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University of Southern California Admission 2026: Application Deadlines, Eligibility & Fees
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There is one main intake for international students which is Fall and it starts in the month of August/September. The University of Southern California admissions 2026 are open for international students and the following are the admission deadlines -
Undergraduate:
- Regular Decision: Jan 10, 2026
- Regular Decision for programs with portfolio and auditions: Dec 1, 2026
Postgraduate:
- The deadline for graduate admission varies by program for international students
UCS Marshall MBA:
- Round 2: Jan 15, 2026, and decision by Apr 15, 2026
- Round 3: Apr 15, 2026, and decision by Jun 1, 2026
- University of Southern California Admissions 2026
- University of Southern California Admission Dates 2026
- University of Southern California Admission Requirements 2025
- How to get into the University of Southern California in 2026?
- University of Southern California Enrollment Statistics 2026
- + 2 more items
University of Southern California Admissions 2026
The University of Southern California offers over 120 UG and more than 200 PG programs, including 354 courses across disciplines for international students. Programs like Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Management of Drug Development, Senior Living Hospitality are very popular among international students.
The cost of studying at this university is between INR 56.32 L and INR 63.57 L and between INR 18.94 L and INR 1.08 Cr for PG programs.
According to unofficial sources, the USC acceptance rate is 10.04%. This shows the university is stringent and follows a holistic approach that considers various factors. The crucial factors looked after by the selection panel are personal characteristics, high school records, intellectual and professional goals, GPA scores, and more. The average GPA scored by the students who got admitted was between 3.69 and 3.98.
University of Southern California Admissions 2026 Highlights
International applicants are required to complete the University of Southern California admission process by the deadline to get into the university. The table below includes the highlights of admission at the university:
|
Particular |
Stats |
|---|---|
|
Application portal |
UG: Common App PG: gradadm.usc.edu/apply MBA: usc.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux |
|
Application fee |
UG: USD 85 or INR 7.5K PG: USD 90 or INR 8.03K MBA: USD 155 or INR 13.8K |
|
Acceptance rate |
10.04% (approx.) |
|
English language tests accepted |
|
|
Standardized tests required |
|
|
International application deadlines |
UG: Jan 10, 2026 (regular decision) PG: Vary by Programs MBA Round 2: Jan 15, 2026 |
(USD 1 = INR 89.24)
Commonly asked questions
According to the USC reviews given by students, the university gets a 4.3 rating out of 5.0 for Quality of faculty. USC also gets a 4.0 rating out of 5.0 for Student Life and 3.9 ratings out of 5.0 for Part-time work. The impressive ratings make USC University a good choice to study in the USA for international students. The below table includes the University of Southern California admission 2024 highlights:
Particulars | Requirements |
|---|---|
Application portal | UG: Common Application PG: gradadm.usc.edu/apply/ |
Application fee | UG: USD 85 or INR 7,075.14* PG: USD 90 or INR 7,491.32* (Exception for those courses offered by the Marshall School of Business) |
ELP tests accepted | |
Standardized test scores (PG) | |
International Application Deadlines | UG: Closed PG: Varies as per courses |
University of Southern California Guide |
According to the official source, ACT and SAT scores are one of the crucial criteria while choosing an undergraduate applicant. The minimum SAT score expected by the university is 650. Although the students who got selected scored between 1440 and 1550. Scoring 1400 on the SAT may not help the student to get into the university because of the stringent admission. They must score at least 1440 to beat the competition. On the other hand, the official expectation for ACT score is 27 or above, but students must aim between 32 and 35 for UG admission.
The USC is a popular private research university in California. Students are compelled to take admission to USC for its research opportunities, academic offerings, and diverse campus. Along with this, there are various reasons to join the university. Some of the crucial reasons are discussed below:
- Academic programs: The university offers over 300 master's and bachelor's degree programs. Some popular programs include Management of Drug Development, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and Spatial Economics and Data Analysis, and more.
- Affordability: The tuition cost of the UG and PG programs are quite affordable. The tuition fees ranges between INR 54 L and INR 61 L, and between INR 18 L and INR 1 Cr for postgraduate programs.
- Reputation: The university ranked #27 among national universities, #65 in best value schools, and #9 for Business programs.
- Small class size: With a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio, the university offers a small class experience where 62% of the classes have fewer than 20 students.
University of Southern California Admission Dates 2026
International students can choose to apply in either the Fall or Spring intake in a year. The Fall intake is when most of the USC courses are open for application. This one starts in August/September. The USC Marshall School of Business has a rounds system of admission in a year.
University of Southern California Application Deadlines 2027
The University of Southern California deadlines vary from one program to another. The regular decision deadline for UG admission is Jan 10, 2027, for international students. International students can check the table below for the USC application deadlines for undergraduate admissions:
|
Admission Decision |
Application Deadline |
|---|---|
|
Early Decision |
Nov 1, 2026 |
|
Regular Decision |
Jan 10, 2027 |
Graduate Admission Deadlines
Check the table below for USC deadlines for graduate admission:
|
USC Schools |
Application Deadlines (MS) |
|---|---|
|
USC Viterbi School of Engineering |
Spring 2027: Sep 01, 2026 |
|
USC School of Architecture |
Fall 2026: Jul 01, 2026 |
Full-time MBA Admission Deadlines 2026
International students can check the University of Southern California MBA deadline in the table below:
|
Rounds |
Application Deadlines |
Admission Decision |
|---|---|---|
|
II |
Jan 15, 2026 |
Apr 15, 2026 |
|
III |
Apr 15, 2026 |
Jun 1, 2026 |
University of Southern California Admission Requirements 2025
The University of Southern California courses are available at over 355 UG and PG levels. International students must meet the admission requirements to study UG and PG programs. The University of Southern California fee varies from INR 18 L to INR 1 Cr. The below table includes graduate courses with admission requirements:
University of Southern California PG Admission Requirements 2026
The university has 228 master's courses to offer to international students. Courses like MS in Computer Science, Full-time MBA, MS in Applied Data Science are really popular. The students generally need a UG degree for a PG application.
Look at the table given below for PG admission requirements -
|
PG Programs |
Academic Qualifications |
English Proficiency Requirements |
Documents Required |
Interview |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS(9 months-5 years) |
|
TOEFL: 90 - 100, IELTS: 6.5 - 7, PTE: 61 - 68 |
|
Not required |
| MBA/PGDM(12 months-4 years) |
|
TOEFL: 90 - 114, IELTS: 6.5 - 8, PTE: 61 - 70 |
|
Required |
| M.Arch(1 year-4 years) |
|
TOEFL: 90 - 114, IELTS: 6.5 - 8, PTE: 70 & Above |
|
Not required |
|
TOEFL: 90 - 100, IELTS: 7 & Above, PTE: 68 & Above |
|
Not required |
|
|
IELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 90 & Above, PTE: 61 & Above |
|
Required |
University of Southern California UG Admission Requirements 2026
Undergraduate courses like BS in Astronautical Engineering, Business Administration, Animation, and Accounting are among the popular courses offered at USC. The students need a high school diploma to apply for UG admissions here -
|
UG Programs |
Academic Qualifications |
English Proficiency Requirements |
Documents Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.Sc.(4 years) |
|
IELTS: 7 & Above, TOEFL: 100 & Above, PTE: 68 & Above, Duolingo: 130 & Above |
|
| B.E. / B.Tech(4 years) |
|
IELTS: 7 & Above, TOEFL: 100 & Above, PTE: 60 - 68, Duolingo: 130 & Above, SAT |
|
| BBA(4 years) |
|
IELTS: 7 & Above, TOEFL: 100 & Above, PTE: 68 & Above, SAT, Duolingo: 130 & Above |
|
| BFA(4 years) |
|
IELTS: 7 & Above, TOEFL: 100 & Above, PTE: 68 & Above, SAT, Duolingo: 130 & Above |
|
University of Southern California Visa Documents Required
Mentioned below is the list of documents required for a US Visa for international students:
- A valid passport with a validity date of at least six months beyond your period of stay
- A printed copy of DS-160, the online application form
- SEVIS Fee Receipt
- Interview appointment letter (original and copy)
- Form I-20 sent by the college (where you are going to study)
- Visa fee payment confirmation receipt
- Pay/salary slips
- Original mark sheets/provisional certificates
- Score sheet of exams like TOEFL or IELTS as ELP proofs along with either ACT or SAT for UG admissions or GMAT or GRE for PG admissions
- Financial wellness proof
Commonly asked questions On Admissions
As mentioned by the University of Southern California itself, GRE test scores are not required for admissions to MS in CS in 2023. However, apart from this, the applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or be in process of completing a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. The applicants must submit the following too:
Personal Statement
Letters of Recommendation (Optional)
IELTS / TOEFL score
I have mentioned the University of Southern California IELTS requirements with other English language tests for undergraduate and graduate admission:
English Language Tests | Minimum Score for UG Admission | Minimum Score for PG Admission |
|---|---|---|
a minimum score of 7 | 6.5 or above, with 6 or above on each band | |
a score of 100 and no less than a score of 20 in each section | 90 or above, with 20 or above in each section | |
score of 68 | 61 or above, with 53 or above on each band |
Check how to Study in the USA without IELTS and TOEFL
USC UG requirements:
- Complete Year X and Year XII state board or CBSE/ICSE exams.
- Competitive applicants typically achieve high marks, primarily A1 and A2 grades or scores above 80.
- Additional test scores of ACT/SAT (not mandatory)
- English language proficiency test score
USC PG requirements:
- A bachelor's degree from recognized university/college
- GRE or GMAT as per your program requirement
- English language proficiency test score
- Resume/Curriculum Vitae
- Recommendation Letters
Check the Requirements to Study in the USA for International Students
According to the official source, ACT and SAT scores are one of the crucial criteria while choosing an undergraduate applicant. The minimum SAT score expected by the university is 650. Although the students who got selected scored between 1440 and 1550. Scoring 1400 on the SAT may not help the student to get into the university because of the stringent admission. They must score at least 1440 to beat the competition. On the other hand, the official expectation for ACT score is 27 or above, but students must aim between 32 and 35 for UG admission.
University of Southern California MS Admission 2026
International graduate applicants can apply for graduate programs at USC through the university's online system and submit the required application materials by the deadline. The University of Southern California MS course ranks among the top 100 in the world by major ranking bodies and #30 by Shiksha Popularity Ranking. Aerospace Engineering and Computer Science Engineering are the two most popular MS specializations at the university.
Eligibility Criteria
- Accepting Exams: TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo, IELTS, GMAT, GRE
Commonly asked questions On MS Admissions
As such, USC does not have a university-wide minimum GPA requirement for admission into graduate courses. The applicants who want to take admission in the graduate courses of USC are evaluated on the factors like academic performance, statement of purpose, test scores, letters of recommendation, and whether or not their academic and research interests are the required fit with the degree program.
According to Emolument, the average salary of an MS graduate of USC is $100,000. Even unofficial sources cite that the MS in Computer Sciences graduates of USC can get around $100,000+ per year. U.S. News & World Report has ranked the Computer Science graduate school of USC at #23 position.
University of Southern California MBA Admission 2026
International students can apply for the University of Southern California MBA program through the university's online system and submit the required application materials by the deadline. USC ranks among the top 100 MBA universities in the world by major ranking bodies in 2026. The University of Southern California MBA fees is around INR 34 L to INR 1 Cr for first-year. Students applying for the MBA course at USC are required to have a four-year undergraduate degree, or equivalent, from an accredited institution along with GRE or GMAT scores.
Also read: Top Ranked MBA Universities in the USA
Eligibility Criteria
- Accepting Exams: TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo, IELTS, GMAT, GRE
Commonly asked questions On MBA/PGDM Admissions
According to a recent report on full-time MBA students for 2022-23, 97% of USC’s full-time MBA graduates had jobs three months after graduation. This is the highest percentage ever. Base salaries were also at a 5-year high - $150, 314 on average. The top employers include Amazon, EY, Google, Goldman Sachs, Deloitte, McKinsey & Company, etc.
University of Southern California Admission 2026 FAQs
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| Size of city | Large |
| Population of City | 39,99,759 |
University of Southern CaliforniaContact Information
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