Los Angeles, CA
The University of Southern California opened on October 6, 1880, with an initial enrollment of 53 students. It is now organized into 23 schools and academic units across its University Park and Health Sciences campuses. USC's faculty have included recipients of the Nobel Prize, MacArthur Fellowships, and the National Medal.
Admissions
Test scores for the Fall 2025 entering class come from University of Southern California's own 2025-26 Common Data Set: 33% submitted SAT scores, 12% submitted ACT scores.
Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry
- Early Decision: Nov 1, 2026
- Early Action: Nov 1, 2026
- Regular Decision: Jan 10, 2027Dance, Music and Dramatic Arts majors have no early rounds and a Dec 1, 2026 deadline.
Confirm on University of Southern California's own admissions site before you apply.
Cost & outcomes
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Where do you stand against University of Southern California's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow University of Southern California weighs your application
From University of Southern California's own Common Data Set, 2025-26, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
What applicants who posted their results listed
118 self-reported applicant profiles from public posts, 2024–25 and 2025–26 admissions cycles: 50 admitted, 68 rejected or waitlisted. Figures read admitted vs. rejected or waitlisted.
Most common activities
Most common awards among admits
Who posted
The full breakdown, with what stood out: USC Accepted vs. Rejected Applicants →
These are people who chose to post their results publicly, mostly on Reddit -- a group that skews toward high scores and STEM. They describe posters, not University of Southern California's admitted class, and recruited athletes are left out. For official numbers, use the admissions figures above.
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what University of Southern California weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does University of Southern California look for in applicants?
Per University of Southern California's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates academic GPA, application essay, recommendations, character/personal qualities, rigor of secondary school record as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is University of Southern California's acceptance rate?
University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA admits approximately 10% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for University of Southern California?
Per University of Southern California's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1470–1540 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
What ACT score do I need for University of Southern California?
Per University of Southern California's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 32–35 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
How much does University of Southern California cost?
University of Southern California's total cost of attendance is reported at $90,300 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
When is the application deadline for University of Southern California?
University of Southern California's deadlines are Early Decision Nov 1, 2026; Early Action Nov 1, 2026; Regular Decision Jan 10, 2027, per its own published admissions calendar.
Does University of Southern California require students to live on campus?
No -- University of Southern California doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
Related reading
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