University of Southern California Acceptance Rate for Indian Students

Established, 1880, the University of Southern California is a top-tier private research university in Los Angeles, United States. USC is one of the best study abroad universities for international students, as USC ranking has been consistent among the top 25 global universities for a decade now. It is well-known for its highly esteemed School of Cinematic Arts, which has produced directors like George Lucas and Judd Apatow, as well as its Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

Students across the globe apply to the University of Southern California admissions. However, only a fraction of candidates secure enrollment due to the competitive nature of the university. Students can check out more about the University of Southern California campus here. The USC ranked highly in the 2025/26 ranking lists, including a rank of #27 in the National Universities Ranking, #65 in Best Value Schools, #9 in Best Colleges for Veterans, and #146 in the World Universities Ranking 2026.

The Association of Indian Students at USC consists of 1,047 members and has organized 25 events to date. Some of the other communities to join to feel closer to home and connect with other desi and like-minded people are APASA (Asian Pacific American Student Assembly), SCIA (Southern California Indo-Americans), SC Project RISHI, USC Sikh Student Association, USC Hindu Student Organization, USC Muslim Student Union, and many more. Indian cuisine is also easily accessible from food outlets like A Taste of India and Rasa.

Also Read: USC Courses

University of Southern California Acceptance Rate 2025

For the class of 2029, the University of Southern California received over 83,500 applications, whereas the number of students admitted was just around 8,600. This implies that the University of Southern California acceptance rate is 10.4%, making the USC admission process extremely competitive.

 The yield rate, on the other hand, usually stays around 40% as the number of new enrollees for Fall 2024 amounted to almost 3,500. The exact statistics for the academic sessions 2024-25 and 2025-26 of the University of Southern California are given below for a comparative analysis:  

University of Southern California Acceptance Rate for International Students

The University of Southern California houses students from around the world with diverse backgrounds, representing over 130 countries. The top countries of origin include China, India, South Korea, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom. The breakdown of the number of international students based on nationality for Fall 2024 is given below:

The international student body (non-residents) at the USC campus accounts for 26.6% of the total enrolled students. Below is an ethnicity and race division of the total enrolled students at the University of Southern California as of October 15, 2024.

University of Southern California Acceptance Rate Trends

The number of applications received has spiked over the years, with an increase of over 23,700 applicants since 2020-21. Whereas the number of students admitted has witnessed a decreasing trend, going down from over 9,600 in Fall 2020 to around 8,600 by Fall 2025.

Consequently, there has been a decrease of almost 6% in the University of Southern California acceptance rate as well, pointing towards increased competition for aspirants. 

University of Southern California Early Action VS Regular Decision Acceptance Rate

Every year, the University of Southern California admits international students through Early Action as well as Regular Decision. Usually, the university’s early action acceptance rate is higher in comparison to the regular decision acceptance rate. Early action allows applicants to apply to a university earlier than regular decision.

When it comes to the USC regular decision acceptance rate, it stands at around 8% for the class of 2028. Whereas the USC early acceptance rate stands at 11.5%.

University of Southern California Admission Requirements for International Students

In order to secure admission, all overseas applicants must fulfill certain University of Southern California admission requirements listed below:

• High school certificate / Bachelor's degree in a relevant field;
• Official academic transcripts / academic records;
• Proof of English language proficiency (IELTS: 7.0 | TOEFL: 100);
• Resume/CV;
• Statement of purpose (SOPs);
• Letters of recommendation (LORs);
• SAT/ACT score;
• GRE/GMAT score;
• Portfolio; and
• Financial documents for the proof of sufficient funds.

The university follows a holistic approach while reviewing the received applications. With a decrease in USC acceptance rate over the past few years, students should focus on maintaining an overall polished profile with good academic credentials, co-curricular participation, and diversity of experience. 

University of Southern California Admission Requirements for Indian Students

Southern Cal accepts country-specific qualifications for admissions. Indian students can refer to the table below for the USC admission requirements:

University of Southern California Average GPA, SAT, or ACT Scores

The University of Southern California admission cycle is test-optional, which means that international students can apply without SAT or ACT scores. However, if candidates have a standardized test score, they can submit it along with their applications. Similarly, USC does not have a university-wide minimum GPA requirement for admission eligibility.

Tips to Get Selected in the University of Southern California

University of Southern California takes a holistic approach when it comes to admissions, and they look for students who they think will succeed at the university. The Southern Cal admission process is intended to learn more about the candidate and their unique story, enabling them to assess how well they would benefit from USC's wealth of opportunities. SoCal takes a holistic review of the candidate's application to consider academic and personal characteristics. They review the applicant's performance in school, the rigor of their program, writing skills, and any test scores they choose to submit. USC also considers personal qualities, as revealed in community involvement, leadership, and achievements.

USC Acceptance Rate VS UCLA Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate of the University of California-Los Angeles is 9%, making it one of the toughest universities in the U.S. to get into. In comparison, USC acceptance rate stands at 10.4%, coming fairly close to UCLA's. Thus, it can be concluded that admissions in both universities are very competitive since the data suggests that out of every 100 applicants, 9-10 are likely to be selected.  

Students must maintain a GPA of 3.4 or higher (on a scale of 4) to increase their chances of selection at UCLA.