University of Southern California is the oldest research university in the state of California. Established in 1880, the university enrolls around 22.6% international students, being well-suited for students from all backgrounds. Students seek admittance into 95 bachelors and certificate courses along with doctoral and masters programs at University of Southern California. University of Southern California expects a minimum of Grade C or higher (~73-76%) from the prospective applicants. International students need a TOEFL iBT score of 100 with 20 or above in all sections for admission to undergraduate or graduate programs.
Want to have a student perspective on University of Southern California? Collegedunia reached out to Yash Shah a student of MS in Computer Science at the University of Southern California. The key points we learned from interviewing him are highlighted below:
Admission: With a GRE score of 316 Yash Shah secured admission to MS in Computer Science. The Minimum GRE score required for admission at University of Southern California is 305. Some of the other tips given by Yash are:
- Apply as soon as possible as students might get early admits early scholarships and visas. There was no interview for the admission process.
- Students with GPAs between 3.7 to 4 may get an easy admission. TOEFL was compulsory or take up a course in English after joining the university.
Scholarships: If you get a 4 out of 4 GPA in any subject then you are eligible for applying to the honors program. In honors program, you are eligible for a Teaching assistantship and your semester fees are waived off.
- If you don’t receive a scholarship. There are lots of openings for on-campus jobs. Students can work 20 hours a week and can earn around USD 1200 to USD 1500 per month.
- Yash suggested to Start applying early for part-time jobs in USA and get a minimum of USD 15 per hour.
Advice for Indian Students: There is a lot of competition at University of Southern California for admission. Yash suggested to apply as soon as possible for admission at USC as it increases the chances of acceptance.
- Start networking and meet people. Talk to seniors and alumni.
- Look for courses that are popular rather than looking at universities.
Check out our video review of University of Southern California and get full details related to fees, campus life, and much more.
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Likes:
- Abundance of Scholarships: The university offers a plethora of scholarships of various amount for international students. The scholarship value ranges from a few dollars up to full-tuition fees.
- Program Availability: Students seek admittance into 95 bachelors and certificate courses along with 140+ doctoral and masters programs at University of Southern California.
- Test Optional Admission: University of Southern California makes a holistic approach towards student acceptance and maintains a test optional admission process.
- Placement: USC is considered one of the best in the world in terms of placement. Top employers recruiting University of Southern California graduates include Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Siemens, Bank of America, Adobe, Deloitte. MBA Graduates of University of Southern California earn an average base salary 130,000 USD per annum. On top of that, the university is the largest private employer in the city of Los Angeles and generates 8 billion USD per year in economic impact. Also Check: University of Southern California Placements
Dislikes:
- Stringent Acceptance Rate: With an acceptance rate of 12.5% (2021) University of Southern California demonstrates a quite selective admission policy.
- Expensive City: Los Angeles is an expensive place to live and study. The tuition cost at USC is 63,468 USD excluding the living cost and personal expenses. Students on a tight budget might find it troublesome to study in the university without any financial assistance.
Explore: University of Southern California Student Profile
University of Southern California Rankings
University of Southern California is one of the top private universities in the USA. The rankings of the university according to some of the reputed ranking agencies are as follows:
| Ranking Agency | Ranking 2023 |
|---|---|
| QS World University Rankings | #134 |
| Best Global Universities US News | #80 |
| World University Rankings THE | #65 |
| Best Global Universities in Canada US News | #25 |
University of Southern California Ranking Comparison
Following are the subject-wise ranking comparison of some of the top programs at the University of Southern California according to QS Global Rankings, 2022:
| Subject | University of Southern California | Columbia University | University of Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering | #151-200 | #68 | #29 |
| Accounting and Finance | #51 | #12 | #8 |
| Business and Management | #82 | #22 | #7 |
Also Check the following comparisons:
University of Southern California Acceptance Rate
University of Southern California received 69,062 applications for the year 2022 out of which only 8,304 got accepted. This makes USC a highly competitive university with an acceptance rate of 12%. International students comprise 22.6% of the total student body of the university. The student enrollment details for the year 2022-2023 are as follows:
| Enrollment Type | Student Count |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 21,000 |
| Graduate and Professional | 28,500 |
| Total | 49,500 |
| International | 13,056 |
| International Student Percentage | 26.6% |
University of Southern California Campus
The university has two primary campuses, both located in the heart of Los Angeles. First, is the University Park Campus of USC, located in the University Park district of Los Angeles, 4.4 miles (7.08 km) southwest of Downtown Los Angeles and is also within walking distance to Los Angeles landmarks such as the Shrine Auditorium and Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC also has programs and centers in Marina Del Rey, Orange County, Sacramento, Washington, D.C., Catalina Island, Alhambra, and around Southern California.
- The university boasts 23 campus libraries with technology-enhanced spaces supporting individual and group study sessions.
- The campus computing lab provides access to 1000+ high-power personal computers and workstations. Students presenting a valid USCard can access the public computing centers spread all around the campus.
- Public computing centers generally remain open for 24 hours a day.
University of Southern California Accommodation
Campus accommodation is taken care of by the mammoth USC Village, a vast residential and retail center directly adjacent to USC's University Park campus. USC village has a wide retail space on the ground floor, with student housing on the four floors above. Estimated yearly living expenses (for suite and residence hall double room types) including two semesters of rent, default required full meal plans and optional parking, range from 14.04 to 16.09 lakhs INR for freshmen and 9.96 to 11.97 lakhs INR for upperclassmen.
On-Campus Accommodation
| Estimated Expenses | Cost of Residence Halls (INR) | Cost of Suite (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | 7.42 lakhs | 8.65 lakhs |
| Required Meal Plans | 4.87 lakhs | 4.87 lakhs |
| Parking (Optional) | 79,800 | 79,800 |
| Personal/Miscellaneous | 1.59 lakhs | 1.59 lakhs |
| Groceries | 17,980 | 17,980 |
| Total Estimated Cost | 14.87 lakhs | 16.09 lakhs |
Off-Campus Accommodation
USC offers an official off-campus housing directory, where students can find a perfect fit for their needs. Additionally, USC Housing has partnered with Off-Campus Housing 101 to provide students with listings of all available rentals from private landlords near both university campuses. All of these listings are within the USC Department of Public Safety Patrol Zone and offer consistent customer support to assist all students in obtaining their private rental housing. Mentioned below are the average rent of off-campus accommodation at University of Southern California:
| Accommodation | Average Rent (USD/Year) | Average Rent (INR/Year) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | USD 9,612 | 7.84 lakhs |
| 2 Bedroom | USD 6,347 | 5.18 lakhs |
| 3 Bedroom | USD 5,767 | 4.70 lakhs |
| 4 Bedroom | USD 5,715 | 4.66 lakhs |
Check: Student Housing in USA.
University of Southern California Admission
Freshmen undertaking an admission in USC must be sure to send their applications by December 1, which will be reviewed and selected by the end of January. Deadlines for graduate programs are set by individual academic departments and schools and may vary by program.
University of Southern California UG Admission
| Category | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Application Portal | Common Application |
| Application Fee | 85 USD (~6,460 INR) |
| Academic Requirement for Indian Students | A1 and A2 grades or scores above 80 |
| English proficiency test scores | TOEFL IBT: 100 | IELTS: 7 |
| Standardized Exam Scores | Optional |
| Admission Deadline | February 10, 2023 |
University of Southern California PG Admission
University of Southern California has a holistic admissions process. Each student is evaluated on a broad range of factors, including work experience, involvement in the community and volunteer work, leadership, personal and professional ethics, research and scholastic accomplishments, and obstacles they have overcome to achieve their goals.
| Category | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Application Portal | University Portal |
| Application Fee | USD 90 (INR 5,417) | B-school: USD 155 (INR 9,330) |
| GPA Requirement | 3.29 on a 4.0 scale (~87-89%) |
| English proficiency test scores | TOEFL IBT: 90 | IELTS: 6.5 |
| Standardized Exam Scores | Average GMAT: 732 | Average GRE: 321 |
| Additional Requirement | 3 LOR’s | Resume | Statement of Purpose |
| Admission Deadline | January 15, 2023 (closed) |
University of South California Cost of Attendance
International students are highly advised to formulate a fundamental list of expenses like accommodation, travel and stay before enrolling to study in the USA. An estimated cost of studying in USA for international students is as given below.Cost of Tuition at USC
International students are offered with 95 undergraduate and 147 academic and professional programs at University of Southern California. Plus, the graduate programs (also known as comprehensives) offer 134 masters, doctoral and professional degrees. Mentioned below are popular programs at USC along with their annual tuition fees:
International students are highly advised to formulate a fundamental list of expenses like accommodation, travel and stay before enrolling to study in the USA. An estimated cost of studying in USA for international students is as given below. The living expenses to study in University of Southern California are provided in the table below:
| Category | Cost in USD | Cost in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (12-18 units for two semesters) | 63,468.00 | 51.78 lakhs |
| Fees | 1,258.00 | 1.02 lakhs |
| Housing | 10,506.00 | 8.57 lakhs |
| Dining/meals | 6,930.00 | 5.65 lakhs |
| Books and supplies | 1,200.00 | 98 thousand |
| Personal and miscellaneous | 1,702.00 | 1.38 lakhs |
| Transportation | 584.00 | 47 thousand |
University of Southern California Scholarships
The university offers several scholarships for international students in USA. International students are automatically considered for scholarships when they apply for admission to the university. Additionally, there are also other external scholarship opportunities available for international students to study at USC.
| Award | Eligibility | Award amount |
|---|---|---|
| Trustee Scholarships | Outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and service. | full tuition and fees |
| International Scholar Awards | academic merit and financial need to international students. | Varies |
| Asian Pacific Alumni Association | minimum 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) | 1000- 5000 USD |
| Global Leader Scholarship | awarded to international students who demonstrate strong leadership potential and academic achievement. | Varies |
| International Freshman Academic | the top 10 percent of their high school classes | Varies |
| International Graduate Merit Scholarship | based on academic merit for graduate admission. | Varies |
| Graduate International Tuition Award | academic merit and financial need | Varies |
University of Southern California Placements
USC Career Center provides services and resources available to students including advising, job and internship opportunities, programs and workshops, and resources. Advisors are available a USC to review resumes, cover letters, discuss interviewing, strategize networking, and answer quick questions that students have.
University of Southern California has its alumni working across Adobe, Amazon, Microsoft, Deloitte, Bank of America, Nike, Morgan Stanley, Google, Siemens, Goldman Sachs and numerous other top companies in USA. Following are the employment details of University of Southern California MBA class of 2022:
| Salary | Amount |
|---|---|
| Median Base Salary | 130,000 USD |
| Average Base Salary | 130,976 USD |
| Median Signing Bonus | 26,500 USD |
| Average Signing Bonus | 29,473 USD |
| High-Low Range | 170,000-90,000 USD |
University of Southern California Alumni
University of Southern California has a strong alumni family of 437,712 members. A USC degree includes automatic lifetime membership in the USC Alumni Association (USCAA)—offering Trojans many ways to stay connected to one another and to the university, along with exclusive benefits such as:
- Lifelong career services, including job search assistance, mentorship opportunities, webinars, and events
- Special offers from the USCAA’s corporate partners for financial services, insurance, travel, etc.
- Online and on-campus discounts at campus retailers and eateries*, as well as access to USC’s research libraries; and
- FightOnline, where degreed alumni can connect with fellow alumni who share their passions, discover alumni activities that interest them, and much more.
University of Southern California Notable Alumni
| Name | Company | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Neil Armstrong | NASA | First human to walk on the Moon |
| Jane Goodall | University of Southern California | Emeritus Professor of Anthropology and Occupational Science. |
| Jerry Buss | Lakers | Owner of the Showtime Los Angeles Lakers |
| Kelly Preston | American actress and model | Worked in more than 60 television and film productions |
University of Southern California is one of the world’s leading private research universities. An anchor institution in Los Angeles, a global center for arts, technology and international business, USC’s diverse curricular offerings provide extensive opportunities for interdisciplinary study and collaboration with leading researchers in highly advanced learning environments.
FAQs
Is University of Southern California a top 20 institute?
University of Southern California ranks at #27 among National Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, 2022. The university ranks at #134 in the world according to QS Global World Rankings, 2023.
What GPA is required for admission to University of Southern California?
Students need at least grade C or a GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale for admission to University of Southern California. This is equivalent to 73-76% for Indian students.
Is University of Southern California hard to get into?
Admission to University of Southern California is quite competitive. The university demonstrates its highly selective nature with an acceptance rate of only 12.5%.
What is the cost of studying in University of Southern California?
The cost of pursuing the undergraduate programs at University of Southern California is 54 to 90 lakhs INR. For graduate programs at USC, students need around 56.7 lakhs INR annually.
What are the placement opportunities for University of Southern California graduates?
University of Southern California is one of the best universities in USA in terms of placement. Some of the top employers of the university includes Google, Amazon, Goldman Sachs, Nike, Morgan Stanley, Microsoft, Deloitte, Adobe, Bank of America, Siemens. MBA graduates of University of Southern California earn a median base salary of 130,000 USD per annum and an average signing bonus of 29,473 USD.
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