USC Acceptance Rate and Admission Requirements

University of Southern California is one of the renowned universities in the USA. It is very competitive to get admission to. The acceptance rate of University of Southern California (USC) is 12.02%. This means that only 12 out of every 100 applicants are admitted.

How Competitive are University of Southern California Admissions?

Highly Competitive: Applicants need strong academics and extracurriculars.
GPA, SAT/ACT, and AP/IB courses significantly impact admission chances.
A holistic review considers essays, recommendations, and leadership roles.

University of Southern California Admission Competitiveness

With one of the lowest acceptance rates in the US, you need to be excellent in every area to get selected. However, since the acceptance rate is not below 10%, you still have a chance if your GPA isn't perfect. You can make up for a GPA deficiency by scoring high on the SAT, and ACT, and taking IB or AP courses. Meeting University of Southern California's GPA and standardized test (SAT/ACT) requirements is crucial, as failing to do so may prevent your application from moving forward. These requirements act as automatic filters, so meeting them is vital; failing to do so makes your chance of getting in nearly zero.

Additionally, a well-written letter of recommendation, your participation in co-curricular and extracurricular activities, and your interpersonal communication skills can enhance your admission chances.

University of Southern California Admission Requirements

USC GPA Requirement

The average GPA of the admitted students at USC is 3.7. It means that USC is very selective in terms of the GPA. (Please note that most schools report a weighted GPA, which is out of 4.0. However, some schools may use unweighted GPAs. For exact information, contact the school admission staff).

With an average GPA of 3.7, USC requires you to be near the top of your class. You need to score mostly A's in all classes to have good chances of admission. A couple of B's will not hurt you much, but more B's will put you in the lower category of the students. Additionally, you must take AP or IB courses to demonstrate your academic ability. More specifically, your AP and IB courses must be related to the area of your selected course of study. For example, if you are planning a career in engineering or IT, courses related to mathematics, calculus, and physics will help you.

If your GPA is less than 3.7 and higher than 3.4 then you need higher SAT or ACT scores to compensate. You need a minimum of 3.3 GPA, to secure admission at USC. Below this, the chances of admission will be very slim.

Can I Get Into USC Without SAT Or ACT?: University of Southern California considers admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process but does not require them. Although it is not strictly a requirement, the test scores are considered for admission decisions. Hence, it is advisable to prepare well for the test and submit the best scores. Normally, students may appear in the test 4 to 5 times to improve their scores. Hence you are required to plan early and appear in upcoming SAT / ACT tests. Check the schedule of the test and plan accordingly. It is advisable to appear multiple times in the test unless you score well above the average SAT / ACT score of the admitted students, as given below.

University of Southern California (USC) SAT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for SAT and ACT testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them. The test score policy is already mentioned.

University of Southern California Average SAT Score: 1520
The average SAT score of the admitted students at University of Southern California is 1520 on the 1600 SAT scale.

University of Southern California SAT Competitiveness

This score makes it Extremely Competitive for SAT test scores. You need to do extremely well to score 1520 on the SAT.
If your score is below 1450, consider retaking the SAT to improve your chances of admission to USC. It is not strange to appear multiple times for the SAT to improve scores. Colleges don’t mind if you have appeared multiple times, but not more than 5 times.

University of Southern California SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections

Section	Average	25th Percentile	75th Percentile
SAT Math	765	740	790
SAT Reading	735	710	760
SAT Composite	1520	1450	1550

It means that if you have scored less than 1450 then you are below most of the admitted students at USC and your chances of admission are very few. But if you have scored 1550 or more, your chances of admission are higher. 25th percentile means that only 25% of the admitted students have fewer scores than this score. 75th percentile marks the score of the upper 25% of the students. View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1500

Can I get into University of Southern California (USC) with a 1550 SAT?

With a 1550 SAT Score, your chances of admission at University of Southern California (USC) are good but the admission staff at USC tests your all-around personality and your academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission. You need to show better performance in all areas. An equally high GPA, taking IB or AP Courses and your role in leadership activities will increase your chances of admission. However, if you equally compete well in all other areas, your chances of admission are high.

University of Southern California (USC) ACT Requirements

The average ACT Score at USC is 34.

University of Southern California ACT Competitiveness

This score makes University of Southern California Extremely Competitive for ACT scores. You need to do extremely well to score 34 on the ACT.

University of Southern California ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections

Section	Average	25th Percentile	75th Percentile
ACT Math	33	30	35
ACT English	35	34	35
ACT Composite	34	32	35

Can I get into University of Southern California with a 35 ACT?

With a 35 ACT Score, your chances of admission at University of Southern California are good but the admission staff does not check your ACT Score only. The College Admission process tests your all-around personality and academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission.

SAT Vs ACT: Which score to send

You can compare your scores in SAT and ACT to the average SAT and ACT Scores of the admitted students at University of Southern California. More importantly, comparing your scores with the 25th and 75th percentiles of SAT and ACT scores will give you a better understanding of where you stand. If your score on the SAT is near the 75th percentile SAT score, then you must send your SAT score. If your ACT score is near the 75th percentile, then you must send your ACT Score.

But there is more, if both of your scores are in the same range, then it is better to send an ACT Score, as in the case of ACT, you can control which score to send as opposed to SAT.

Here is how: When sending the ACT Score, you can decide which score you want to send to the colleges. You could take 8 ACT tests, and only send your highest one. This is not the case with the SAT, where your score report mentions all of your attempts.

View a list of all colleges with an average ACT score of 34.

USC Profile

Name: University of Southern California (USC)

City: Los Angeles

URL: www.usc.edu/

State: California

Type: Non-Profit Private

Zip: 90089

Campus: Main

Accredited by: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission (WASCSR)

Does a degree from USC Worth It?

Getting into USC can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. USC offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision. Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at USC is USD: 76787.41 and unemployment rate is 3.67%.

How much does a degree from USC Cost?

The average annual cost of the degree at University of Southern California is USD: 81298. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at University of Southern California is much less than this.

How can I get a scholarship?

21.73% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 24.88 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to USC and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.

At University of Southern California, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist USC as your choice in the form.

How much a USC Graduate make?

The average annual salary of the USC graduate after 4-6 years of graduation is USD 92498. An average USC graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4-6 years after graduation).

The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is USD: 40595

Degree Programs

Bachelor Degree Programs

Full list of All degree programs offered by University of Southern California.

Data on this page is sourced from IPEDS, College Scorecard's latest data as provided in 2024, US Department of Education's latest 2024 statistics, Institute's official websites and printed material as well as additional publicly available sources.