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 for 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, #146 in the World Universities Ranking 2026, and #72 in the world ranking list by another top ranking publisher.

Also Read: University of Southern California Rankings 2025

University of Southern California Acceptance Rate 2025

The University of Southern California received nearly 80,000 applications, whereas the number of students admitted was just around 8,000. This implies that the acceptance rate of the University of Southern California is 10.01%. The yield rate, on the other hand, is around 44.8%. The exact statistics for the academic session 2023-24 and 2022-23 of the University of Southern California for comparison are as follows:  

An acceptance rate of 10.1% suggests that the University of Southern California is quite selective in its admission criteria. Thus, students must have an exceptional profile with excellent grades and active participation in co-curricular activities to maximise their chances of selection.   

University of Southern California Acceptance Rate for International Students

University of Southern California houses students from around the world with diverse backgrounds, representing over 130 countries. The international student body (noresidents) at USC campus accounts for 2,977 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, 2023.    .

University of Southern California Acceptance Rate Trends

The number of applications received has spiked over the growing years, with an increase of over 20,000 applicants since 2020-21.  

In response, the number of accepted applicants has plummeted, with a 6% decrease in the University of Southern California's acceptance rate as well, suggesting increased competition for aspirants.   

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 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 regular decision acceptance rate. Early action allows applicants to apply to a university earlier than regular decision.

Southern Cal does not release any data on it's early action acceptance rate. When it comes to the USC regular decision acceptance rate, it stands at about 10-12%.

University of Southern California Admission Requirements for International Students

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

• High school certificate / Bachelor's degree in 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.

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

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 thee think will succeed at the university. 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 consider 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 tougher universities of the U.S. to get into. In comparison, USC's acceptance rate stands at 10%, coming fairly close to UCLA. 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.