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Colleges / University of Southern California

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate13%
Acceptance Rate13%

USC Admissions

If you are applying to USC, the fee for the application costs $85.

USC Admissions Stats at a Glance

The following is an overiew of some of USC's admissions stats.

USC 2022 Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA 3.8
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class 80%
Admissions Test Policy Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs 47%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs 26%
Waitlist No

University of Southern California Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for University of Southern California.

Application Type Offered Application Deadline Notification Deadline
Early Decision I Info Not Available –– ––
Early Decision II –– –– ––
Early Action Yes November 1 ––

Applying Early to USC?


University of Southern California may or may not offer early admission, however the school has not provided any application information. Check with USC directly for more information about early applications.

🗓️ The Early Action deadline is November 1.

➡️ Explore a list of some selective colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.


More on University of Southern California Admissions


Transferring to University of Southern California

For more information on transferring to University of Southern California, contact the school directly.

For Students Waitlisted to USC

USC has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What Does USC Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when choosing who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college determines which factors are are most important in the admissions process. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that put the most emphasis on the areas where you're strong.

Admissions Factors at USC

Wondering what factors are considered by USC during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor Level
Academic GPA Very Important
Application Essay Very Important
Recommendation(s) Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record Very Important
Standardized Test Scores Very Important
Character/Personal Qualities Important
Extracurricular Activities Important
Talent/Ability Important
Alumni/ae Relations Considered
Work Experience Considered
First Generation Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status Considered
Volunteer Work Considered

Make sure to check with USC for more information on admission factors.

USC 2022-2023 Application Requirements

To apply to USC, all applicants must submit the following items. Check with USC's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area Required Recommended Required for Some Details (If Any)
Interview
Transcript(S) of College Record
Standardized Test Scores
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)
Written Essay or Personal Statement
Transcript of High School Record

GPA and Testing


What GPA Do I Need To Get Into USC?

Students admitted to USC have an average unweighted GPA of 3.8.

Out of all students that were admitted, 28.57% submitted a class rank. At USC 80% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 95% were in the top 25% and 99% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At University of Southern California, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA Percent of Students
4.0 GPA 26.25%
3.75 and 3.99 49.67%
3.50 and 3.74 16.57%
3.25 and 3.49 4.73%
3.00 and 3.24 1.59%
2.50 and 2.9 1.06%
2.00 and 2.49 0.13%

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to USC directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

USC considers ACT or SAT scores as part of the admissions process.

USC is test optional. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 47% of USC's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 26% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for USC?

To be competitive with other USC applicants, you should aim to score between 1330 and 1520 (or higher!) on the SAT. At USC 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1520 and 25% of scored lower than 1330, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of USC students scored 780 or higher and 75% of students scored 650 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of USC students scored 740 or higher, and 75% scored a 650 or higher.

What is a Good ACT Score for USC?

To be most competitive at USC, you should strive to earn between 30 and 34 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 34 means you fall in the 75th percentile for USC's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 34, and three out of four students scored lower than 34 on the ACT.

A 30 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for USC students. Only one out of every four students scored below 30.

Want To Bring Up Your ACT Score? Access ACT practice tests and study tips and see upcoming ACT test dates.

More Information on Transferring to University of Southern California

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is February 15. Applicants should hear back by May 31.

Transfer students can enroll in USC during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Spring Term


USC Admissions FAQs


Can I defer my acceptance to USC?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to USC.

Does USC accept transfer credits?

✅ USC accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. USC accepts:

• CLEP subject tests • DSST/DANTES

Does USC accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ USC accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to USC?

❌ No, USC is test optional, so you can make the call whether to include your ACT or SAT scores. If your scores are higher than the school's average, you probably want to include them. If your scores are average or below average, you may want not want to include them in your application.

What is USC's acceptance rate?

✅ USC has an acceptance rate of 13%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at USC?

🟨 USC may or may not offer early decision. The school has not provided any information on early decision including ED acceptance rates.

Want To Learn More About USC?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

Join the conversation about about USC in the College Confidential forums

Explore other colleges in California or use the college admissions predictor to calculate your chances of getting into some of the top colleges and universities in the U.S.

USC Admissions Requirements

Admission Difficulty

Selective

13%

How hard is it to get into USC? USC is a selective institution. The USC acceptance rate is 13%. This means that the institution accepts 12 out of every 100 applicants.

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USC Application Deadline

First-Year Applications are Due

Not available

Transfer Applications are Due

Feb 15

The deadline for Fall transfer applications to USC is Feb 15.

Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs

USC ACT Scores

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ACT Range

30 - 34

Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

ACT Score

Estimated Chance

34 and Above

Good

30 to 34

Avg

30 and Less

Low

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ACT Scores Needed to Get Accepted

The median ACT score of an admitted student to USC is 32. Students with an ACT score of 34 and above have a good chance of getting into USC. Students with an ACT score that falls between 30 and 34 have an average chance of getting admitted, and students with an ACT score of 30 or below have a low chance of being offered admission.

USC SAT Scores

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Composite SAT Range

1330 - 1520

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Math SAT Range

670 - 780

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Reading SAT Range

650 - 740

USC GPA

Avg. High School GPA (non-weighted)

3.83

GPA Needed to Get Accepted

At USC, the average unweighted high-school GPA for admitted students is 3.83. This is the average, which means that some applicants submit GPAs lower than this and some applicants submit GPAs above this level. If your GPA falls below the average, strong test scores or other qualifications may help you make you a more competitive applicant.

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

49,318

Campus Setting

Urban

Acceptance Rate

13%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$61,461

Out-of-State

$61,461

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Unknown
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