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Colleges / University of Southern California

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate13%
Acceptance Rate13%

USC Tuition Information

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at University of Southern California was $63,468 a year.

Tuition increased 5% in 2022–from $60,446 the previous year. Usually, colleges raise tuition about 3% each year.

Remember, the advertized cost of tuition does not always give you all the info you need to know how much you will actually have to pay for college. Many students find the actual cost of college is far less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are awarded. Plus, student loans can make theactual cost of attending college feel more doable until you've finishing school and found a job.

Does University of Southern California Offer In-State and Out-of-State Tuition?

University of Southern California is a private, nonprofit institution, which means it has the same tuition for students from California as it does for residents from other states.

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Choosing a college where you qualify for in-state status can cut the cost of college tuition. Be sure to check your state's requirements for as an in-state resident. Every state has its own rules about what makes someone eligible for in-state tuition. In many states, students must have lived in the state for 12 months before starting school to qualify for in-state tuition. There may be other criteria too, depending on where you live.

Explore other California colleges

Do International Students Pay More to Go to University of Southern California?

USC has the same tuition for international students as for those from out of state.

International students usually do not qualify for for federal financial aid, but may be eligible for private or USC-specific aid and scholarships. International students with need may qualify for the following types of financial support at USC:

•USC-specific scholarships

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships and athletic awards.


University of Southern California Housing Expenses, Fees, and More


In addition to the cost of tuition, there are other costs associated with college, like room and board, facility fees, and books and supplies. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at USC.

House and Food Costs at USC

Housing and campus dining at USC costs $17,436 a year. This covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a meal plan that enables you to eat all or some of your meals the USC's on-campus cafeterias and dining facilities. Students who live off campus but still want to use the dining facilities can choose to be on a meal plan. The cost of a mean plan, or board-only, is $10,506.

Board costs can depend on how many meals are included in the plan you choose.

Cost of Books at USC

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The real cost of books and supplies depends on the courses you take and the textbooks, computer programs, or other materials are required.. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy books from students who have already taken the course.

Yearly Fees

Most schools charge some yearly fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

There may be additional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like joining a fraternity or sorority, or participating in sports or other extracurriculars. Most colleges have resources for students who may struggle to participate because of cost can find ways to lower or eliminate these fees.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Transportation costs at USC

The cost of transportation in college can really vary. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Will you need to pay to park on-campus? Is the campus easy to get around on foot? Do you own a car, or will you need to use public transportation? All of these factors can drastically impact your transportation budget. At USC, freshman are allowed to park on campus.

Where are a college is located can impact transportation costs. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, getting around in an urban area is sometimes costly, but there may be more trains, busses or low-cost flight options to actually get to school. The University of Southern California campus is in a urban setting in California, not far from Los Angeles.

Other Costs

When budgeting for college, don’t forget to take into account the cost of things like going out to eat or see shows, furnishing your living space, and things like haircuts, clothes and, yes, even toilet paper and shampoo.


Financial Breakdown for University of Southern California


Now, let’s look at the breakdown of all expenses, to get a better idea of what is really costs to go to USC.

How Much Does USC Cost?

What will the cost of attending USC be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2022 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition $63,468
Room and Board $17,436
Board Only $6,930
Other expenses $1,702

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus $85,064
Off-Campus $74,558

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.


Financial Aid at University of Southern California


In 2022, 7,333 of the 20,790 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. USC meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $58,131 a year. Around 32% of USC undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. USC graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $27,413 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans $18,744
Private Loans $54,554
Most Common Loans for USC Students
Federal Loans 31%
Private loans 5%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on USC financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at University of Southern California

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2022, USC awarded 6,747 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $377.4 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $105.49 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

University of Southern California Net Cost

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for USC students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at USC was $58,131 in 2022. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of USC seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus $26,933
Off-Campus $16,427

What will attending USC really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families get a better idea of the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the USC's net cost calculator on their website.

University of Southern California Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Students cannot pay tuition in installments. Contact the financial aid office to verify this and discuss options.

Does USC Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to offset the cost of attending. Some schools offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student.

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.


Learn More About University of Southern California


Choose one of the options below to find out more about about USC:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

Visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about USC

USC Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

$79,393

In State

$79,393

Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$60,446
$60,446
Fees
$1,015
$1,015
Housing
$16,732
$16,732
Books
$1,200
$1,200

USC Financial Aid

Students Who Receive Need-Based Aid

36%

Average Financial Aid Package

$58,105

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

49,318

Campus Setting

Urban

Acceptance Rate

13%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$61,461

Out-of-State

$61,461

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Unknown
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