Private not-for-profit · City: Large
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California
Detailed ICP profile · Partial Common Data Set research. Each figure has its own reporting year. This is a research snapshot, not a live update.
At a glance
- 2026–27 published cost
- $103,162
- Any state of residence · On campus · before aid · estimate
- Details about 2026–27 published cost ↓
Admissions
Historical admissions describe the reported applicant pool, not your chances. Early-plan applicants form different pools.
Applicants admitted
Unavailable
No verified figure available. Missing does not mean zero.
Academic profile of entering students
Scores and GPA describe past students, not current requirements. Reporting methods and populations differ.
SAT middle 50%
1,470–1,540
Fall 2025
Enrolled students who submitted SAT scores. Not a required range or personal admission prediction.
About the 25th percentile: SAT 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
University of Southern California Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted SAT scores
About the 75th percentile: SAT 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
University of Southern California Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted SAT scores
ACT middle 50%
32–35
Fall 2025
Enrolled students who submitted ACT scores. Not a required range or personal admission prediction.
About the 25th percentile: ACT 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
University of Southern California Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted ACT scores
About the 75th percentile: ACT 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
University of Southern California Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted ACT scores
Average reported high-school GPA
3.85
Fall 2025
Among GPA reporters. Weighting and scale may vary; not a required or verified unweighted GPA.
About this number: Average reported high-school GPA
Schools report GPA differently. This mean cannot be compared as a universal scale or used as an admission cutoff.
University of Southern California Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: first year enrollees reporting high school gpa
More academics statistics (11)
SAT reading/writing · 25th percentile
720
Fall 2025
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: SAT reading/writing · 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
University of Southern California Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted SAT scores
SAT reading/writing · 75th percentile
760
Fall 2025
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: SAT reading/writing · 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
University of Southern California Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted SAT scores
SAT math · 25th percentile
740
Fall 2025
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: SAT math · 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
University of Southern California Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted SAT scores
SAT math · 75th percentile
790
Fall 2025
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: SAT math · 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
University of Southern California Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted SAT scores
SAT submitter share
33.0%
Fall 2025
Share of the source-defined enrolled group submitting this test.
About this number: SAT submitter share
Submission rates depend on the reported population and policy at that time, not today’s testing requirement.
University of Southern California Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students
ACT submitter share
12.0%
Fall 2025
Share of the source-defined enrolled group submitting this test.
About this number: ACT submitter share
Submission rates depend on the reported population and policy at that time, not today’s testing requirement.
University of Southern California Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students
Share reporting GPA
99.9%
Fall 2025
Share of the entering group with reported GPA.
About this number: Share reporting GPA
The average reported GPA may describe only this subset; weighting and scale are source-specific.
University of Southern California Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students
Share reporting class rank
30.0%
Fall 2025
Among students reporting class rank; nonreporters are not assumed to have a rank.
About this number: Share reporting class rank
Schools use different ranking systems. Check the reported population rather than treating this as an admission threshold.
University of Southern California Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students
Top tenth of high-school class
69.0%
Fall 2025
Among students reporting class rank; nonreporters are not assumed to have a rank.
About this number: Top tenth of high-school class
Schools use different ranking systems. Check the reported population rather than treating this as an admission threshold.
University of Southern California Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students
Top quarter of high-school class
89.0%
Fall 2025
Among students reporting class rank; nonreporters are not assumed to have a rank.
About this number: Top quarter of high-school class
Schools use different ranking systems. Check the reported population rather than treating this as an admission threshold.
University of Southern California Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students
Top half of high-school class
98.0%
Fall 2025
Among students reporting class rank; nonreporters are not assumed to have a rank.
About this number: Top half of high-school class
Schools use different ranking systems. Check the reported population rather than treating this as an admission threshold.
University of Southern California Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students
Costs & financial aid
Compare the year and population before comparing prices. Published budgets, group averages and your actual aid offer are different.
2026–27 cost of attendance
Published by University of Southern California$103,162
Published cost of attendance · per year, before financial aid
- 2026–27
- School estimate
This budget assumes
- Any state of residence
- On campus
- USC standard meal plan (average)
- All undergraduates
What the school includes
- Tuition (12-18 units for two semesters)
- $75,384
- Fees
- $1,952
- Housing
- $13,510
- Food
- $8,442
- Books/Supplies
- $670
- Transportation
- $1,188
- Personal/Misc
- $2,016
- Published total
- $103,162
Not included in this total
- New student fee (first semester, footnote )(only if it applies)$450
$450 new student fee for first semester (footnote ***) is NOT included in the total; health insurance not listed.
This is the school’s budget before financial aid. It is not a bill, the federal average net price, or your own aid offer.
About this budget
- The school calls these 2026–27 figures estimates. They can change when the school finalizes them.
- ICP’s earlier hand review of this school’s 2026–27 budgets recorded the same figures.
- Source: Cost of Attendance (2026-2027 Estimate of Cost of Attendance) (USC Financial Aid Services). Researched October 21, 2026; independently audited October 22, 2026.
Research notes: Estimate for two semesters; full-time undergraduate 12-18 units/semester.
Understand the five kinds of college costs
- Tuition & fees
- Instruction and required college fees; living costs are additional unless explicitly included.
- Attendance budget
- College charges plus estimated living, books, travel and other included expenses, before aid.
- Average annual cost after grants & scholarships
- A historical average after federal, state/local and college grant aid for a specified federal-aid population. Outside private scholarships are not automatically deducted; loans and work-study are not discounts.
- Your net cost
- Your entered attendance cost minus selected grants and scholarships. Loans and work-study remain funding sources.
- Borrowing
- Debt to repay, not a discount. Work-study is earned over time, not an upfront bill reduction.
Average annual cost after grants & scholarships
$33,056
2024–25
Includes applicable federal, state/local and college grants and scholarships. First-time, full-time students receiving federal financial aid form the reporting population. The attendance budget includes estimated living expenses. Your actual cost may differ.
About this number: Average annual cost after grants & scholarships
Federal average net price: average attendance cost (tuition, fees, books, supplies and living expenses) minus qualifying federal, state/local and institutional grants and scholarships for this population. Federal aid defines the reporting population, not the only aid deducted; some included students receive federal loans or work-study but no grants. This is a historical average, not a personalized award. Outside private scholarships are not automatically deducted. Loans and work-study are not subtracted. This is not tuition alone, an individual award, a guaranteed price or necessarily a college bill.
U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25
Who or what this describes: First-time, full-time students receiving federal financial aid at private institutions
More costs statistics (4)
Tuition & fees · in-state
$75,162
2025–26
Historical federal amount, before aid and living expenses.
About this number: Tuition & fees · in-state
Tuition and required fees are combined here. Do not add the institution’s separate fees again or confuse this with total attendance cost.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: In-state tuition and fees
Tuition & fees · out-of-state
$75,162
2025–26
Historical federal amount, before aid and living expenses.
About this number: Tuition & fees · out-of-state
This combines tuition and fees for the reported residency. It is separate from a differently dated institutional tuition figure.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Out-of-state tuition and fees
Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants
26.6%
2024–25
Source-defined undergraduate recipients; not an eligibility prediction.
About this number: Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants
This describes reported recipients, not whether your family qualifies.
U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25
Who or what this describes: Percentage of undergraduates who receive a Pell Grant
Undergraduates receiving federal loans
22.3%
2024–25
Borrowing participation; loans are debt, not grants.
About this number: Undergraduates receiving federal loans
A loan must generally be repaid and does not reduce net price. This is not a measure of the amount each student borrows.
U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25
Who or what this describes: Percent of all undergraduate students receiving a federal student loan
Campus & student outcomes
Enrollment, return rates and completion rates describe different source populations. They are not a measure of every student’s experience.
Undergraduate students
20,768
Fall 2025
Source-defined undergraduate headcount, not just first-year students.
About this number: Undergraduate students
Institutional reporting scope can include multiple schools or campuses. Federal and institutional counts can use different populations or dates.
University of Southern California Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: All undergraduates in the report
Students per faculty member
9
Fall 2025
A reporting ratio, not average class size.
About this number: Students per faculty member
Student and faculty inclusion rules vary. This does not tell you the size of a particular class or guarantee access to an instructor.
University of Southern California Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: student faculty ratio population
Returned after the first year
95.2%
Fall 2024 to Fall 2025
Source-defined entering cohort and enrollment population.
About this number: Returned after the first year
Retention measures continuation under the source rules, not graduation or satisfaction.
University of Southern California Common Data Set · Fall 2024 to Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: full time first time bachelors degree seeking
Graduated within six years
90.3%
Fall 2019
Reported entering cohort, not every student attending today.
About this number: Graduated within six years
A cohort completion rate describes the source-defined group over time; transfer and part-time populations can differ.
University of Southern California Common Data Set · Fall 2019
Who or what this describes: all
More campus and outcome statistics (7)
Undergraduate students · federal
20,630
Fall 2024
Fall 2024 undergraduate headcount, including full-time and part-time students.
About this number: Undergraduate students · federal
This is the source-defined institutional reporting unit, not a count of majors, degrees awarded or all graduate and undergraduate students.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Grand total
Students per faculty member · federal
9
Fall 2024
A reporting ratio, not average class size.
About this number: Students per faculty member · federal
This federal measure uses its own student and instructional-staff definitions. It is separate from class size.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Student-to-faculty ratio
Reported academic calendar
Semester
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: Reported academic calendar
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
Undergraduate research in federal reporting
Yes
2025–26
Historical service reporting; an unmarked option is not proof that research is unavailable.
About this number: Undergraduate research in federal reporting
The source describes a reported co-curricular option, not the full current research opportunities available to students. Verify current offerings directly.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
Study abroad reported
Yes
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: Study abroad reported
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
Academic & career counseling reported
Yes
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: Academic & career counseling reported
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
AP credit reported
Yes
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: AP credit reported
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
What could you study?
These examples come from historical bachelor’s degrees awarded, not a verified current-major catalog. Confirm current programs, campus and entry conditions with the college.
- Management Science
- Computer Science
- Human Biology
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric
- Psychology, General
Historical degree records & sources
Reported first-major bachelor’s credentials, not necessarily distinct graduates. Examples with the largest reported counts, including ties; no campus or classification totals are added together.
- Management Science
1,244 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Computer Science
378 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Human Biology
292 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
255 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric
238 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Psychology, General
181 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- International Relations and Affairs
128 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Political Science and Government, General
120 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Journalism
118 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Mechanical Engineering
105 degrees awarded · 2024-25
Plan your application
Check current official instructions for testing, essays, recommendations and dates. Historical admissions outcomes are not application requirements. Early Decision can be binding; review the institution’s conditions before choosing it.
University of Southern California — SAT/ACT policy
Test-optional
SAT or ACT scores are not required for covered applicants. This label alone does not establish every score-reporting rule.
Fall 2027 · first-year domestic applicant research. Confirm your program and circumstances.
Conditions to check
- Fall 2027; applies to merit scholarship consideration.
Official source checked 2026-10-16. Policies can change.
Different applicant situation?
SAT/ACT and English proficiency are different requirements. Program, recruitment and scholarship rules may need separate confirmation.
Sources & research
Institutional Common Data Sets and federal statistics have different reporting periods and populations. Research snapshot: October 16–19, 2026. Missing values can reflect nonreporting, conflict, ambiguity or incomplete review; they are never zero. Institution earnings remain withheld under the research restrictions.
How ICP selects and explains data →