If you are applying to USC, the fee for the application costs $85.
The following is an overiew of some of USC's admissions stats.
USC 2022 | Admissions Statistics |
---|---|
Mean Unweighted GPA | 3.8 |
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class | 80% |
Admissions Test Policy | Test Optional |
Applicants Who Submit SATs | 47% |
Applicants Who Submit ACTs | 26% |
Waitlist | No |
These are the application deadlines for University of Southern California.
Application Type | Offered | Application Deadline | Notification Deadline |
---|---|---|---|
Early Decision I | Info Not Available | –– | –– |
Early Decision II | –– | –– | –– |
Early Action | Yes | November 1 | –– |
University of Southern California may or may not offer early admission, however the school has not provided any application information. Check with USC directly for more information about early applications.
🗓️ The Early Action deadline is November 1.
➡️ Explore a list of some selective colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.
For more information on transferring to University of Southern California, contact the school directly.
USC has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.
Colleges consider a range of factors when choosing who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college determines which factors are are most important in the admissions process. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that put the most emphasis on the areas where you're strong.
Wondering what factors are considered by USC during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.
Admissions Factor | Level |
---|---|
Academic GPA | Very Important |
Application Essay | Very Important |
Recommendation(s) | Very Important |
Rigor of Secondary School Record | Very Important |
Standardized Test Scores | Very Important |
Character/Personal Qualities | Important |
Extracurricular Activities | Important |
Talent/Ability | Important |
Alumni/ae Relations | Considered |
Work Experience | Considered |
First Generation | Considered |
Racial/Ethnic Status | Considered |
Volunteer Work | Considered |
Make sure to check with USC for more information on admission factors.
To apply to USC, all applicants must submit the following items. Check with USC's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.
Area | Required | Recommended | Required for Some | Details (If Any) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Interview | ||||
Transcript(S) of College Record | ||||
Standardized Test Scores | ||||
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S) | ||||
Written Essay or Personal Statement | √ | |||
Transcript of High School Record | √ |
Students admitted to USC have an average unweighted GPA of 3.8.
Out of all students that were admitted, 28.57% submitted a class rank. At USC 80% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 95% were in the top 25% and 99% were in the top 50%.
At University of Southern California, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.
GPA | Percent of Students |
---|---|
4.0 GPA | 26.25% |
3.75 and 3.99 | 49.67% |
3.50 and 3.74 | 16.57% |
3.25 and 3.49 | 4.73% |
3.00 and 3.24 | 1.59% |
2.50 and 2.9 | 1.06% |
2.00 and 2.49 | 0.13% |
This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.
Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to USC directly.
About GPAs
Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.
An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.
USC considers ACT or SAT scores as part of the admissions process.
USC is test optional. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.
In 2022, 47% of USC's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 26% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.
To be competitive with other USC applicants, you should aim to score between 1330 and 1520 (or higher!) on the SAT. At USC 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1520 and 25% of scored lower than 1330, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.
On the SAT Math Section, 25% of USC students scored 780 or higher and 75% of students scored 650 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of USC students scored 740 or higher, and 75% scored a 650 or higher.
To be most competitive at USC, you should strive to earn between 30 and 34 on the ACT.
An ACT score of 34 means you fall in the 75th percentile for USC's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 34, and three out of four students scored lower than 34 on the ACT.
A 30 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for USC students. Only one out of every four students scored below 30.
Want To Bring Up Your ACT Score? Access ACT practice tests and study tips and see upcoming ACT test dates.
For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is February 15. Applicants should hear back by May 31.
Transfer students can enroll in USC during the following terms:
• Fall Term
• Spring Term
Can I defer my acceptance to USC?
✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to USC.
Does USC accept transfer credits?
✅ USC accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. USC accepts:
• CLEP subject tests • DSST/DANTES
Does USC accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?
✅ USC accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.
Do I have to submit test scores to USC?
❌ No, USC is test optional, so you can make the call whether to include your ACT or SAT scores. If your scores are higher than the school's average, you probably want to include them. If your scores are average or below average, you may want not want to include them in your application.
What is USC's acceptance rate?
✅ USC has an acceptance rate of 13%.
What is the early decision acceptance rate at USC?
🟨 USC may or may not offer early decision. The school has not provided any information on early decision including ED acceptance rates.
Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.
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Admission Difficulty
How hard is it to get into USC? USC is a selective institution. The USC acceptance rate is 13%. This means that the institution accepts 12 out of every 100 applicants.
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
Avg. High School GPA (non-weighted)
At USC, the average unweighted high-school GPA for admitted students is 3.83. This is the average, which means that some applicants submit GPAs lower than this and some applicants submit GPAs above this level. If your GPA falls below the average, strong test scores or other qualifications may help you make you a more competitive applicant.
Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved
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Acceptance Rate
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