A+
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Academics
    A+
  2. Value
    A+
  3. Diversity
    A+
  4. Campus
    A+
  5. Athletics
    A+
  6. Party Scene
    A+
  7. Professors
    A+
  8. Location
    A
  9. Dorms
    B+
  10. Campus Food
    A-
  11. Student Life
    A+
  12. Safety
    B
View Full Report Card
University of Southern California is ...
Private not-for-profit
Athletic Division
NCAA Division I-FBS
Athletic Conference
Pacific-12 Conference
Address
University Park
Los Angeles, CA 90089
Website
usc.edu

University of Southern California Rankings

Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate
17%
SAT Range
1270-1500
ACT Range
30-33
Application Fee
$80
SAT/ACT
Required
High School GPA
Required
Will You Get In?

Test Scores and GPA for University of Southern California

Cost

Net Price
$31,384/ year
National
$15,403
Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
Net Price by Household Income
  • <$30k
    $15,740/ year
  • $30-48k
    $16,114/ year
  • $49-75k
    $20,609/ year
  • $76-110k
    $32,790/ year
  • $110k+
    $48,478/ year

Academics

Professors
A+
Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
Student Faculty Ratio
9:1
Evening Degree Programs
No
83%
of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.248 responses
69%
of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.245 responses
55%
of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.244 responses

Majors

Most Popular Majors
  • Business Administration and Management
    1,055 Graduates
  • Communications
    308 Graduates
  • Biology
    285 Graduates
  • Accounting
    222 Graduates
  • International Relations and National Security Studies
    212 Graduates
  • Economics
    193 Graduates
  • Psychology
    189 Graduates
  • Computer Science
    159 Graduates
  • Political Science and Government
    124 Graduates
  • Film and Video Studies
    116 Graduates

Students

Full-Time Enrollment
18,208Undergrads
Undergrads Over 25
3%
Pell Grant
18%
Varsity Athletes
3%
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
Based on 148 responses
Report
  • Busy, active, studies, and parties
    43%
  • Busy and active
    18%
  • Diverse
    10%
  • Studies & parties
    8%
  • Work hard, play hard, fight on hard
    7%
  • Work Hard Play Hard Mentality
    6%
  • All the above
    3%

Campus Life

Freshmen Live On-Campus
83%
Poll
67%
of students say that Greek life is pretty big.292 responses
Poll
61%
of students say varsity sports are a big part of campus life.336 responses
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes your school?
Based on 176 responses
Report
  • High quality & Social
    32%
  • Diverse
    22%
  • The key to my future
    11%
  • Perfect
    11%
  • An experience with people to never be forgetten.
    8%
  • Snobby
    3%
  • Absurdly preppy
    2%

After College

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
$66,100/ year
National
$33,028
Graduation Rate
92%
National
48%
Employed 2 Years After Graduation
92%
National
83%
85%
of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.161 responses
Colleges like University of Southern California
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University of Southern California Reviews

3,339 reviews
All Categories
I love attending the University of Southern California! The school has high caliber academics, a competitive yet fun environment for students of all majors, and a gorgeous campus. USC is a bit expensive however, hardworking students can come in with large scholarships to defray this cost. I definitely think that this experience is worth the cost of living and expenses out here and will truly pay off in the end. I have definitely met life long friends and have made unforgettable memories throughout my time here!
Review University of Southern California
USC is an amazing school overall, with more opportunities than most colleges have to offer. That being said, the stereotype surrounding its status as a "rich-kid" school is 100% accurate. Money is kind here and if you can't pay, you can't play.

Academics are overall great, but not what you would except for the money you pay--the professors are either outstanding or verging on awful.

This is a school for business and networking--if that sounds like you, you will fall in love!
As of one semester, entering my second as a graduate student, I can say that my experience with USC has been great! Their student services support is very helpful and easily accessible. They are very proactive in making sure that all required documentation is submitted in a timely manner. They also periodically check on you during the course of the semester.