Since its founding in 1880, the University of Southern California has established a vast,
lasting imprint on the Los Angeles area, extending far beyond the classroom into research,
medicine, culture and community partnerships. The large scale of USC’s operations—the
university is home to more than 44,000 students across 21 academic schools and units—
extends its positive effects well beyond Los Angeles to much of the rest of California and
beyond. This analysis, conducted by Beacon Economics, examines those economic and social
impacts of USC from the vantage point of Los Angeles County, Southern California, and the state of California. Through this analysis, Beacon will show how USC plays a fundamental
role in enriching local communities and furthering technology and business, in addition to
supporting student life.
