Admission requirements and costs at a glance
University of Southern California is a private nonprofit university in Los Angeles, California, founded in 1880. It is a large institution with roughly 21,000 undergraduates on an urban campus, a student-faculty ratio of 9:1 and a six-year graduation rate of about 92%.
Admission is highly selective: the university admits roughly one applicant in four or fewer, with a reported acceptance rate near 10%. Students who enrol typically present SAT scores in the 1450-1540 range or ACT results of 33-35. Those ranges describe the middle half of enrolled students, which means a quarter of them scored below the lower figure — a score outside the range does not by itself decide an application.
Published tuition is about $69,904 per year and applies to every student regardless of the state they live in, which is the normal pattern at private universities. The figure excludes housing, food, books and fees, and institutional aid frequently reduces it substantially — run the university's net price calculator before treating it as the price you would pay.
Test policy: Test-optional. Submit scores only if they sit at or above the enrolled range shown above; otherwise apply without them and let the transcript carry the file. Note that merit scholarships and honours colleges sometimes keep a score requirement the admission office has dropped.
The regular application deadline is January 15, with an early round on November 1 (Early Action). The application fee is $90, and fee waivers are available for applicants with documented financial need.
University of Southern California is institutionally accredited by WSCUC, which is what makes its credits transferable and its students eligible for federal financial aid. Our guide to accreditation in the United States explains how to verify this independently and why programme-level accreditation matters separately for licensed fields.
Key facts
| Location | Los Angeles, California |
|---|---|
| Control | Private nonprofit |
| Founded | 1880 |
| Campus setting | Urban |
| Undergraduates | 21,000 |
| Total enrolment | 49,000 |
| Acceptance rate | 10% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1450-1540 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 33-35 |
| Test policy | Test-optional |
| Tuition, in-state | $69,904 |
| Tuition, out-of-state | $69,904 |
| Application fee | $90 |
| Regular deadline | January 15 |
| Early deadline | November 1 (Early Action) |
| Graduation rate | 92% |
| Student-faculty ratio | 9:1 |
| Institutional accreditor | WSCUC |
Editorial estimates, reviewed 2026-09-20. Official source: https://www.usc.edu
Commonly chosen programmes
- Business Administration
- Communication
- Computer Science
- Cinematic Arts
Programme availability, prerequisites and internal admission standards differ from the university-wide figures above. Competitive majors such as computer science, engineering, nursing and business frequently admit a far smaller share of applicants than the institution as a whole, and some require a separate application after the first year.
How to apply
- Confirm the current deadline and test policy on the official admission page.
- Check the required secondary school coursework and whether your transcript meets it.
- Prepare the essay and any supplemental questions — see our essay guide.
- Ask for recommendation letters at least four weeks before the deadline.
- File the FAFSA from 1 October, and the CSS Profile if this university requires it.
- Track scholarship deadlines separately; they are often earlier than the admission deadline.
International applicants add English proficiency scores, certified translations of transcripts and a financial statement before the university can issue the Form I-20. Our international student guide covers the full sequence through the visa interview.
University of Southern California: frequently asked questions
Is it hard to get into University of Southern California?
University of Southern California is highly selective, with a reported acceptance rate of around 10%. Enrolled students typically present SAT scores in the 1450-1540 range or ACT results of 33-35. Selectivity also varies by programme, so check the specific college or major you intend to apply to.
How much does University of Southern California cost per year?
Published tuition is about $69,904 for all students. That figure excludes housing, food, books, fees and insurance, so the full cost of attendance is higher. Financial aid and scholarships frequently reduce what a family actually pays; use the university's net price calculator for a personal estimate.
Does University of Southern California require the SAT or ACT?
Test-optional. Test policies have changed repeatedly in recent admission cycles, so confirm the current requirement on the official admission page before registering for an exam.
What is the application deadline for University of Southern California?
The regular deadline is January 15 and the early round is November 1 (Early Action). The application fee is $90. Programme-specific deadlines for art, music, architecture and nursing are often earlier.