Admit rate has ranged 10%–16% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
The University of Southern California is a powerhouse of ambition and access, a sprawling private research university that has leveraged its prime Los Angeles location into a dominant force in media, business, and technology. With a fiercely competitive 10% acceptance rate and a student body of over 20,000 undergraduates, USC cultivates a culture that is simultaneously elite and entrepreneurial, where the social energy of a major sports school collides with the professional intensity of its top-ranked cinematic arts, business, and engineering programs. It's a place where the Trojan Family network isn't just a slogan—it's a tangible, coast-to-coast engine for career placement, fueled by a staggering 92% graduation rate and median earnings approaching six figures a decade out.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
Demonstrated competencies
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
Key deadlines (2026-2027)
Early Action — Early Action (for all majors)
November 1, 2026
Regular Decision — Regular Decision
January 15, 2027
Financial Aid — CSS Profile Priority Deadline
February 10, 2027
More details
Undergrad enrollment
20,443
In-state tuition
$72,097
Out-of-state tuition
$72,097
No-Loan Policy
No
Graduation Rate
92%
Meets Full Need
Yes
ED Share of Class
Not in sources (USC has Early Action, not ED)
First-Year Retention
Not in sources
Demonstrated Interest
Not considered
Median Earnings (10yr)
$92,498
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$92,498
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.8×
Median debt at graduation
$18,000
Graduation rate
92%
First-year retention
96%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
80%
Pell (lower-income) share
22%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
25%
Financial health
2.5 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Computer Software and Media Applications$108,649
Computer Science$91,986
Computer Engineering$90,602
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$80,567
Industrial Engineering$78,029
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
Applicants here also applied to
The schools that most often appear alongside USC on applicants’ lists, from our self-reported outcomes corpus.
Co-application frequency from self-reported results — directional peer discovery, not a recommendation.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
45
Per 1,000 students
0.97
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
243
Summer high
81°F
Winter low
45°F
Annual rain
17.3"
Natural-hazard risk
Very High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
1,458
Scholarly works
273,684
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
3.9%
Bottom → top quintile
55%
From bottom quintile
7%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at University of Southern California?
University of Southern California's acceptance rate is approximately 10% (Los Angeles, CA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for University of Southern California?
Admitted students at University of Southern California typically score 1450–1550 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does University of Southern California cost?
At University of Southern California, the average net price (after aid) is about $32,740 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend University of Southern California?
University of Southern California enrolls approximately 20,443 undergraduate students.
Where is University of Southern California located?
University of Southern California is located in Los Angeles, CA.
Admissions
Gaining admission to USC is an increasingly formidable challenge, reflecting its rise into the upper echelon of selective national universities. For the most recent cycle, the university received 83,488 applications, a significant 18% increase from the previous year's 71,031. The admit rate has tightened considerably, bottoming out at 9.8% before rising slightly. Of those admitted, about 40.3% choose to enroll, indicating a strong where USC is often the first choice. The academic profile of the entering class is exceptional: the average unweighted GPA is 3.85, and the middle 50% SAT range is 1470–1570 (super-scored), with 39% of enrollees having submitted SAT or ACT scores. Notably, USC employs a non-binding Early Action program, not Early Decision. The Early Action is markedly lower than the regular decision pool, reported as roughly 7.2% to 9.5% in recent years—a strategic advantage for highly committed applicants. According to its , USC does not consider 'demonstrated interest' in its admissions evaluations, meaning campus visits, contact with admissions officers, and similar engagement are not factored into decisions. The primary drivers are academic: rigor of secondary school record, class rank, GPA, standardized test scores (though ), and the application essay.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$75,832
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions$74,845
Civil Engineering$74,576
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
USC's academic structure is decentralized and vast, comprising 23 distinct schools and academic divisions that offer a sweeping range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional majors. This setup allows for deep specialization and fosters a culture of interdisciplinary ambition. The university is particularly renowned for its pre-professional and creative powerhouse programs. As noted by The Princeton Review, "programs in journalism, business, engineering, and architecture are particularly notable," a nod to the stature of the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, the Marshall School of Business, the Viterbi School of Engineering, and the School of Architecture. The cinematic arts programs at the School of Cinematic Arts are legendary, effectively functioning as a direct pipeline to Hollywood. Beyond these flagships, the curriculum is broad, with popular majors including Management Sciences and Information Systems, Biology, and Computer Science. A look at the most popular majors for recent graduates reveals a student body leaning heavily toward immediate career pathways: 23% graduated in Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; 12% in Visual and Performing Arts; and another 12% in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs. The university also supports rigorous honors programs described as "very" competitive and enriching.
Life at USC is defined by a palpable, positive energy and a staggering array of options. The campus culture is repeatedly described by students as "very friendly and welcoming" with "a lot of diversity in identities and in interests." One student summarized the general vibe as "very social and friendly. Everyone is willing to talk to others and other students can relate to one another easily." The physical campus itself is a point of pride, noted for being beautiful with a cohesive color theme and architectural style. The activity calendar is perpetually full, driven by a massive collection of over 1,000 student-run organizations. As the official campus life page states, "Life on campus stays in motion. Student-run activities, exclusive film screenings, research showcases, open mic nights, outdoor yoga, pop-up shops — you name it." This is complemented by major events like sports games (with strong school spirit around Trojan athletics), concerts, carnivals, food festivals, and cultural events. The Office of Student Life is a dedicated collective of departments and programs aimed at supporting the student journey, offering resources for jobs, spaces, support, and community building. The social scene is robust, offering everything from Greek life to niche academic clubs, all set against the backdrop of Los Angeles, which serves as an extended campus for internships, entertainment, and cultural exploration.
USC's investment pays off in demonstrably strong outcomes for its graduates, a key pillar of its value proposition. The university boasts an outstanding 92% graduation rate, with students typically earning their degrees in about 4.2 years. This high completion rate sets the stage for successful career launches. While median earnings shortly after graduation are reported around $63,275, the long-term financial payoff is substantial. According to a return-on-investment analysis, USC graduates earn a median of $92,498 ten years after entry, a figure that significantly outpaces the national median. The university's Career Center provides detailed outcomes tools, allowing users to review placement by employer, industry, graduate program, and salary for recent classes. This data-driven approach underscores the strength of the 'Trojan Family' network, which actively facilitates employment in competitive fields like entertainment, technology, finance, and consulting. The combination of a prestigious degree, a powerful alumni network, and Los Angeles's job market creates a formidable launchpad for graduates.
As a premier private university, USC carries a high sticker price, but it is committed to mitigating that cost through substantial financial aid. The university guarantees to meet 100% of the demonstrated financial need for all admitted undergraduate students, regardless of their financial background. This commitment is a cornerstone of its aid policy. The aid package is typically composed of a combination of grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans. It's important to note that USC's policy is to meet full need, but it is not a 'no-loan' policy; federal and sometimes institutional loans can be part of the calculated package. For families, the critical figure is the average —the actual cost after grants and scholarships are applied. Various sources estimate this net price for undergraduates, with figures ranging from about $32,740 to $43,152. The university provides an official Net Price Calculator to give prospective students a personalized estimate based on their financial circumstances. Additionally, about 15% of each entering first-year class receives a merit-based scholarship from USC, separate from , recognizing exceptional academic, artistic, or athletic talent.
USC stands out for its unique synthesis of scale, location, and focused excellence. It's not just a university in Los Angeles; it is an institutional force that is deeply woven into the city's economic and cultural fabric. This integration is most visible in its world-leading schools for film, journalism, and business, which operate with the proximity and connectivity of a professional studio, newsroom, or corporate headquarters. Unlike many elite private schools that feel insular, USC embraces the energy and opportunity of its metropolis, encouraging students to build their resumes in real time through internships and projects. Yet, it counterbalances this outward focus with a remarkably strong and self-contained campus community—the celebrated 'Trojan Family'—known for being supportive, socially vibrant, and fiercely loyal. This creates a dual identity: a hard-charging, pre-professional training ground and a classic collegiate experience with intense school spirit, beautiful grounds, and a tight-knit feel. The result is a university that produces graduates who are not only well-credentialed but also exceptionally networked and pragmatically prepared to lead in industries that define the modern world.
University of Southern California seal · sourceUniversity of Southern California (USC) | Enrollment, History, & Alumni | Britannica · sourceHow to Access Campus - USC · sourceVisit USC - USC · source
