GPA was 3.8. Therefore, the chances are that you'll need a GPA higher than the average for acceptance, and the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 700 and an average SAT Math score of 714.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 15. If you are applying for a transfer, the application deadline is February 15.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for University of Southern California was 95.56% in 2025, which is an outstanding retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 92%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the right fit for you is not an easy task. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school enrolled 46,645 students.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 38. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 20,630, 2714 of which were foreign students. 1,339 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 19,172 male and 21,824 female full-time students in 2025, which is indicative of the value gender equality has at this school. 9,914 full-time graduate men and 12,511 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at University of Southern California.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 4,769, and the number of African American students was 1,447. 4,805 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 1,301 as multirace. The school also had 44 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 37 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 824 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to think about before you apply. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for University of Southern California.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at University of Southern California? Here is what you need to know.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $73,260 for all full-time domestic students. Since this is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 were mandated to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,902.
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 $650.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for room and board?
At University of Southern California, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $20,907. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school amounted to $12,879, according to the data from 2025. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $12,879.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 73,260 |
| Room and Board | $ 20,907 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 650 |
| Total Expense | $ 94,817 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial aid: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you wish to find 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.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 3,538 freshmen. The average financial aid package awarded to students equaled $17,023.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
10,362 students gained some form of need-based financial aid. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 12,359. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $40,518,031, and state $45,850,119.
$4,821
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. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 3,255 students overall (including freshmen) at University of Southern California in 2025. 1,062 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $40,518,031 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $2,562,074. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $23,014,880. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers.
Majors
Faculty
8:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2025, this ratio at University of Southern California was 8:1. That means that there were 8 times more students than teachers at this school. This school has recently reported to have 3,727 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 2,129 male and 1,598 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at University of Southern California is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some details about campus life at University of Southern California.
It has a campus size of 229 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 850. This number includes sororities and fraternities. At this school, 26% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 27 for female students. Students interested in music can join the University of Southern California band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. Interested in media and communication? University of Southern California publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
University of Southern California offers a number of services vital for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. The dormitory entrances at the school are electronically controlled. There is a security patrol available 24/7. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a medical 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 a great asset 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 73,260 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 9%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for University of Southern California is 95.56%.
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.
