University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California · Private · 20,443 undergraduates · usc.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
11%
of 83,488 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1470 to 1540
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$98,830Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at University of Southern California
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
11% of applicants admitted
Reach
It admits only 11% of applicants, so it's a reach for everyone.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$98,830
a year in 2027-28, from a $98,830 sticker price
What to do with your 1510
Send your score
About 58% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1400, and yours is above it.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
- Send official score reports when you apply.
Source: First-Year Application Process (USC Dornsife admission) · Checked October 16, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov1Early Action · November 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Nov1Early Decision · November 1, 2026Binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll.
- Dec1Regular Decision · December 1, 2026The standard deadline.
- Jan10Regular Decision · January 10, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
11%
of applicants were admitted: 9,345 of 83,488 for fall 2025.
Early Action
Not binding. Apply by 11/1.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 33% of them sent SAT scores and 12% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1470 to 1540
Reading and Writing 720 to 760
Math 740 to 790
ACT composite 32 to 35
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 160095%
- 1200 to 13995.1%
- 1000 to 11990.4%
- 800 to 9990%
- 600 to 7990%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.85
- 4.028%
- 3.75 to 3.9952%
- 3.50 to 3.7414%
- 3.25 to 3.493.5%
- 3.00 to 3.241.1%
- 2.50 to 2.990.7%
- Below 2.500.2%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$98,830
a year
- Tuition$72,080
- Fees$2,210
- Food and housing$20,770
- Books and supplies$1,300
- Transportation and other$2,470
University of Southern California published $91,371 for 2025-26. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$17,171
- $30,001 to $48,000$13,736
- $48,001 to $75,000$18,282
- $75,001 to $110,000$28,033
- Over $110,000$59,062
Financial aid
99%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$56,128
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
16%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $21,399 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Required. It's a second, more detailed aid form some colleges use for their own grants.
- Aid priority date: 2/17
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
- Also asks for
- checked, not specified
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
USC National Merit scholarship
$20,000 a year
National Merit
Deadline: Name this college your first choice with NMSC.
Details
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
37 of 37
Earn credit with a score of 3
None
You need a 4 or 5 for credit here.
A 3-credit course is worth
about $7,210Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 4 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 4 |
| Art History | 4 | 4 |
| Biology | 4 | 4 |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 4 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 4 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 4 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 4 |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 4 |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 4 |
| Drawing | 4 | 4 |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 4 |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 4 |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 4 |
| European History | 4 | 4 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 4 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 4 |
| Human Geography | 4 | 4 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 4 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 4 |
| Latin | 4 | 4 |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 4 |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 4 |
| Music Theory | 4 | 4 |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 4 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 |
| Psychology | 4 | 4 |
| Seminar | 4 | 4 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 4 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 4 |
| Statistics | 4 | 4 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 4 |
| United States History | 4 | 4 |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 4 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
90%
Come back for a second year
96%
Typical earnings
$103,420
a year, 10 years after starting here
- University of Southern California$115,806
- All colleges$71,390
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 54 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with University of Southern California. The University of Southern California logo is a trademark of the college.