We have compiled comprehensive and exquisite information about the USC acceptance rate by major.
The University of Southern California or USC as it is popularly called is a prestigious private research institution located in Los Angeles, California.
Founded in 1880, USC is the oldest private research university in California, and it sits on some 226 acres in an urban setting.
The University is composed of one liberal art school, which is the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. The institution offers a variety of 22 undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools that meet the requirements of thousands of applicants each year.
The University of Southern California enrols about 21,000 undergraduates and 28,500 postgraduate students from around the entire U.S. and over 100 countries.
So if you are an international student reading this, perhaps there is an opportunity for you to be at USC.
The University of Southern California has ranked as one of the top universities in the U.S, an accolade that secured the 27th position in the 2022 edition of Best College is National Universities. The school also utilizes a semester-based academic year.
As one of the elite institutions in California and the entire U.S., one might presume how highly selective the institution can be in the aspect of USC acceptance rate by major and overall acceptance rate.
The University of Southern California has an acceptance of 16%, and this indicates that out of 100 applicants, only 16 are admitted. Obtaining a very good GPA, SAT, or ACT scores are your best chance of attending USC.
Now, what could be the average required GPA and SAT/ACT scores at USC?
This question and more will be answered in this article.
Why Should I Study at USC?
Becoming a student of any highly-rated institution exposes you to a certain level of knowledge and opportunities. Now, talking about a university located in the state of California which has some of the biggest enterprises not just in the U.S but around the world, one might begin to perceive potential possibilities attached to acquiring an education at USC
The University of Southern California located in Los Angeles is a nonprofit private research university that was founded back in 1880. This makes it the oldest private research institution in California. USC has an overall acceptance rate 0f 16% which makes it more competitive for applicants, both domestic and international students.
USC currently remains one of the elite private universities in the U.S. with a wide range of world-renowned academic programs.
The institution recorded its all-time high of selectivity for the Class of 2025 with over 70,000 applications and only 12% were accepted.
The University of Southern California’s central campus commonly referred to as the University Park campus is located in Los Angeles’s Downtown Arts and Education Corridor.
The University Park campus sits on 226 acres where the USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Science, the Graduate School, and 20 professional schools are located.
Also, USC conducts programs in locations all over Southern California from downtown Los Angeles, Orange County, Santa Catalina, Sacramento, and even in Washington DC.
The number of graduate students at USC is more than the number of undergraduates.
The University of Southern California has a variety of highly-rated programs for students, from the prestigious Marshall School of Business, Rossier School of Education, Andrew and Erna Viterbi School of Engineering, Gould School of Law, Keck School of Medicine, and School of Social Work.
As a student of USC, you are not mandated to live on campus, but USC offers housing in its 40 residence halls and apartment buildings.
There are also activities to be engaged In, from over a thousand on-campus organizations ranging from religious groups to sports clubs.
The famous USC Trojans compete in the Pac-12 Conference and are well known for their legendary football programs.
So make all efforts to join the Trojan Family, and experience a world-class learning environment.
Also Read: All You Need to Know About the University of Bath Acceptance Rate
What is the Acceptance Rate of USC?
The University of Southern California admission is highly selective with an acceptance rate of 16%.
This shows the comparison between the tens of thousands applying each year and the rate of those accepted.
The acceptance rate at USC has been declining in recent years with 16.6% in 2016-2017,16.0% in 2017-2018, 13% in 2018-2019, and a record-breaking low of 11.4 in 2019-220. It is also projected that the USC acceptance rate will increase to 12.4% in 2023-2024.
In the fall of 2020, USC received an application from over 66,000 applicants comprising in-state and out-state and the overall acceptance rate was reported to be 11.4%.
Half of the applicants admitted to the University of Southern California had an SAT score that ranges from 1340 to 1530 or an ACT score of 30 to 34. One-quarter of admitted applicants obtained scores above these ranges and the other one-quarter scored below these ranges.
What Is The Average SAT/ACT score of admitted students?
The USC acceptance rate by major is still the main objective here, but let us identify the required SAT/ACT scores for a student to be admitted at USC.
The University of Southern California requires all intending applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores.
USC acceptance rate which is more selective requires an applicant to be in the top 10% of their class and also in the top 75 percentile in standardized test scores.
As a high school applicant, you will need an ACT score above 33 or an SAT score of 1540 or more to stand a chance of getting admitted into USC.
Those enrolled in the Class of 2025 sported middle-50th percentile standardized test scores of 1370-1520 on the SAT and 31-34 on the ACT. The middle-50th percentile GPA was 3.75-4.00 and one-quarter of this group earned a comfortable 4.0 GPA.
Also Read: 10 Outstanding Universities in the UK with the Lowest Acceptance Rates
USC GPA Requirements
Every educational institution has a standard minimum GPA requirement, which enables an applicant to just apply without immediate rejection.
Your GPA in high school gives you a better opportunity to attend any university of your choice.
At the University of Southern California, you are required to possess an average GPA of 3.79 and above from high school. This implies obtaining more A’s or B’s as minimum grades.
If your GPA is below the required average from USC, there is no need to be worried.
Hence your GPA is below 3.79, you will need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate for your low GPA. This helps you to compete effectively against other applicants with better GPAs than yours.
USC Acceptance Rate by Major
There are several majors at USC that are quite competitive to get into.
Here are the nine most popular majors for 2020 graduates
- Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services. 23%
- Social Sciences 12%
- Visual and Performing Arts 12%
- Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs 9%
- Engineering 8%
- Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies 6%
- Computer and Information Sciences and Support Service 5%
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences 4%
- Psychology 3%
Also Read: UCI Acceptance Rate By Major: All you need to know
USC Acceptance Rate for International Students
The University of Southern California has an acceptance rate for international students of 12%. This indicates good statistics for international applicants to get admitted to USC.
Notwithstanding, USC is a very friendly university for international students applying for first-year or transfer admission, and all International applicants are treated the same.
USC Admission Requirements for International Students
Since the University of Southern California accommodates International students from over 100 countries in the world, one might begin to have a perception of how diverse the USC community is.
Students who are existing residents in the U.S. and hold other non-immigrant visas like E2, H2, or L2 are considered international students.
General admission requirements for international students at USC
- Completed application form
- All academic transcripts from high school/senior secondary levels
- English Language Requirements: IELTS/TOEFL/PTE Academic scores
- Self-reported grades form
- Submit any additional documents as requested by the USC Office of Admission.
Other Admission Requirements
All intending international students applying to the University of Southern California are to follow this simple admission process:
- Complete the admission application and submit all required documents
- Apply for a study permit and entry visa immediately after you receive an acceptance letter from the university
- Students can obtain applications for these documents from a U.S embassy or consulate before departing
- International students can also apply for private loans with a qualified co-signer who is a U.S citizen while encountering challenges during their stay in the U.S.
Who Gets into USC?
The average statistics for demographics at USC for the Class of 2026.
Here are 7 states that produce the greatest number of freshmen for 2023-2024.
- California
- New York
- Texas
- Illinois
- New Jersey
- Florida
- Washington
The countries producing the greatest number of 2022-2023 international freshmen were
- China
- India
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- Hong Kong
- South Korea
- Taiwan
Looking at ethnic identity, the average breakdown of the class of 2026.
- Asian American: 24%
- Hispanic: 20%
- African American: 9%
- International: 13%
- White: 26%
- Multiple Ethnicity: 6%
The average breakdown by gender of the Class of 2026
- Male: 47%
- Female: 53%
The schools in which the Class of 2026 is enrolled were distributed as follows.
- Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences: 46%
- Marshall School of Business: 15%
- USC’s School of Visual and Performing Arts: 16%
- Viterbi School of Engineering: 12%
- Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism: 5%
Also Read: UC Berkeley Acceptance Rate By Major 2024
How Much Will It Cost To Attend USC?
The University of Southern California is ranked 4th out of the 50 most expensive colleges In America according to CBS News.
USC’s cost of attendance is $77,459 and this amount covers everything for an average student for one year.
Here is a breakdown of the cost of attendance for freshmen at USC.
- Tuition: $57,256
- Fees: $939
- Housing: $9,616
- Dining /meals: $6,300
- Books and supplies: $1,200
- Personal and miscellaneous: $1,564
- Transportation: $584
What Financial Aid Is Available At USC?
The University of Southern California has one of the largest financial programs in the U.S. Despite the USC acceptance rate of as low as 16%.
At USC, they believe that no one should be denied obtaining a college degree as a result of their family’s financial status.
USC is determined to meet the demonstrated needs of all undergraduates satisfying eligibility requirements.
About two-thirds of all undergraduates at USC receive some form of financial aid. These financial aids come in the form of merit scholarships, Federal Work-Study and loans, and need-based grants.
Over $611 million has been offered to students by way of need-based aid from all sources in the year 2017-2018. 20% of students from the fall of 2018 admittance received merit scholarships. Scholarships and grants comprise 75% of the financial aid awarded.
USC students tend to graduate with an average student debt of $36,787 and most of them manage to pay back their debt in the first five years. As a student of USC, you can expect an average financial aid of $31,496.
Conclusion
The University of Southern California solidifies its place among the top elite institutions in the U.S. An institution with a variety of majors to complement the diverse number of students from all corners of the globe.
The USC acceptance rate by major shows to be more selective and likewise the overall acceptance rate.
If you are still a high school student domestic or international, I urge you to obtain good grades, as it is your better chance to join the Trojan family.