Placement Metric
Highest Package
N/A
Represents the top salary package reported in the available placement information.
University of Southern California
7.8(37)
VerifiedPrivate (Not for Profit)Estd. 1880
Founded
1880
Type
Private (Not for Profit)
University Guide
About University of Southern California
Explore overview, courses, fees, admissions, campus life, scholarships and student accommodation guidance in one premium Admistay guide.
University of Southern California was opened in 1880 with just 53 students and 10 faculties. The university later established a College of Medicine in 1985, the first ever in the Southern California region. Today, University of Southern California enrols 48,000 students, including 12,374 international students. Currently, there are 2,444 Indian students studying across various courses in University of Southern California.
University of Southern California is ranked among the top 20 universities in the world according to Wall Street Journal. This survey includes factors such as student diversity, student resources, and high paying jobs for graduates. USC has also shown strength in graduate outcomes with a 92% graduation rate with 62.6% of them securing placements within 3 months after graduation.
University of Southern California demonstrates highly competitive admissions with only 9.8% acceptance and according to recent admission. To get through admissions, you must hold relevant qualifications with 3.0 GPA (85%). However, recently admitted students in undergraduate programs reportedly had a GPA between 3.69 – 3.98 (93-98%).
Talking about tuition fee, $47,080 (₹40.84 lakhs) is the average tuition fee for PG and $69,904 (₹60.64 lakhs) is the average annual fee for UG. You can reduce your expenses through various funding and scholarships at University of Southern California.
Also Check: USC Student Reviews
Table of Contents
- University of Southern California Rankings
- University of Southern California Degrees and Courses
- University of Southern California Admission Deadlines
- University of Southern California Admission Requirements
- University of Southern California Cost of Living
- University of Southern California Scholarships and Funding
- University of Southern California Campus
- University of Southern California Placements and Graduate Outcomes
- FAQs
University of Southern California Rankings
The University of Southern California has always been ranked among the top 100 universities globally by THE and U.S. News and World Report. USC also ranks in the top 150 universities in QS World University Rankings 2025. Given below is 5 year trend for University of Southern California rankings between 2021 to 2025:
| Ranking Agency | Rankings 2021 | Rankings 2022 | Rankings 2023 | Rankings 2024 | Rankings 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QS World University Rankings | #121 | #112 | #134 | #116 | #125 |
| Times Higher Education World University Rankings | #53 | #63 | #65 | #74 | #72 |
| U.S. News and World Report | - | #70 | #80 | #79 | - |
University of Southern California Degrees and Courses
University of Southern California offers more than 350 degrees and courses through 23 undergraduate schools and 15 graduate schools. A total of 20 courses offered by USC are ranked in the QS WUR by Subject Rankings 2025. This includes popular disciplines such as communication, accounting, finance, psychology, computer science, business and economics. Check out other popular subjects at University of Southern California majorly preferred by Indian students:
University of Southern California Admission Deadlines
The application deadlines for Fall and Spring intakes at the University of Southern California for international students are outlined in the table below:
| Programs | Admission Deadline |
|---|---|
| Master of Business Administration | Round 1: Oct 1, 2025 Round 2: Jan 10, 2026 |
| MS in Business Analytics | Sep 1, 2025 (Spring) Dec 15, 2025 (Fall) |
| M.S Applied Data Science | Sep 1, 2025 (Spring) Dec 15, 2025 |
| M.S Computer Engineering | Sep 1, 2025 (Spring) Dec 15, 2025 (Fall) |
| MS in Computer Science | Sep 1, 2025 (Spring) Dec 15, 2025 (Fall) |
| M.S Cyber Security Engineering | Sep 1, 2025 (Spring) Dec 15, 2025 (Fall) |
| MS in Electrical Engineering | Sep 1, 2025 (Spring) Dec 15, 2025 (Fall) |
| M.S Engineering Management | Sep 1, 2025 (Spring) Dec 15, 2025 (Fall) |
| MS in Finance | Sep 1, 2025 (Spring) Dec 15, 2025 (Fall) |
| MS in Mechanical Engineering | Sep 1, 2025 (Spring) Dec 15, 2025 (Fall) |
| M.S Pharmaceutical Science | Sep 1, 2025 (Spring) Dec 15, 2025 (Fall) |
University of Southern California Admission Requirements
International students can apply for University of Southern California admissions in Fall or Spring as per their convenience. However, the majority of Indian students apply in Fall semesters to get enough time for the visa process. Given below are the minimum requirements for undergraduate and graduate admissions at USC:
| Category | PG Admission Requirements | UG Admission Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Application Portal | Most Courses: USC Graduate Application | Business School: Liaisoncas Portal | USC International Academy: International Student Academy Portal | Common Application |
| Application Fees | $90 - $175 (₹7,810 - ₹15,186) | $85 (₹7,380) |
| Academic Requirements | 4 Year Bachelor’s Degree with 3.0 GPA (85%) | High School of 3.0 (85%) |
| English Language Proficiency Scores | TOEFL-iBT: 90-100 | IELTS: 6.5 - 7.0 | TOEFL IBT: 100 | IELTS: 7.0 |
| Test Scores | GMAT: 715+ | GRE: 310+ | N.A |
| Documents Required | Personal Statement or Essays | Academic or Professional LORs | Resume or CV | Passport Copy | Financial Evidence | External exam results/predicted results | SOP | Essays | LORs |
University of Southern California Cost of Living
The University of Southern California cost around $95,2256 (₹82.61 lakhs) for undergraduate students and $77,481 (₹67.21 lakhs) for graduate students. This is the total cost of attendance at University of Southern California including tuition fee, housing, meals, and other daily expenses. Tabulated below the breakdown of living expenses in University of Southern California:
| Expenses | PG Cost Per Annum (USD) | UG Cost Per Annum (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee | $47,080 | $69,904 |
| Fees | $3,273 | $1,743 |
| Housing | $13,050 | $12,271 |
| Foods | $7,660 | $7,660 |
| Books and Supplies | $900 | $1,200 |
| Personal Expenses | $2,736 | $2,006 |
| Transportation | $2,782 | $441 |
| Total Estimated Cost | $77,481 | $95,225 |
Note: 1 USD = 87.49 INR as of February 10, 2025
Also Check: Cost of Living in USA for Indian Students
University of Southern California Scholarships and Funding
University of Southern California offers a wide variety of merit-based scholarships to international students for undergraduate study. These scholarships range between $10,000 - $69,900 (₹8.67 lakhs - ₹60.64 lakhs) per year on tuition.
- Applicants with exceptional academic record, leadership potential, talent, innovation will be great for merit-based scholarships at University of Southern California.
- Selected applicants will be notified for merit-based scholarships by April 1, 2025.
- You must apply for admissions by November 1 or December 1 to be considered for any of these scholarships.
There are no scholarships for international students in graduate programs. However, there are other funding options for international students including monthly stipend, on campus work and off campus opportunity. You can visit the office of international services for on campus or off campus employment opportunities.
Also Check: Scholarships to Study in USA
University of Southern California Campus
University of Southern California campus stretches up to 229 acres. The USC campus is situated 3 miles away from downtown and adjacent to several museums, historic exposition park and recreational facilities.
Housing Facilities:
- There are 7 residences which accommodate first students, while other 7 residences are allotted to secondary students.
- The living cost in the first year may range from $21,508 - $22,266 (₹18.67 lakhs - ₹19.33 lakhs) for 2 semesters in a common suite and double room residence.
- Upperclass students typically pay around $16,766 - $18,706 (₹14.55 lakhs - ₹16.24 lakhs)
Healthcare Facilities:
- All students have full access to the university's health facility at USC Engemann Student Health Center.
- Some of the health facilities include counseling services, pharmacy, allergy clinic, health promotion and disease prevention and others.
Libraries:
- There are 23 libraries throughout the campus, with each of them offering a range of facilities for research and coursework.
- Most of the libraries are open from Monday to Saturday between 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Computer Labs:
- The computer labs provide access to more than 1,000 computers throughout the campus.
- Computer labs are open 24/7 and are accessible to only those with valid USCard.
University of Southern California Placements and Graduate Outcomes
According to University of Southern California placements in 2024, around 62.6% of the UG graduates secured employment within 6 months.
- USC graduates were hired by more than 5,000 employers in full-time positions.
- The top employers hiring USC graduates include Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, EY, Google, Microsoft among others.
- $87,769 (₹76.19 lakhs) is the mean salary per annum for UG graduates while the median salary is $85,000 (₹73.70 lakhs).
- Around 96% of UG graduates from USC Marshall School of Business were employed within 3 months after graduation.
- The placement rate for recent MBA graduates was 86% within 3 months after graduation.
- $150,081 (₹1.30 crores) is the average salary offered to MBA graduates with average signing bonus being $32,531 (₹28.22 lakhs).
University of Southern California is one of the world’s leading private research universities. An anchor institution in Los Angeles, a global centre for arts, technology and international business. University of Southern California’s diverse curricular offerings provide extensive opportunities for interdisciplinary study and collaboration with leading researchers in highly advanced learning environments.
FAQs
Ques. Is USC private or public?
Ans. The University of Southern California is the oldest private research university in the state of California. It was established in 1880.
Ques. Is the University of Southern California expensive?
Ans. International students are required to have $95,2256 (₹82.61 lakhs) for tuition fees and living expenses to study at the University of Southern California.
Ques. Is University of Southern California hard to get into?
Ans. Admission to the University of Southern California is quite competitive. The university demonstrates its highly selective nature with an acceptance rate of only 9.8%.
Ques. Why is USC acceptance rate so low?
Ans. University of Southern California received a large number of applications a year for admissions. The selection process is based on holistic approach taking following factors into consideration:
- Academic achievement
- Personal characteristics
- Over profile
- Reference
- Leadership potential
- Community involvement
Students meeting above mentioned criteria are then considered for application review and best among them are offered admissions.
Courses & Fees
Compare courses in a cleaner, easier way
Explore tuition, duration, language, eligibility, and exam requirements without the clutter.
Courses
176
Fee from
₹21,62,853
Exams
TOEFL · IELTS
Showing 5 of 81 bachelors
Overview
Degree TypeBachelor
Duration4 years
Study ModeFull Time
LanguageEnglish
Fees
Tuition FeeINR 68.6 L/Yr
Native FeeUSD 73,260 /Yr
Estimated Total₹2244968
Admission Guide
Admission Process
University of Southern California admissions are offered in Fall and Spring semesters across a range of undergraduate and graduate programs. The applications for University of Southern California admissions in undergraduate programs are now closed. Those who have already applied for admissions will receive their decisions by April 1, 2026 for Regular Decision application. Those seeking admission to the University of Southern California MBA can apply by October 1, 2025 (Round 1).
University of Southern California's acceptance rate is 9.8%, according to previous year's admissions. A total 82,027 applications were received for UG admissions and only 8,050 were admitted while 3,489 of them were enrolled. This means admissions are extremely competitive at the University of Southern California. To secure admissions you need at minimum 3.0 (85%) for both undergraduate and graduate programs.
The required documents for all international students applying to University of Southern California admissions are as follows:
- Academic transcripts of high school or degree
- Test scores
- English proficiency certificate
- Academic or professional letters of recommendation
- Statement or purpose
- Essays
- Portfolio
- Passport copy
- Health insurance
- Financial statement
Also Check: Documents Required for USA UG & PG Admissions in 2025
Table of Contents
- University of Southern California Graduate Admission
1.1 Application Portal and Fee:
- University of Southern California Undergraduate Admission
- USC Admission Requirements for Top Programs
- University of South California Admission Deadlines
- University of Southern California Application Process
- University of Southern California Admission Decisions
- University of Southern California Enrollment Process
- FAQs
University of Southern California Graduate Admission
University of Southern California offers graduate admissions in more than 230 courses including degrees and certificates. The graduate courses are offered by 15 academic departments and schools in areas like engineering, business, linguistics, medical science, journalism and others. Check out the detailed application requirements for graduate admissions at USC:
Application Portal and Fee:
The applications for graduate programs are accepted through the official graduate portal. While other courses including those offered by business school have seperate application deadlines.
| Courses | Application Portal | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Most USC graduate programs | USC Graduate Application | $90 (₹7,810) |
| Marshall School of Business | Liaisoncas Portal | $155 9 (₹13,451) |
| USC International Academy | International Student Academy Portal | $175 (₹15,186) |
Application Requirements:
- 4 years Bachelor's degree 3.0 GPA (85%)
- English language proficiency
- TOEFL-iBT: 6.5 - 7.0
- IELTS: 90 - 100
- Test Scores (Valid up to 3-5 years)
- GMAT: 715+
- GRE: 310+
Documents Required:
- Personal Statement or Essays
- Academic or professional letter of recommendation
- Resume or CV
- Passport copy
- Financial Evidence
Also Check: MS Admissions in USA
University of Southern California UG Admission
University of Southern California offers undergraduate admissions in more than 150 majors across 23 schools. The most popular majors at USC include business, computer science, psychology, communication, biology, international relations and economics. The requirements and further application details are given below:
Application Portal: Common Application
Application Fee: $85 (₹7,380)
Application Requirements:
- High or Class 12th qualification with 3.0 GPA (85%)
- Certified translation of all documents (if not in English)
- English proficiency requirements
- TOEFL: 100
- IELTS: 7.0
- External exam results/predicted results
- Statement of Purpose
- Essays
- Letter of Recommendations
USC Admission Requirements for Top Programs
Following are the popular programs at USC which majority of Indian students applied into:
| Programs | GMAT/GRE Scores | ELP Scores |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Business Administration | GMAT: 732 (average) | GRE: 321 (average) | TOEFL: 100 | IELTS: 7.0 |
| MS in Business Analytics | GMAT Score of 712 | TOEFL: 100 | IELTS: 7.0 |
| M.S Applied Data Science | Not Required | TOEFL: 100 | IELTS: 7.0 |
| M.S Computer Engineering | GRE Score of 315 or better | TOEFL: 100 | IELTS: 6.5 |
| MS in Computer Science | GRE: 151+ [Verbal] | 155+ [Quant] (not required for 2025 admissions) | TOEFL: 90 | IELTS: 6.5 |
| M.S Cyber Security Engineering | Not Required | TOEFL: 100 | IELTS: 7.0 |
| MS in Electrical Engineering | GRE: 151+ [Verbal] | 155+ [Quant] (not required for 2025 admissions) | TOEFL: 90 | IELTS: 6.5 |
| M.S Engineering Management | Not Required | TOEFL: 90 | IELTS: 6.5 |
| MS in Finance | GMAT score of 714 | TOEFL: 100 | IELTS: 7.0 |
| MS in Mechanical Engineering | GRE: 151+ [Verbal] | 155+ [Quant] (not required for 2023 admissions) | TOEFL: 90 | IELTS: 6.5 |
| M.S Pharmaceutical Science | Not Required | TOEFL: 90 | IELTS: 6.5 |
University of South California Admission Deadlines
The application deadlines for Fall and Spring intakes at the University of Southern California for international students are outlined in the table below:
| Programs | Admission Deadline |
|---|---|
| Master of Business Administration | Round 1: Oct 1, 2025 Round 2: Jan 10, 2026 |
| MS in Business Analytics | Sep 1, 2025 (Spring) Dec 15, 2025 (Fall) |
| M.S Applied Data Science | Sep 1, 2025 (Spring) Dec 15, 2025 (Fall) |
| M.S Computer Engineering | Sep 1, 2025 (Spring) Dec 15, 2025 (Fall) |
| MS in Computer Science | Sep 1, 2025 (Spring) Dec 15, 2025 (Fall) |
| M.S Cyber Security Engineering | Sep 1, 2025 (Spring) Dec 15, 2025 (Fall) |
| MS in Electrical Engineering | Sep 1, 2025 (Spring) Dec 15, 2025 (Fall) |
| M.S Engineering Management | Sep 1, 2025 (Spring) Dec 15, 2025 (Fall) |
| MS in Finance | Sep 1, 2025 (Spring) Dec 15, 2025 (Fall) |
| MS in Mechanical Engineering | Sep 1, 2025 (Spring) Dec 15, 2025 (Fall) |
| M.S Pharmaceutical Science | Sep 1, 2025 (Spring) Dec 15, 2025 (Fall) |
Also Check: US University Application Deadlines
University of Southern California Application Process
After thoroughly reviewing all the minimum requirements and deadlines, you begin your application for University of Southern California by following these steps:
- Gather all the required materials for admissions as mentioned above
- Complete your application and pay the required application fee
- The application may take 45 - 60 minutes to complete
- Recommended browsers for USC Application- Chrome, Firefox and Safar
- Upload required documents and materials as per the program requirements
- Submit official transcripts
- Submit test scores
You will receive a confirmation email within 2-3 business days after application submission. This email will include your 10 digit USC ID. You can track your application status.
Also Read: Guide to the U.S. University Application Process for Indian Students
University of Southern California Admission Decisions
The decision generally varies depending on program, season and number of applications received. Decisions for undergraduate applications are typically issued in December to mid-January for Early Action and by April 1 for Regular Decisions.
PG applicants can expect their decision by June for Fall admissions, while by December for Spring admissions. Decision
Majority of applicants apply to the University of Southern California between November to May. Applications received in this season typically take 15 business days to process.
University of Southern California Enrollment Process
After being accepted for University of Southern California, you must submit the remaining documents and confirm your admission within the given timeframe. Below are steps to follow after acceptance to USC:
- Complete the decision letter and intent to enroll form
- Pay the non-refundable deposit for commitment
- Activate your USC NetId
- Sign up orientation
- Provide the documents for health requirements:
- Health insurance
- Pay the health fee
- Register for the course
- Obtain the USCard to gain valuable services at USC
- Get your transcripts/degree verified
- Review international requirements:
- Submit New F-1 Student Request form
- Obtain USC I-20 form
- Upload financial documents
- Apply for housing by May 1, 2025 (UG first year students)
- Pay the tuition fee
Also Check: Guide to Apply for F1 Visa
Admission into USC is based on a number of factors. The school considers academic performance, feedback from faculties for admission into some specific majors, the personal characteristics of the applicant is among the utmost consideration of the university as it seeks to admit a diverse group of students who have wide perspective and passions which would set up a competitive atmosphere inside and outside the classroom.
FAQs
Ques. How hard is it to get into USC?
Ans. University of Southern California is one of the highly competitive universities with an acceptance rate of only 9.8%. Which means out of 82,027 applicants, only 8,050 are accepted for admission making it amongst the hardest universities to get into. The low acceptance rate also concludes that admission is not guaranteed even if one possesses a high GPA or test scores.
Ques. Can I get into USC without SAT?
Ans. Yes, a candidate can be considered for admission without submission of SAT scores based on what they present including overall academic performance, involvement in extracurricular activities, and other skills that demonstrate their eligibility.
Ques. What are the top 3 majors at USC?
Ans. The top majors that the majority of the students prefer at USC include Management, Business, and Marketing. Apart from this, students may also choose from majors like Communication, Social Science, Journalism, Computer & information system,s and Engineering.
Ques. Does USC give full-merit scholarships?
Ans. USC does offer merit-based scholarships for all students on the basis of academic performance, leadership skills, and other skills.
Placements & Recruiters
University of Southern California Placement Details
University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California, United States placement details include salary insights, top recruiters, and hiring trends to help students understand career outcomes and campus opportunities.
Students usually compare highest package, average package, and recruiter profile before applying. This section gives a compact overview of career outcomes and placement visibility in Los Angeles, California, United States.
Recruiters
N/A
Salary Metrics
0/2
Placement Metric
Average Package
N/A
Shows the typical package range students may expect based on the available average salary data.
Placement information is currently limited.
More salary or recruiter data may be updated later for this college.
Rankings over the years
Year-wise highlights from global and country rankings available for this university.
2022
Highlights
2022
2022
- Best overall country rank: #25
- Communication Studies: #5 in country
- Top source: ARWU
- 59 ranked streams
- Focus areas: Overall, Engineering
- 8 ranking records in 2022
2023
Highlights
2023
2023
- Best overall country rank: #27
- Sports Sciences: #7 in country
- Top source: THE
- 49 ranked streams
- Focus areas: Overall, Engineering
- 4 ranking records in 2023
2024
Highlights
2024
2024
- Best overall country rank: #18
- Communication Studies: #1 in country
- Top source: QS
- 57 ranked streams
- Focus areas: Overall, Engineering
- 5 ranking records in 2024
2025
Highlights
2025
2025
- Best overall country rank: #28
- Public Policy: #3 in country
- Top source: US News
- 47 ranked streams
- Focus areas: Overall, Engineering
- 5 ranking records in 2025
2026
Highlights
2026
2026
- Best overall country rank: #26
- Arts: #20 in country
- Top source: Collegedunia
- 7 ranked streams
- Focus areas: Overall, Engineering
- 3 ranking records in 2026
Contact Information
Student Reviews & Ratings
Overall sentiment and category-wise rating summary
Overall score
7.8/10
Top Rated
Based on 37 ratings
Rating Breakdown
Visual summary of rating distribution and categories
Live Summary
Academic
8.9/10
Faculty
8.8/10
Infrastructure
9.5/10
Accommodation
8.3/10
Placement
8.3/10
Extracurricular
9.2/10