University of Southern California: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Los Angeles, California · Private nonprofit · Most selective · CDS 2024-2025
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University of Southern California is a private nonprofit university in Los Angeles, California that admits about 10% of applicants, making it a most selective school. The average family pays about $32,740 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Communication and Media Studies and Computer Science, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 92% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 24.2 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
University of Southern California is a private institution located in Los Angeles, California and one of the most selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Southern California admits fewer than 1 in 10 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 10%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1495 and an ACT composite around 34. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $32,740 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What parents should know about University of Southern California right now
The University of Southern California, founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, is a private research university in Los Angeles and the oldest private research university in California. USC enrolls more than 47,000 students and is a member of the Association of American Universities, with distinctive strengths in cinematic arts, business, engineering, and communication. The School of Cinematic Arts is widely considered the top film school in the country, the Marshall School of Business has built a reputation for entrepreneurship and accounting, and the Viterbi School of Engineering is a leader in computer science and artificial intelligence research. For parents, two recent shifts matter most. First, USC joined the Big Ten Conference for athletics beginning in the 2024-25 academic year, which has changed the campus event calendar, travel for student-athletes, and family weekend planning. Second, the Affordability Initiative announced in 2023 expanded need-based aid so that admitted students from families earning up to $80,000 typically pay no tuition, with home equity excluded from the aid calculation, a significant policy update for middle-income families. USC continued a test-optional policy in recent cycles for most undergraduate programs, though some scholarship and program tracks recommend submission. Application strategy notes for parents include the early November scholarship deadline and the rolling early-action notification timeline used for some merit consideration.
What GPA does my child need for University of Southern California?
78% of enrolled students at University of Southern California had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.8, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What does University of Southern California weight in admissions?
University of Southern California reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Standardized test scores
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
SAT and ACT scores University of Southern California typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 740–790, with an EBRW midpoint near 720. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 32–35. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.
| 25th percentile | — |
| 50th percentile | 1495 |
| 75th percentile | — |
| % submitting SAT | 30% |
| 25th percentile | 32 |
| 50th percentile | 33 |
| 75th percentile | 35 |
| % submitting ACT | 12% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 73% |
| Top 25% of class | 94% |
| Top 50% of class | 99% |
| % submitting class rank | 24% |
How much does University of Southern California actually cost?
Published tuition is $72,097 for in-state students and $72,097 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $19,931 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $32,740 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 22% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $66,640 |
| Room and board | $19,200 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $32,740 |
| Application fee | $85 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Southern California
| Regular deadline | 1/15 |
| Notification date | 1-Apr |
| Reply deadline | 1-May |
| Offers Early Action | Yes (Restrictive) |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from University of Southern California?
These predict outcomes at University of Southern California better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at University of Southern California
The most popular undergraduate programs at University of Southern California, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Communication and Media Studies and Computer Science. Across all programs, University of Southern California confers roughly 2,449 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $104,833 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 832 | $104,833 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 326 | $77,431 |
| Computer Science | 287 | $180,906 |
| Human Biology | 261 | $80,692 |
| Economics | 210 | $98,555 |
| Psychology, General | 183 | $67,060 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 178 | $53,923 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 172 | — |
Is University of Southern California safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), University of Southern California disclosed 494 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 24.2 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 58 violent offenses and 51 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at University of Southern California?
About 36% of undergraduates at University of Southern California live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 2% of men join a fraternity and 12% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in California parents ask about
- University of California-Davis42% acceptance
- University of California-Irvine29% acceptance
- University of California-San Diego27% acceptance
- University of California-Santa Barbara33% acceptance
- University of California-Santa Cruz66% acceptance
- University of California-Riverside76% acceptance
- University of California-Merced91% acceptance
- California Institute of Technology3% acceptance
Next steps for University of Southern California
Common questions parents ask about University of Southern California
What GPA do I need for University of Southern California?
78% of enrolled students at University of Southern California had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.8, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does University of Southern California typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 740–790, with an EBRW midpoint near 720. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 32–35.
How much does University of Southern California actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Southern California after grants and scholarships is $32,740 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $72,097. Budget against the net figure.
Is University of Southern California realistic for my child?
University of Southern California admits 10% of applicants, so 740–790 SAT Math is target range and below 740 is a reach. Then check the $32,740 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Southern California?
University of Southern California accepts about 10% of applicants out of roughly 82,027 who apply each year. That makes it a most selective school.
Is University of Southern California test-optional?
Yes. University of Southern California is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at University of Southern California?
About 92% of students at University of Southern California graduate within six years, and 75% finish in four years. 96% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does University of Southern California look for in applicants?
University of Southern California rates course rigor, GPA, test scores and the application essay as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is University of Southern California a public or private school, and where is it located?
University of Southern California is a private nonprofit institution located in Los Angeles, California.
What are the most popular majors at University of Southern California?
The largest undergraduate majors at University of Southern California by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Communication and Media Studies and Computer Science. The school awards about 2,449 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is University of Southern California safe? What is its campus crime rate?
University of Southern California reported 494 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 24.2 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at University of Southern California?
At University of Southern California, 36% of undergraduates live on campus, 2% of men are in fraternities, 12% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Southern California, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers