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University of Southern California: Admission 2024, Ranking, Acceptance Rate & Cost

Map Pin IconLos Angeles, USA
  • A Shiksha Grade
  • PrivateUniversity
  • Institute Icon2 Campuses
  • Estd. 1880
Dark Clock Icon Last updated on 27 Sep '23

University of Southern California Highlights

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Year of establishment1880
WebsiteGo to Website External Link Icon
Also Known AsUSC
Accepted Exams
TOEFLPTE+1 More
Total International Students12265
Size of Campus in acres229
Male/Female Ratio1.04
UG/PG Course Ratio3.11
Faculty/Student Ratio9
Endowments ValueUS Dollar 5 billion
No.of Campuses2
Accommodation expenses8620 USD for 4 sharing (UG),9240 USD for 2 sharing (PG)
Meal expenses7290 USD (UG)
International Students WebsiteGo to Website External Link Icon
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Commonly asked questions

On Highlights

Q:   How can I get into USC from India?

A: 

Candidates looking to secure admission to an undergraduate programme at USC need to meet the requirements mentioned below.

  • TOEFL (or TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition) with a minimum score of 100 and no less than a score of 20 in each section.
  • IELTS (or IELTS Indicator) score of 7.
  • PTE score of 68.
  • 650 on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section.
  • 27 on the ACT English section.

Q:   Is UCLA or USC more prestigious?

A: 

If we look at the rankings, then USC has been ranked #25 by US News, whereas, UCLA has been placed a bit higher at #20 in its national universities category. Both the universities are prestigious and students with outstanding profiles prefer both the institutions. Although USC ranked a bit lower but getting into USC is more difficult than getting into UCLA. USC has an acceptance rate of around 8 percent whereas, UCLA has an acceptance rate of around 11 percent.

Q:   Is USC a top 20 university?

A: 

If we talk about the University of Southern California ranking in the US, then the university ranks at the #25th position in the 2023 as per the rankings by US News & World Report. In 2022, USC was placed at #27th position, which shows that there has been an improvement in the latest national universities rankings. The indicators that are considered by US News & World Report to decide the performance of the university include expert opinion, outcomes, faculty resources, financial resources, student excellence, and alumni giving.

Q:   What major is USC known for?

A: 

The most popular majors at the University of Southern California are Business, Management, Social Sciences; Engineering; Computer and Information Sciences; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, etc. Also, the student retention for freshman students is quite impressive, which is an indicator of student satisfaction. The student retention rate for fall 2021 is 97% whereas, for fall 2020, it was 96%.

Q:   Is USC an Ivy League university?

A: 

No, USC is not an Ivy League school but it is a prestigious university. USC offers many of the same benefits as an Ivy League school like specialised education and state-of-the-art research facilities. Apart from this, the alumni of USC include many famous actors, actresses and filmmakers. Talents like Forest Whitaker, Judd Apatow, and Robert Zemeckis call USC their alma mater. Also, USC is known for its economic impact as it contributes USD 8 billion annually to Los Angeles County and California.

USC
Entry Criteria

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CoursesExams
MS(103 Courses)
TOEFL: 90.0-100.0
IELTS: 6.5-7.0
PTE: 61.0-68.0
MIM(26 Courses)
TOEFL: 90.0-114.0
IELTS: 6.5-8.0
PTE: 61.0-70.0
PG Certificate(40 Courses)
IELTS: 6.5-7.0
TOEFL: 90.0-100.0
PTE: 61.0 & Above
BBA(7 Courses)
IELTS: 7.0 & Above
TOEFL: 100.0 & Above
PTE: 68.0 & Above
B.E. / B.Tech(18 Courses)
IELTS: 7.0 & Above
TOEFL: 100.0 & Above
PTE: 60.0-68.0
M.Arch(6 Courses)
IELTS: 6.5 & Above
TOEFL: 90.0-95.0
PTE: Accepted
B.Sc.(30 Courses)
IELTS: 7.0 & Above
TOEFL: 100.0 & Above
PTE: 68.0 & Above
B.A.(47 Courses)
IELTS: 7.0 & Above
TOEFL: 100.0 & Above
MBA/PGDM(4 Courses)
IELTS: 6.5 & Above
TOEFL: 90.0 & Above
GMAT: 690.0 & Above
MDS(2 Courses)
TOEFL: 90.0-100.0
IELTS: 7.0 & Above
PTE: 68.0 & Above

University of Southern California Fees & Eligibility 2024

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CoursesDuration1st Year Tuition Fees
MS(103 courses)
12 months-5 years
INR 24.6 L - 67.1 L
MIM(26 courses)
12 months-2 years
INR 31.5 L - 64.1 L
PG Certificate(40 courses)
5 months-5 years
INR 17.7 L - 63.5 L
BBA(7 courses)
4 years
INR 49.2 L - 55.3 L
B.E. / B.Tech(18 courses)
4 years
INR 49.2 L - 55.3 L
M.Arch(6 courses)
1 year-4 years
INR 29.8 L - 73.1 L
B.Sc.(30 courses)
4 years
INR 50.1 L - 55.3 L
B.A.(47 courses)
4 years
INR 50.1 L
MBA/PGDM(4 courses)
1 year-4 years
INR 53.6 L - 1 Cr
MDS(2 courses)
2-4 years
INR 43 L - 89.8 L
View Course Wise Fees ->
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Commonly asked questions

On Fees and Eligibility

Q:   How expensive is USC for international students?

A: 

Tuition and Fees for international students for both undergraduate and graduate prorams are given below. For the 2023 academic year, undergraduate tuition and fees are estimated to cost approximately USD35,982.

Non-resident Tuition (24 credits/academic yr)

USD33,528

Matriculation Fee (1 time)

USD80

Weighted Average Program Fees

USD1,574

International Student Fee (USD200/semester)

USD400

Technology Fee (USD200/semester)

USD400

Total estimated average cost for first academic year of study

USD35,982

For the 2023 academic year, graduate tuition and fees are estimated to cost approximately USD24,928.

Non-resident Tuition  (18 credits/academic yr)

USD22,320

Weighted Average Program Fees

USD1,348

Matriculation Fee (1 time)

USD80

International Student Fee (USD200/semester)

USD400

Technology Fee (USD200/semester)

USD400

Graduate Student Health Fee (USD190/semester)

USD380

Total estimated average cost for first 2 semesters of study

USD24,928

Q:   How much does USC cost for 1 year?

A: 

The tuition cost for 2023 - 2024 for prospective undergraduate students has been raised by USC by 5%. Students will pay USD 66,640 in undergraduate tuition for the upcoming academic year. The estimated cost of attendance for 2023-2024 is given below.

Expense

On/Off Campus

Tuition (12-18 units for two semesters)

USD 66,640

Fees    

USD 1,597

Housing*        

USD 11,910

Food/meal plan*        

USD 7,290

Books and supplies    

USD 1,200

Personal and miscellaneous   

USD 1,820

Transportation

USD 464

Total*          

USD 90,921

Q:   How much is USC tuition fee?

A: 

The cost of attendance is calculated by icluding tuition fee, books, personal expenses and accommodation fee. The undergraduate estimated cost of attendance for 2023-24 at USC (on / off campus) is as follows: tuition: USD 66,640, fees: USD 1,597; housing: USD 11,910; food/meal plan: USD 7,290, books and supplies: USD 1,200, personal and misc: USD 1,820, transportation: USD 464. The total cost of attendance shall be USD 90,921.

University of Southern California Scholarships 2024

View all 192 scholarshipsRight Arrow Icon

University of Southern California Admission Dates 2024

  • Application fees :USD 85 - 155
  • Type of deadline :Depends on course
Document IconDocuments
Type of documentsApplicable for
SOPNeeded for few courses
LORNeeded for few courses
EssaysNeeded for few courses
CVNeeded for few courses
Additional documentsRequired
Calendar IconImportant dates
Intake seasonDeadline
Fall15ᵗʰ Oct 2023 - 1ˢᵗ Jun 2024
Spring1ˢᵗ Oct - 15ᵗʰ Dec 2023
Summer15ᵗʰ Nov 2023
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions

On Admissions

Q:   Is USC hard to get into?

A: 

The acceptance rate at USC signifies the university being highly selective when it comes to admission. For fall 2022, the acceptance rate at the University of Southern California was 12.5% for its freshman class. The average unweighted GPA for entering freshman class was 3.75 - 4.00. Candidates need to have a very high GPA for getting into USC. Those who score low GPA need to have above average scores in the standardized tests. 

Q:   Is UCLA or USC harder to get into?

A: 

When it comes to selectivity, both of the universities UCLA and USC rank fairly equally. UCLA has an acceptance rate of around 11%, whereas, USC has an acceptance rate of 12.5%. However, when it comes to ranking, then UCLA ranks better than USC. In the QS World University Rankings 2024, UCLA ranks at #29, whereas, USC ranks at #116. In Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023, UCLA ranks at #21 and USC ranks at #65.

Q:   How can I get into USC from India?

A: 

If you want to take admission into the undergraduate courses of USC, then complete year 10th and 12th state board or CBSE / ICSE exams. The competitive applicants typically achieve high marks, mainly A1 or A2 grades or score above 80. Apart from this, you need to submit the English language proficiency scores either of IELTS / TOEFL / PTE / ACT English section / SAT Evidence-based Reading & Writing Section. English language recommended score for USC:

  • TOEFL (or TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition) with a minimum score of 100 and no less than a score of 20 in each section.*
  • IELTS (or IELTS Indicator) score of 7.
  • PTE score of 68.
  • 650 on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section.
  • 27 on the ACT English section.
Admission details of all coursesRight Arrow Icon

USC
Students Ratings & Reviews

3.4/5
Verified Icon4 Verified ReviewsInfo Icon
Vibe of Campus
  • Multi-dimensional
  • Sporty
  • Fun loving
  • Academically oriented
Student Views
  • 25% students never faced discrimination in this university
Internships3.5
Part time work4
Post study jobs3.3
Quality of faculty4
Student Life3.8
Value for money3.3
Public transportation3.3
Safety3.3
Indian Food3.5
Permanent Immigration2.8
A
Abhimanyu Sharma Verified Icon
BA inCinema and Media Studies - Batch of 2021
4
PlacementsInfrastructureFacultyCrowd & Campus LifeValue for Money
Excellent faculty at the film school.
Tips: There is a culture shock for sure, despite assuming that I know everything cause I saw all the TV shows so couldn't be more wrong. The film course is under the school of cinematic arts, which is known to be quite competitive. The faculty of the film school includes renowned names in the industry, and they train you to keep up with the industry standard.
Likes (Student Life): There are clubs, societies, and networking for everyone if you seek it out. It is centrally located so you have access to various necessities and leisure. They have sports facilities for those that are inclined towards that. I joined several clubs and ended up meeting a lot of like-minded people, which definitely helps in adjusting to a new country.
Dislikes (Permanent Immigration): Permanent immigration options are easier for STEM majors, although there are plenty of options for other fields as well all across the spectrum. I personally wanted to get back to India and pursue filmmaking in Bombay, although if you network well enough, there are collaborative opportunities that you can pursue with other international students.
Reviewed on 9 Apr 2023Read more
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L
Lasya Vadapalli Verified Icon
Master of Science in Computer Science - Batch of 2022
2.2
PlacementsInfrastructureFacultyCrowd & Campus LifeValue for Money
USC is very expensive, try public universities.
Tips: USC is very expensive. Apart from that, the university boosts a number of labs which provide ample research opportunities. The student population is very diverse. It also has a huge Indian population. Courses are difficult to register for because of the large class size.
Likes (Public transportation): I found public transport non-reliable due to erratic schedule and it is not very safe. The campus shuttle is not very frequent. Most students use personal means to travel to the campus. Hence, it is important that you stay close to the campus.
Dislikes (Internships): We received very limited help from the university. The Office of International Services (OIS) sometimes does not provide enough support to international students. The career services do not provide personalized help. The career fairs are also not that great.
Reviewed on 21 Mar 2023Read more
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A
Astha Tewatia Verified Icon
MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences - Batch of 2024
3.8
PlacementsInfrastructureFacultyCrowd & Campus LifeValue for Money
Mental peace and health are given importance at University of Southern California
Tips: Students should not get intimidated by the fee expenses. They should be willing for hard-core multitasking and should be at their best in time management. If not, they will miss out on some serious opportunities organized by the university for students. Students should be willing to come out of their comfort zone and should actively participate in activities for making the most of this university.
Likes (Quality of faculty): The quality of faculty is 5/5. They make your efforts count in every possible manner. It is very easy to reach out to the professors and they are always willing to help students out of their domain as well. Mental peace and health are given importance. Professors are always ready to listen to students which is all that an international student needs sometimes.
Dislikes (Safety): Safety in Los Angeles has been quite an issue for students over here. Public transportation is not the first option for many students when traveling alone. I have witnessed incidents where safety of people in LA is compromised. Homelessness is a major concern over here.
Reviewed on 28 Dec 2022Read more
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P
Parul Gupta Verified Icon
Master of Science in Computer Science - Batch of 2021
3.8
PlacementsInfrastructureFacultyCrowd & Campus LifeValue for Money
USC rocks! One should take admission here.
Tips: Hard work is the key and try to connect with Alumni and get suggestions for subjects. Prepare LeetCode for technical interviews. Talk to the professors before getting enrolled in a subject regarding which you are doubtful, as every course has its own fees and structure.
Likes (Safety): The university has its own team to take care of it. They have free Lyft app for certain areas and cruise availability for students. They have security people in the campus to watch over students' activities during off hours and at nights, they make sure that nothing wrong happens.
Dislikes (Value for money): Other cheaper universities can provide the same experience and better education in some subjects. Also, other universities might have more flexible syllabus to do what you want in a particular field. Assignments are pretty hectic for some courses.
Reviewed on 24 Aug 2021Read more
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University of Southern California Placements 2024

Top Recruiters

HSBC
Apple
Amazon.com
ESPN
Boeing
Linkedin
Bain and Company
Deloitte
ebay
Osmosys
Cisco Systems
Barclays Bank
Hyundai
IBM
Bloomberg
Citigroup
Google
Hewlett Packard
pwc
Sandisk
Amazon
Intel
Schlumberger
PayPal
Disney
Goldman Sachs
Samsung
CapGemini
Accenture
Adobe
Yahoo
Walmart
Oracle
Unilever
AT&T
SAP
Morgan Stanley
Toshiba
Microsoft
McKinseyCompany
Bank of America
Hitachi
Barclays Capital
Cognizant
TATA Consultancy Services
Mitsubishi
Credit Suisse
Adidas
Facebook
Starbucks
Ernst & Young
Infosys
LG Electronics
UBER
Johnson Johnson
KPMG
Korean Air
pwc

USC
Accommodation & Meals

On-Campus Accommodation
AVAILABLE
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Masters
Bachelors
Alternative Star IconAccommodation Expense
Alternative Star IconMeal Expense

University of Southern California Ranking 2024

A
Overall University Grade
by Shiksha
#101-150
#76-100
Business Economics
B+
#42
Mechanical Engineering
B+
#151-200
#29
Supply Chain
A
#5
#19
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions

On Rankings

Q:   Where is USC ranked in the world?

A: 

The University of Southern California is a top-ranked university globally. In the QS World University Rankings 2024, USC ranks at the #116th position. According to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2023, USC has been placed at #65th position. As per US News & World Report global universities rankings, USC ranks at the #80th position in 2023 and #70th position in 2022. Although, there has been a slight decline in the University of Southern California world ranking, it has still managed to maintain the top positions only in the prominent rankings.

Q:   Why is USC so famous?

A: 

Although, the University of Southern California has a lot of highly ranked schools, it is mainly known for Engineering, Business, Medicine and Cinematic Studies. USC is also popular for its Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. The University of Southern California ranking by US News & World Report was #25th in the 2023 in its national university ranking category. USC's top notch education and excellent resources make it a preferred choice for students looking for quality education.

USC
Studying in USA

Average Accommodation Expense

INR 6.7 L (based on 146 colleges)

Average Meals Expense

INR 3.9 L (based on 116 colleges)

Part Time Work
Permitted

International students are allowed to work part-time for 20 hours per week during an academic term.

e... Read more about part time work

Post Study Work Permit
Permitted

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a one-year work and stay-back permit given to international students o... Read more about post study work permit

Cost of Visa Application
USD 185 = INR 15,343.9
Visa Application Process
Simple

You will need an F1 visa if your course of study is a full-time degree.

e... Read more about visa application process

Hot Job Sectors

IT, Tech, Energy, Healthcare, E-commerce and Business services are some of the popular job sectors in the U... Read more about hot job sectors

Economy Growth Rate

According to the BEA (Bureau of Economic Affairs), the Real GDP of USA was 2.1% in 2022.

e... Read more about economy growth rate

University of Southern California FAQs

Content authored by:

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Akanksha Malhotra

Study Abroad Expert

Updated on Sep 27, 2023

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USC
Location

Accordion Icon V3
University CityLos Angeles, California, USA
Size of cityLarge
Population of City39,99,759
Wikipedia Linkhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_AngelesExternal Link Icon

USC
Campuses

Departments Icon2   Campuses
University Park CampusUp Arrow Icon
Address

University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA 90089

USC
Contact Information

Address

Los Angeles, CA, United States, 90089

Los Angeles ( California)

Go to College Website ->

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