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 12.51%. This means that only 13 out of every 100 applicants are admitted.
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, ACT, and taking IB or AP courses. Meeting their general GPA and test (SAT/ACT) requirements is crucial, as without them, you won't proceed to the second round of application processing. 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 GPA of the students. (Please note that most schools report a weighted GPA which is out of 4.0. However, some schools may use unweighted GPA. 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 to have a minimum of 3.3 GPA, to secure admission at USC. Below this, 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, but 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 for 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 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: 1484
The average SAT score of the admitted students at University of Southern California is a 1484 on the 1600 SAT scale.
This score makes it very Competitive for SAT test scores. You need to do very well to score 1484 on SAT
If your score is lower than 1410, you may appear again to improve your score to have better chances of admissions at USC. It is not strange to appear multiple times for SAT to improve scores. Colleges don’t mind if you have appeared multiple times, but not more than 5 times.
SAT 25th Percentile: 1410
SAT 75th Percentile: 1540
It means that if you have scored less than 1410 then you are below the most of the admitted students at USC and your chances of admission are very few. But if you have scored 1540 or more, then your chances of admissions are higher. 25th percentile means that only 25% of the admitted students have fewer score than this score. 75th percentile marks the score of 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 1550 SAT Score, your chances of admission at University of Southern California (USC) are good but the admission staff at USC tests your all round personality and your academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores and IP 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 could not 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 definitely increase your chances of admissions. However, if you equally compete well in all other areas, then your chances of admissions are high.
University of Southern California (USC) ACT Requirements
The average ACT Score at is 34.
This score makes University of Southern California Extremely Competitive for ACT scores. You need to do extremely well to score 34 on ACT
ACT 25th Percentile: 32
ACT 75th Percentile: 35
Can I get into University of Southern California with a 35 ACT?
With 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. College Admission process tests your all round personality and your academics. your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores and IP 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 could not 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 average SAT and ACT Scores of the admitted students at University of Southern California. More importantly, comparing your scores with 25th and 75th percentiles of SAT and ACT scores will give you better understanding of where you stand. If your score in SAT is near to the 75th percentile SAT score, then you must send SAT score. If your ACT score is near to the 75th percentile, then you must send your ACT Score.
But there is more, if both of your scores are in same range, then it is better to send ACT Score, as in case of ACT, you can control which score to send as opposed to SAT.
Here it is how: When sending ACT Score, you can yourself 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 SAT, where your score report mentions all of your attempts.
View list of all colleges with 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 a degree from USC Cost?The average annual cost of the degree at University of Southern California is USD: 67045. As most of the students receive Pell grants and Federal Grant 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?
21.12% of the students are receiving Pell grants and 23.02 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 in receiving any scholarship form 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 makes?
The average annual salary of the USC graduate after 4-6 year of graduation is USD 89884. 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: 36834
Degree Programs
Bachelor Programs
- Accounting
- Aerospace Engineering
- Air Transportation
- Allied Health Sciences
- Anthropology
- Applied Mathematics
- Archeology
- Architectural Sciences and Technology
- Architecture
- Area Studies
Full list of All degree programs offered by University of Southern California.
Data on this page is sourced from IPEDS, College Scorecard, US Department of Education, Institute's official websites and printed material as well as additional publicly available sources.