CollegeScout
Private

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA
Visit website
Admit Rate
10%* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)Ultra-Selective
GPA Range (Unweighted)
3.85 - 4.00
Cost of Attendance
$90,300
per year, before aid
Test Policy
SAT/ACT optional† (source: USC Undergraduate Admission · 2026-27 · accessed Sep 23, 2026)

Optional, and considered when sent — USC records the highest scores when a test was taken more than once. Not test-blind.

Data sourced from IPEDS, Institutional Website, for the record as a whole — figures marked with a star are sourced separately, as noted at the bottom of the page. Testing policy and deadlines checked against the college's own pages on Oct 18, 2026.

Preparation

Helpful high school preparation
AP Calculus BCAP MacroeconomicsAP English LiteratureAP Physics C

This is helpful preparation, not a formal admission requirement.

Admissions

How admission works here

Where you apply
The Common App. Common App requirements grid
Test scores
Submitting SAT or ACT scores is optional. Optional, and considered when sent — USC records the highest scores when a test was taken more than once. Not test-blind. USC Undergraduate Admission
Essays
The Common App personal essay is required. Common App requirements grid
Recommendations
a counselor recommendation, a mid-year report. Common App requirements grid
Portfolio
Portfolios go through SlideRoom. Common App requirements grid
Application fee
$85. The Common App fee waiver is accepted. Common App requirements grid
Deadlines
Early Decision (binding) November 1, Early Action November 1, Regular Decision January 10 (Performing-arts majors have a single December 1 Regular Decision deadline instead; January 10 is the final deadline for all other majors). USC Undergraduate Admission
Overall
10%* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)
In-State
11%* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)
Out-of-State
9%* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)

Overall is College Scorecard's verified figure and won't necessarily sit between the separately-reported In-State/Out-of-State rates shown here, which are what My Fit uses to classify your chances.

Mid-50% Unweighted GPA
3.85 - 4.00
Mid-50% SAT
1450 - 1550
SAT/ACT optional
Top 10 majors
  1. 1Management Science
  2. 2Computer Science
  3. 3Human Biology
  4. 4Speech Communication and Rhetoric
  5. 5Psychology
  6. 6Quantitative Economics
  7. 7International Relations and Affairs
  8. 8Political Science
  9. 9Real Estate Development
  10. 10Computational and Applied Mathematics

Ordered by how many students graduated in each, 2023-24. Source: U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS Completions survey). Names are the federal categories, so University of Southern California may call a major something slightly different.

Applying

Application Deadlines† (source: USC Undergraduate Admission · 2026-27 · accessed Sep 23, 2026)
Early Decision
November 1 · Binding
Early Action
November 1 · Non-binding
Regular Decision
January 10 · Non-binding
Performing-arts majors have a single December 1 Regular Decision deadline instead; January 10 is the final deadline for all other majors.

Applying through the Common App

Application fee
$85
Common App fee waiver
Accepted
Common App personal essay
Required
Portfolios collected through
SlideRoom
Recommendations
counselor recommendation, mid-year report

Source: Common App requirements grid, updated 2026-09-18. Anything not listed here wasn't stated in the grid, which is not the same as not required.

Essay details are being verified

College-specific prompts can change each application cycle. Check the school's official application page for the latest requirements.

View official application requirements

Music & Sports Tracks

Music

  • USC Thornton applicants must finish both the USC application and the Thornton SlideRoom portfolio by December 1, 2026, for fall entry.Thornton Undergraduate Admissions
  • Thornton's Strings page says Early Decision and Early Action are not available for undergraduate Thornton majors, and string prescreens must be unedited video.Strings (Undergraduate) requirements

Sports

NCAA Division I (FBS)
Varsity sports (13)
BaseballBasketballBeach volleyballFootballGolfLacrosseRowingSoccerSwimming and divingTennisTrack and field and cross countryVolleyballWater polo
U.S. Department of Education, Equity in Athletics data (2024-25)
How music and sports fit into an application

Academics

Flagship Programs

School of Cinematic Arts (SCA)Marshall School of Business / World Bachelor in BusinessViterbi School of Engineering

Career & Major Pathways

Primary Disciplines
BusinessEngineeringCinematic ArtsCommunication and Journalism
Interdisciplinary Pathways
World Bachelor in Business (WBB)Iovine and Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of InnovationProgressive Degree Programs (BA/MA)BS Artificial Intelligence for Business (BUAI) — joint Marshall/Viterbi degree

Cost

Cost of attendance, per year
$90,300* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)

This is the full yearly cost before any financial aid. What your family would actually pay is in the Financial Aid section. Cost figures are approximate, so confirm current numbers on the college's website.

Tuition only (part of the cost above)
Tuition $72,097* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)

Financial Aid

What families actually paid, by household income

Average for students who received federal aid. Your own figure depends on your family's finances and the aid this school offers you.

Under $30,000
$13,516
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,394
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,539
$75,001 – $110,000
$24,976
Over $110,000
$56,116

College Scorecard (latest.cost.net_price.private.by_income_level.*), 2024

Estimate what your family would pay

Every school is required to publish a net price calculator. It asks about your family's finances and returns an estimate for you specifically, which is worth more than any average on this page. Your school counselor and the college's financial aid office can also help.

Scholarships and merit aid

USC automatically considers EA applicants for merit scholarships with no separate application, but with such a huge applicant pool the strongest awards go to students who apply by the early deadline with a clearly distinctive academic record.

Campus

Campus Fit

Location
Los Angeles, CA· Urban
Undergraduates
20,630
Setting
Urban
In a fraternity or sorority
Not publicly reported
Living on campus
36% of students

*College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education) · 2024

†USC Undergraduate Admission · 2026-27 · accessed Sep 23, 2026

Suggest a correction for this page