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University of Southern California
With a 9.8% admission rate, no GPA makes University of Southern California a safety. The numbers below tell you what the admitted few look like.
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University of Southern California sits in Los Angeles proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. The university runs its own medical system, which colors both its budget and its biggest programs.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $192,897 four years out. 22.2% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 20,443 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 95.9% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1440 and 1550 — above the CA middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on University of Southern California's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of Southern California received 80,808 applications and admitted 8,094 (10%), with 3,633 enrolling.
You can apply to University of Southern California without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 1440 and 1550; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 700 | 730 | 760 |
| SAT Math | 740 | 780 | 790 |
| ACT Composite | 32 | 33 | 35 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How University of Southern California compares
| University of Southern California | California median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 9.8% | 75.7% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $72,097 | $23,000 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $92,498 | $64,778 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors University of Southern California: $92,498 median at year ten, versus $64,778 across California institutions.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $72,097 regardless of where you're from. At University of Southern California, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
University of Southern California is a big school: 20,443 undergraduates at last count.
91.8% of University of Southern California students finish a bachelor's within six years — 37 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $72,097 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at University of Southern California
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $192,897 |
| Computer Engineering | $166,369 |
| Real Estate | $143,977 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $131,532 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $125,514 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $121,101 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $115,839 |
| Industrial Engineering | $112,150 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $109,128 |
| Real Estate Development | $107,292 |
| Civil Engineering | $106,308 |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | $106,094 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $105,415 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $104,649 |
| Applied Mathematics | $101,094 |
| Chemical Engineering | $100,646 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | $96,120 |
| Economics | $94,435 |
| Cognitive Science | $93,440 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $91,726 |
| Public Health | $89,522 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $89,203 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $89,022 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $87,946 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $84,866 |
| History | $79,940 |
| Journalism | $79,776 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | $78,741 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $78,731 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $75,864 |
| Political Science and Government | $75,090 |
| Public Policy Analysis | $74,511 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $72,428 |
| Sociology | $70,555 |
| Psychology, General | $70,461 |
| Human Biology | $69,751 |
| Mathematics | $69,377 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $64,421 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | $63,353 |
| Biology, General | $63,125 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $59,455 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $59,345 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $59,088 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $58,623 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $58,462 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $57,246 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $55,208 |
| Chemistry | $54,966 |
| Philosophy | $51,831 |
| Social Sciences, General | $42,038 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $41,637 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $40,415 |
| Music | $34,124 |
Median earnings for these 53 University of Southern California programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $92,498 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 36 additional University of Southern California programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of Southern California?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1440–1550 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 9.8% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University of Southern California's acceptance rate?
10% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 8,094 admitted from 80,808 applicants.
How much does University of Southern California cost?
At University of Southern California, published tuition is $72,097 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is University of Southern California's ceiling, not a quote.
What do University of Southern California graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $92,498 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in California
- Pomona College — 7.1% admitted
- Harvey Mudd College — 12.7% admitted
- Claremont McKenna College — 9.6% admitted
- University of California-Los Angeles — 9% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.