The University of Southern California (USC) is a globally recognized private research university located on a vibrant campus in Los Angeles’ University Park neighborhood. Known for prestigious programs in film, journalism, business and architecture, USC fosters academic excellence across diverse disciplines. Don’t be fooled by the stereotype that USC students are slackers that would rather be surfing than studying, or perfectly-tanned sorority girls. USC students are hard-working, ambitious, and come from a wide-array of backgrounds–the University has way more international students than most other U.S. colleges.
USC students are full of “Trojan Pride” and flock to see their D1 football team, the USC Trojans compete in the NCAA Division I Pac-12 Conference. The schools is also know for its large and active alumni network, the Trojan Family, which consists of over 400,000 alumni who are eager to help fellow USC grads navigate their careers.
USC’s School of Cinematic Arts is the oldest and one of the most prestigious film schools in the United States and has produced many famous alumni, including George Lucas, Will Ferrell, and Shonda Rhimes. USC alumni have collectively received hundreds of Academy Award nominations, and the school's graduates have directed some of the highest-grossing movies in history. The USC campus has appeared in many movies, including the iconic films Forrest Gump, Legally Blonde, and the Graduate.
“There are other elite private colleges that more closely mirror the overall experience possible at a place like USC… Stanford, Duke, Northwestern and Vanderbilt, for example. But to me and our family, USC still stood apart. They seem to be a very well-oiled machine in almost all regards from my family’s perspective. It is an elite private university, but it has the offerings of a major public university in terms of the entire spectrum of things one might expect at a much larger university… including academics, athletics and the arts. USC is quite frankly only limited by an individual student’s effort and imagination. It can be morphed and molded into whatever form of college experience you are seeking...My daughters graduated in 2018 and 2021. The Trojan Family/Network is real and likely among the strongest and most robust alumni networks globally. Fight On!”
Read More About USC in the CC Community
University of Southern California is a private, nonprofit institution in the city of Los Angeles, California. USC was founded in 1880. The college enrolls around 49,318 students a year, including 20,790 undergraduate students.
It is extremely difficult to get into USC. Around 13% of applicants get into USC each year. In 2022, 71,031 students applied to USC and 8,884 were admitted.
University of Southern California Admissions Facts At-A-Glance | |
---|---|
Overall Acceptance Rate | 13% |
Early Decision Acceptance Rate | Info Not Available |
Early Action Acceptance Rate | EA Offered but % not available |
Average GPA | 3.8 |
Test Optional | Yes |
Applicants Submitting SAT scores | 47% |
Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.
University of Southern California Community Forums
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University of Southern California is located in Los Angeles.
If you would like to see USC for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Harbor Freeway to Los Angeles, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Los Angeles International.
You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what University of Southern California and Los Angeles are like without leaving home.
First-Year Applications are Due
Transfer Applications are Due
The deadline for Fall transfer applications to USC is Feb 15.
Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs
ACT Range
ACT Score
Estimated Chance
34 and Above
30 to 34
30 and Less
The median ACT score of an admitted student to USC is 32. Students with an ACT score of 34 and above have a good chance of getting into USC. Students with an ACT score that falls between 30 and 34 have an average chance of getting admitted, and students with an ACT score of 30 or below have a low chance of being offered admission.
Composite SAT Range
Math SAT Range
Reading SAT Range
Tuition & Fees
$79,393
In State$79,393
Out-of-StateWondering what life at USC is like? There are approximately 49,318 students enrolled at USC, including 20,790 undergraduate students and 28,528 graduate students. 97% percent of students attend school full-time, 61% percent are from CA and 39% percent of students are from other states.
97%
Full Time3%
Part Time61%
In State39%
Out-of-StateData Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved
Total Enrollment
Campus Setting
Acceptance Rate
Tuition and Fees
In State
Out-of-State
Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline
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