University of Southern California
School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More
About University of Southern California
School Type: Private
Religious Affiliation: Not applicable
Status: Non-profit
Military Friendly: Yes
Accreditation: regional
The University of Southern California is a large private university located on an urban campus in Los Angeles, California. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 20,790, and admissions are extremely selective, with an acceptance rate of 13%. The university offers 125 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 92%, and a student-faculty ratio of 9:1. Tuition and fees for students are $60,446.
Rankings
Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.
- #1 Ranked in Best Occupational Therapy Programs of 2022
- #1 Ranked in Best Online Master's in Public Relations Programs
- #1 Ranked in Master's in Communication Degree Programs
- #1 Ranked in Best Public Relations and Image Management Programs
- #1 Ranked in Best Industrial Engineering Programs
- #2 Ranked in Best Online Master's in Counseling Programs of 2022
- #2 Ranked in Best Master's in Public Relations and Image Management Programs
- #3 Ranked in Best Online Master's in Biomedical Engineering Programs
- #3 Ranked in Best Online Master's in Data Science Programs of 2022
- #6 Ranked in Best Online Master's in Social Work Programs for 2024
- #9 Ranked in Best Master's in Project Management Online 2024
Admissions Breakdown
Acceptance Rate Insight
13% of students were accepted during the 2021-2022 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.
Retention Rate Insight
96% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2020 and returned in Fall 2021.
Graduation Rate Insight
92% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2015. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.
Application Considerations
Test scoresConsidered (not required)
High school transcriptRequired
High school rankNot required or recommended
Letter of recommendationRequired
High school GPARequired
Open admissionNo
Completion of college prep programRequired
Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL)Required
Transfer Credit Policy
Dual enrollmentImplied no
Credit for qualified life experience*Implied no
Advance placement (AP) creditsYes
*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.
SAT & ACT
ACT 25th-75th Percentile32-35
SAT 25th-75th Percentile1410-1540
Learning Environment
Student Body Stats
50k
Students enrolled
46%
Online student enrollment
9:1
Student to faculty ratio
Ways Students Can Learn
Demographics
White
27%
Unknown
4%
Black
6%
Hispanic
16%
Two or more races
4%
Non-U.S. Citizen
24%
Asian
19%
American Indian/Alaska Native
0%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
Socio-economic diversity
21% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.
Online Programs
Offers Online Programs
Yes
Online Programs
90
Total Online Enrollment
22,847
Student Location Breakout
Bar graph visual depicting student location breakout percentages.46% online, 54% on-campus.
Percent of Programs Online
82% On-campus
18% Online
Types of Online Programs Offered
CertificatesNot offered
AssociateNot offered
Bachelor'sNot offered
Graduate Certificate21% online
Master's34% online
Doctorate9% online
Student Charges
Tuition and Required Fees
| Student Level | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $59,784 | $59,784 |
| Graduate | $54,672 | $54,672 |
Cost of Undergraduate Attendance
Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2021–2022 academic year.
| Costs to Consider | Price |
|---|---|
| Books and supplies | $1,200 |
| On-campus room and board | $17,758 |
| On-campus other expenses | $2,600 |
| Off-campus (not with family) room and board | Currently unavailable |
| Off-campus (not with family) other expenses | Currently unavailable |
| Off-campus (with family) other expenses | Currently unavailable |
Total Undergraduate Cost
| Total cost by category | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| On-campus | $81,342 | $81,342 |
| Off-campus without family | $60,984 | $60,984 |
| Off-campus with family | $60,984 | $60,984 |
Financial Breakdown
Students Receiving Aid
Federal Grant Aid
40%
State Grant Aid
13%
Institution Grant Aid
71%
Pell Grant
21%
Average Aid Awarded
Financial Outlook
$18k
Average student debtafter graduation
$61k
Average salary 6 years after starting school
Varsity Athletic Teams
NCAA Division I-FCS
of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.
Participation
- All Track Combined
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Football
- Golf
- Swimming Diving
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
- Beach Volleyball
- Lacrosse
- Rowing
- Soccer
Degrees Awarded by Program
Degrees given for the 2021-2022 academic year.
| # | Programs | BA | MA | Doc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Architecture And Related Services. | |||
| 2 | Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies. | |||
| 3 | Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies. | |||
| 4 | Biological And Biomedical Sciences. | |||
| 5 | Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services. | |||
| 6 | Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs. | |||
| 7 | Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services. | |||
| 8 | Education. | |||
| 9 | Engineering Technologies/Technicians. | |||
| 10 | Engineering. | |||
| 11 | Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians. | |||
| 12 | English Language And Literature/Letters. | |||
| 13 | Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences. | |||
| 14 | Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics. | |||
| 15 | Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences. | |||
| 16 | Health Professions And Related Programs. | |||
| 17 | History | |||
| 18 | History. | |||
| 19 | Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting And Related Protective Services. | |||
| 20 | Legal Professions And Studies. | |||
| 21 | Library Science. | |||
| 22 | Mathematics And Statistics. | |||
| 23 | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies. | |||
| 24 | Natural Resources And Conservation. | |||
| 25 | Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies. | |||
| 26 | Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology. | |||
| 27 | Philosophy And Religious Studies. | |||
| 28 | Physical Sciences. | |||
| 29 | Psychology. | |||
| 30 | Public Administration And Social Service Professions. | |||
| 31 | Social Sciences. | |||
| 32 | Theology And Religious Vocations. | |||
| 33 | Transportation And Materials Moving. | |||
| 34 | Visual And Performing Arts. |
Explore Rankings
Explore More Resources
Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2021-2022]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.