Introduction to USC
USC at a glance
Private Research University MISSION
1880 FOUNDED
Los Angeles LOCATION
21,000 UNDERGRADUATES
25,000 GRADUATE STUDENTS
1 LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE
10 PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS
6 SCHOOLS OF VISUAL/ PERFORMING/CREATIVE ARTS 1 ACADEMY
500,000+ ALUMNI WORLDWIDE
Are you ready to join this vibrant community?
As a private, research institution in the heart of a dynamic world center, the University of Southern California offers students a top-tier education unmatched anywhere else. From the ability to pursue interdisciplinary major and minor programs, to study abroad programs on nearly every continent, to abundant pre-professional and recreational opportunities in the city of Los Angeles, to a vibrant campus life that mirrors the breadth of the global community, students discover that USC becomes their passport to a whole new world of possibilities.
We offer world-class programs in virtually every field.
Trojan Voices
“With a USC degree, you will have the world at your fingertips! USC's degrees open doors that you couldn't imagine possible...”
KAITLYN SMITH FORT MILL, SOUTH CAROLINA
Academics
Since our founding in 1880, USC has grown into a top-tier private research institution, with all the resources of a large, urban university and the nurturing environment of a smaller college.
Trojan Voices
“The best thing about USC is the opportunity to pursue the many interests that I have. With over 250 minors to choose from and 18 academic schools, there is truly an opportunity for every student.”
HAYDEN AMERICUS RIVAS SOUTH SURREY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
Choose from more than 150 majors and over 250 minors that will allow you to pursue your passions and goals.
Participate in faculty-led or original research projects as soon as your first year and earn fellowships or scholarships to support your research.
Gain knowledge and insights from faculty members who are experts in their fields, and benefit from an intimate educational experience with an average class size of 25 students and a 9:1 student-faculty ratio.
At USC, you will learn from the best to become the best.
Global Perspective
Take advantage of a classroom without borders through a global education that offers unique opportunities to engage with other cultures and languages.
CITIES ACROSS SIX CONTINENTS WITH STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS
COUNTRIES REPRESENTED BY THE STUDENT POPULATION
Campus Life
Student Clubs and Organizations
Connect with fellow students and learn valuable skills through USC’s student clubs and organizations, including cultural and religious clubs; service-learning programs; and academic, recreational and professional organizations. campusactivities.usc.edu
Arts and Entertainment
Enjoy hundreds of film screenings, theatrical performances, art exhibitions and music concerts throughout the year. calendar.usc.edu
Athletics
USC has a proud tradition of supporting the scholar-athlete. More than 9,600 students participate in club sports and teams. And Trojans show their school spirit by cheering on our 23 Division I athletic teams, who have earned 139 national championships. recsports.usc.edu • usctrojans.com
View student housing options at USC Housing.
USC Village
The USC Village comprises a town center with 1.2 million square feet of retail and residential space, including a full-service grocery store, restaurants and recreational spaces. Eight residential colleges provide 2,700 beds for USC students. As a lively hub for social, residential and academic opportunities, the Village is the heart of the undergraduate experience at USC. housing.usc.edu • village.usc.edu
Living on Campus
As your home away from home, USC will allow you to find support and connection through the programs and services offered by USC housing. From specially themed floors to planned activities and
the opportunity to interact with faculty in residence, you will discover the resources you need to successfully transition to college life. Nearly 98 percent of first-year students choose to live on campus in our residence halls, suites and apartments. USC housing also includes required meal plans. housing.usc.edu
Dining
The USC campus and surrounding neighborhoods offer a wide array of dining options. Dining halls serve a variety of cuisines daily for residents of USC housing, including vegan, vegetarian and cultural options. Coffee shops, restaurants and markets offer a number of grab ’n’ go items. hospitality.usc.edu
Student Culture and Community Centers
USC’s Student Culture and Community centers are student support services and organizations that facilitate dialogue and community-building with a focus on belonging and well-being. Programs include:
• Asian Pacific American Student Services (APASS)
• Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs (CBCSA)
• First Generation Plus Success Center (FG+SC)
• La CASA
• LGBTQ+ Student Center
• Student Basic Needs
• Veterans Resource Center
• Middle Eastern North African (MENA) Lounge
• Native American Pasifika (NAPL) Lounge
youbelong.usc.edu
Los Angeles
At USC, you will live and thrive in the heart of a dynamic world center, home to one of the top 20 economies in the world, where more than 100 nationalities are represented and over 200 languages are spoken. You will find a range of recreational and cultural activities — from relaxing on the beach to attending plays, concerts and gallery showings — within a few miles of campus, and in some cases, right outside your front door. The city (and USC!) is also proud to be hosting the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.
Getting Around
Students have several ways to get around. Through USC's U-Pass program, students can receive free, unlimited rides on the city's bus and light rail lines. The Metro rail E Line connects the beaches and shops of Santa Monica with USC and Downtown. Rental services such as Zipcar and Enterprise provide inexpensive alternatives to owning a car. And the university’s Lyft Rides Program can get you home safely after hours.
If you prefer to bike around campus, USC provides numerous bike lanes and bike racks, making it a truly bike-friendly campus. transnet.usc.edu
Internship and Job Opportunities
The city also provides a wide array of opportunities for students looking for internships and jobs. Each year, more than 750 companies recruit on campus.
Through our Career Center, USC students also find countless internship opportunities throughout Hollywood, in tech companies along Silicon Beach, through engineering companies south of campus, in the financial and law offices of Downtown L.A., as well as in preceptorship opportunities at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and research studies at the USC Health Sciences Campus. careers.usc.edu
Trojan Family
For many of us, "family" is more than a matter of heritage. At USC, you will discover a whole new meaning for the word.
You will find camaraderie with individuals who share your interests, background and passions, as well as with those who can become partners in your academic and professional endeavors.
And when the greater USC community comes together for Game Days or special events, you will experience the inspiration and excitement of the Trojan Spirit — a feeling like no other!
Now more than 500,000 members strong, the Trojan Family will be there for you, lifelong and worldwide.
alumni.usc.edu
Trojan Voices
“The best thing about USC is the spirit!!! USC has incredible school spirit and the people here have shown me the most passionate "work hard, play hard" mentality. Game Days are so much fun and there are so many school events going on all the time.”
WAVERLY BAGLEY
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA
First-Year Students
We conduct a holistic review of your application that considers academic and personal characteristics. We will review your academic performance and the rigor of your program within the context of your school. We also consider your personal qualities, as revealed through involvement, leadership and essays. We look for students we believe will thrive at USC.
Visit admission.usc.edu/firstyear for more details.
2026 First-Year Student Profile* 2025-26
10,000 FALL ADMISSION OFFERS APPLICATIONS 79,300
3,650 SIZE OF ENTERING CLASS A- Average IN A RIGOROUS, COLLEGE PREP CURRICULUM
Transfer Applicants
Your academic record will be closely evaluated. In addition to maintaining strong grades, you should complete specific courses in college-level writing and mathematics and make consistent progress toward meeting USC Core Requirements, including foreign language (if required by your major) and General Education requirements, as well as lower-division courses required or recommended for your intended major.
Visit admission.usc.edu/transfer for more details.
* As of July 2026 * As of July 2026
Scan to view our Transferring to USC brochure.
Application Deadlines for Admission and Scholarships
First-Year Applicants
Early Decision
Early Action
November 1, 2026
Early Decision (ED) is binding and is intended for students who are committed to attending USC.
Early Action (EA) admission is non-binding and non-restrictive.
ED and EA are not available for the performing arts majors listed below.
Regular Decision
December 1, 2026
For performing arts majors
Deadline to apply for admission to the following programs:
Kaufman School of Dance
School of Dramatic Arts
Thornton School of Music
January 10, 2027
All other majors
Final first-year application deadline for all other programs.
ED admission decisions or deferrals to Regular
Admission will be released in December 2026. EA
Admission decisions or deferrals to Regular Decision will be released in January 2027.
Admission decisions for Regular Decision will be sent by April 1, 2027.
Transfer Applicants
Regular Decision
December 1, 2026
For some visual and performing arts majors
Transfer deadline to apply for admission to the following programs:
BFA Cinematic Arts
BFA Dramatic Arts
Kaufman School of Dance
Thornton School of Music
February 15, 2027
All other majors
Final transfer application deadline for all other programs.
All transfer candidates will receive either an admission decision or a request for spring grades by the end of May. If you receive a request for spring grades, you will be notified of an admission decision by mid-July.
Application Checklist and Requirements
The Common Application
USC uses the Common Application. Please visit admission.usc.edu/ commonapp for detailed information.
Application Checklist
The Common Application
Personal essay (first-year students) or transfer statement (transfer students)
Short answers
Activities list
Quick takes
Secondary school report (first-year students)
Letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor (first-year students)
Official transcripts*
Official SAT or ACT scores (optional)
Additional materials if required by major
Official English proficiency exam and proof of financial support (international students)
*Transfer applicants should submit:
A final high school transcript indicating their date of graduation
Official transcripts from ALL colleges or universities attended
We do not require the Common Application’s College Report.
USC’s Test-Optional Policy
Students who apply to the fall 2027 academic year will not be required to submit SAT or ACT scores, although they may still submit them if they wish. Applicants will not be penalized if they choose not to submit SAT or ACT scores.
Please visit admission.usc.edu/test-optionalpolicy-faq for more information.
USC Merit Scholarships
The USC Office of Admission administers prestigious scholarship programs for incoming students.
To be considered for USC Merit Scholarships, first-year applicants must submit their application by the Early Action/Early Decision deadline of November 1, or by the Regular Decision deadline of December 1 if applying to performing arts majors.
Transfer applicants must apply by the deadline for their respective major to be considered for merit scholarships.
Additional USC scholarships are administered by organizations outside the Office of Admission. These often require a separate application and have varying deadlines and eligibility requirements.
USC Scholarships are administered consistent with the University’s Notice of NonDiscrimination. Recipients are chosen without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited characteristic. admission.usc.edu/scholarships
Financial Aid
USC has a long tradition of meeting 100 percent of the USCdetermined financial need for students who meet all deadlines and eligibility requirements.
Nearly two-thirds of USC undergraduates receive some sort of financial aid, including need-based grants, merit scholarships, Federal Work-Study and loans.
In 2025-2026, the university awarded more than $936 million in financial aid. More than 75 percent of that amount comprised grants and scholarships — gift aid that does not need to be repaid.
Applying for Financial Aid financialaid.usc.edu
All applicants should complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile by the deadlines listed below. The process for obtaining need-based financial aid is the same for all students regardless of which admission deadline they apply by.
First-Year Deadline for Early Decision: November 1, 2026
First-Year Deadline for Early Action: November 15, 2026
First-Year Deadline for Regular Decision: February 3, 2027
Transfer Deadline: March 2, 2027
Financial Aid Calculators
financialaid.usc.edu/calculators
Visit our Financial Aid Calculators to receive an estimate of your cost, based on your family’s financial circumstances.
International students are not eligible for need-based financial aid, but they may receive merit scholarships or apply for private loans with a qualified co-signer who is a U.S. citizen. $75,384 $1,952 $13,510 $8,442 $670 $2,016 $1,188 $103,162
2026-2027 Estimated Cost of Attendance
Tuition Fees
Housing*
Food/meal plan*
Books and supplies
Personal and miscellaneous
Transportation
Total
(Add $450 New Student Fee for your first semester.)
*Includes average rent and the standard meal plan for students living in on-campus first-year housing.
Meet Us
Detailed information about events for prospective students can be found at admission.usc.edu/meet-us.
In Person
Experience USC firsthand at on- or off-campus events, or by taking an on-campus guided tour!
Online
Learn more about USC from the comfort of your own home through virtual tours and informational webinars.
Other Ways to Connect with USC
Sign up for our mailing list: admission.usc.edu/request-for-information
Find your admission counselor: admission.usc.edu/find-your-counselor
Gain tips, advice and insights into our admission process, directly from our counselors: www.admissionblog.usc.edu
Undergraduate Admission Office (213) 740-1111 admission.usc.edu
@uscadmission
The University of Southern California prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, citizenship status, employment status, income status, shared ancestry and ethnic characteristics, partnership status, medical condition (including pregnancy and related medical conditions), disability, political belief or affiliation, domestic violence victim status, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities.
For questions about compliance with the notice of non-discrimination, please contact the Office of Civil Rights Compliance (OCRC) at https://ocrc.usc.edu or email ocrc@usc.edu. For disability-related questions, the University has also designated an ADA/Section 504 Coordinator, Christine Street, Associate Vice President, Disability Access and ADA Compliance, who can be reached at streetc@usc.edu (213) 821-4658, 3601 Trousdale Parkway, Bldg. #89, Los Angeles, California 90089.
Majors
Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
American Popular Culture
American Studies and Ethnicity
African American Studies
American Studies
Asian American Studies
Chicano/Latino Studies
Anthropology
Applied and Computational
Mathematics
Archaeology and Heritage Studies
Art History
Astronomy
Behavioral Economics and Psychology
Biochemistry
Biological Sciences
Biophysics
Central European Studies
Chemistry
Classics
Cognitive Science
Comparative Literature
Computational Neuroscience
Contemporary Latino and Latin American Studies
Creative Writing
Earth Sciences
East Asian Area Studies
East Asian Languages and Cultures (Chinese, Japanese, Korean)
Economics
Economics and Data Science
Economics/Mathematics
English
Environmental Science and Health
Environmental Studies
French
Gender and Sexuality Studies
GeoDesign
Geological Sciences
Global Geodesign
Global Studies
Health and Human Sciences
History
Human Biology
Human Security and Geospatial Intelligence
Intelligence and Cyber Operations
International Relations
International Relations (Global Business)
International Relations and the Global Economy
Italian
Jewish Studies
Latin American and Iberian
Cultures, Media and Politics
Law, History and Culture
Linguistics
Mathematics
Middle East Studies
Narrative Studies
Neuroscience
Non-Governmental Organizations and Social Change
Philosophy
Philosophy, Politics and Economics
Philosophy, Politics and Law
Physics
Physics/Computer Science
Political Economy
Political Science
Psychology
Quantitative Biology
Religion
Russian
Sociology
Spanish
USC School of Architecture
Architecture, B.ARCH
Architecture and Inventive
Technologies, B.S. *
Iovine and Young Academy
Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation, B.S.
Business of Innovation, B.S.
Human Technology Interaction, B.S.
Roski School of Art and Design
Art, B.A.
Design, BFA
Fine Arts, BFA
Marshall School of Business
Accounting
Artificial Intelligence for Business *
Business Administration
Business of Cinematic Arts *
Real Estate Finance and Development *
World Bachelor in Business *
USC School of Cinematic Arts
Animation + Digital Arts, BFA
Cinema and Media Studies, B.A.
Film and Television Production, BFA *
Film and Television
Production, B.A. **
Game Art, BFA
Game Development and Interactive Design, BFA
Media Arts + Practice, B.A.
Themed Entertainment, BFA
Writing for Screen & Television, BFA
Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Communication
Journalism
Public Relations and Advertising
Kaufman School of Dance Dance, BFA
USC School of Dramatic Arts
Acting, Stage and Screen, BFA
Dramatic Arts, B.A.
Musical Theatre, BFA
Sound Design, BFA
Stage Management, BFA
Theatrical Design, BFA
Viterbi School of Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Artificial Intelligence *
Astronautical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical (Electrical)
Biomedical (Mechanical)
Biomedical (Molecular-Cellular)
Chemical Engineering
Chemical (Biological and Pharmaceutical)
Chemical (Energy and Sustainability)
Chemical (Materials)
Chemical (Petroleum and Subsurface)
Civil Engineering
Civil (Building Science)
Civil (Construction Engineering and Management)
Civil (Structural)
Computer Engineering and Computer Science
Computer Science
Computer Science Games
Computer Science/Business Administration
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Industrial and Systems Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Davis School of Gerontology
Human Development and Aging
Lifespan Health
Gould School of Law
Legal Studies
Keck School of Medicine
Global Health
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Studies
Thornton School of Music
Bachelor of Music degrees: Choral Music
Composition, Classical Jazz Studies (instrumental and vocal)
Music Production
Popular Music Performance
Classical Performance
Bassoon
Cello
Clarinet
Double Bass
Flute
French Horn
Guitar
Harp
Oboe
Percussion
Piano
Saxophone
Trombone
Trumpet
Tuba
Viola
Violin
Vocal Arts
Bachelor of Science degree: Music Industry
Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Biopharmaceutical Sciences
Pharmacology and Drug Development
Price School of Public Policy
Public Policy
Real Estate Development
Urban Studies and Planning
Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Social Work *
Pre-Professional Emphases
Pre-Dentistry
Pre-Law
Pre-Medicine
Pre-Occupational Therapy
Pre-Pharmacy
Pre-Physical Therapy
Pre-Physician Assistant Practice
Pre-Teaching
* Available to first-year applicants only.
** Available to transfer applicants only.