What a friend would tell you
What USC is looking for
USC rewards demonstrated interest and specificity about which school you are applying to (SCA for film, Marshall for business, Viterbi for engineering, Annenberg for communications). The Trojan alumni network is the strongest selling point after graduation, and admissions wants students who will leverage and contribute to it. Show that you understand USC's collaborative, network-driven culture. SCA is the most competitive program; a strong portfolio and creative vision are essential.
What students wish they'd known
The surrounding neighborhood has safety concerns that the university addresses with DPS shuttles and security, but students still adjust their habits. Greek life is significant (24%) and, combined with athletics culture, creates a social hierarchy that can feel exclusive. The "University of Spoiled Children" stereotype has some truth: the student body skews wealthy. Tuition is among the highest in the country, and financial aid packages vary. Academic rigor varies significantly across schools.
USC might be a fit if...
- You want to study film, business, engineering, or communications at programs that rank among the best nationally, with LA as your career launchpad
- You value alumni networks and want to join one of the most active and loyal in the country
- You thrive in a large, spirited university with D1 football culture, Greek life, and a social scene that rewards outgoing personalities
USC Admissions Strategy
Application Info
Plans: RD (EA available but non-binding)
Deadlines: RD January 10
Deadlines: RD January 10
Test Policy
Test-optional
About 65% of admitted students submitted test scores. A strong score still helps your case; a weak one is better left off.
Demonstrated Interest
Yes, Tracked
Tracked. Campus visits, info sessions, and opened emails all register. Show up where you can.
Interview
Not required; optional campus visits
Yield Rate
43%
43% of admits enroll, which is typical for a selective school. Waitlists here move every year.
Want to boost your odds at USC and every reach on your list, so admissions stops feeling like a coin flip?
Join the free one-hour workshop from two Harvard grads who have helped 3,000+ students get in. Parents welcome.
Cost & Financial Aid at USC
$92,340
Sticker Price
$25,000
Avg Merit Aid
Need-aware admissions. Meets 100% of demonstrated need. 71% receive financial aid.
What you get for it: USC spends about $52,000 per student per year on instruction and student resources, roughly 3x the $15K national average. You see it in class sizes, faculty access, and research budgets.
What USC Graduates Get
$80,000
Avg Starting Salary
98%
Employed or in Grad School
74%
Graduate in 4 Years
The 4-year number is the on-time rate; the 6-year rate (95%) is the one schools usually advertise. A wide gap means many students pay for extra semesters.
USC Campus & Culture
The Campus
USC's 226-acre campus sits in the University Park neighborhood of South Los Angeles, centered on the Romanesque-Revival Bovard Administration Building and its iconic clock tower. Alumni Park provides a central green space. The School of Cinematic Arts complex (George Lucas Building, 2010) is a neo-Classical statement in brick and glass. The Coliseum, home to Trojan football, is adjacent to campus. The surrounding neighborhood is urban and gritty; downtown LA is three miles north.
The Social Scene
LA entertainment/culture scene, Trojan football obsession, Greek life, beach access
USC Traditions & Trivia
Traveler and Conquest
When the football team scores a touchdown, a Trojan warrior on a white horse named Traveler gallops the length of the field as the band plays Conquest; the tradition began in 1961 and the current horse is Traveler IX.
Tommy Trojan
The bronze Trojan warrior statue in the center of campus has been the rally point for every USC event since 1930; rival UCLA students have attempted to deface him before big games, so Trojans guard the statue the days before the cross-town rivalry.
Academics at USC
What USC is known for
Cinema school, Los Angeles connections, football (Trojans), entertainment industry pipeline
Most popular majors at USC
Standout programs
Film/Cinema, Business, Engineering, Communication, Architecture
How the curriculum works
General education plus major requirements; school-specific curricula
Recommended high school courses
4 years English, 3+ years Math, 2+ years Science, 3 years Social Studies, 2+ years foreign language
Notable USC Alumni
George Lucas
Film director, USC School of Cinematic Arts
Neil Armstrong
USC MS in Aerospace Engineering 1970
John Wayne
Attended USC on a football scholarship before becoming a film icon
Will Ferrell
USC class of 1990, studied sports information
Shonda Rhimes
USC School of Cinematic Arts MFA, creator of Grey's Anatomy and Scandal
Frank Gehry
Architect, USC School of Architecture class of 1954
If you like USC, also consider
UCLA
Crosstown rival with public-school cost, similar LA access, more academic prestige in some fields
NYU
East Coast equivalent for film and performing arts, NYC instead of LA
Stanford University
If you want California prestige with more academic rigor and less party culture
Northwestern University
Comparable pre-professional culture with Medill and McCormick, Chicago access
Emerson College
If your focus is specifically communications or media, Emerson is the specialist in Boston