USC: What the Numbers Actually Say
USC has spent two decades converting itself from a regional name into a global one, and the enrolment table is where it shows: one first-year in five arrives from outside the United States, the highest share of any school profiled here. The rest of the numbers are a study in trade-offs — real selectivity and strong earnings on one side; on the other, a price and a borrowing rate that demand a family read the aid tables before falling for the campus.
USC admitted 11.2% of 83,488 applicants. The average net price after aid is $32,740, 34% of students borrow — the highest share among the elite privates profiled here — and the median graduate earns $92,498 ten years after enrolling.
At a glance
| University of Southern California | US median | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Los Angeles, CA | |
| Undergraduates | 20,768 | |
| Acceptance rate | 11.2% | |
| Applicants / admits | 83,488 / 9,345 | |
| Middle 50% SAT | 1460–1550 | |
| Middle 50% ACT | 32–35 | |
| Student–faculty ratio | 9:1 | |
| Average net price after aid | $32,740 | $20,150 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $92,498 | $53,038 |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,000 | $23,000 |
US medians are across every college reporting the figure to the College Scorecard — roughly 1,700 for net price and 1,800 for earnings.
Admissions: what USC says it weighs
USC drew 83,488 applications and admitted 9,345 — 11.2%. 40.2% of admits enrolled. The early round is non-binding Early Action.
| Application factor | University of Southern California says | How common that is |
|---|---|---|
| Academic GPA | Very important | 91% of schools say the same |
| Application Essay | Very important | 34% of schools say the same |
| Extracurricular activities | Very important | only 18% of schools say the same |
| Recommendation(s) | Very important | 32% of schools say the same |
| Rigor of secondary school record | Very important | 87% of schools say the same |
| Standardized test scores | Very important | 26% of schools say the same |
| Talent/ability | Very important | only 14% of schools say the same |
| Character/personal qualities | Important | only 22% of schools say the same |
| Class rank | Important | 47% of schools say the same |
| Level of applicant's interest | Important | only 10% of schools say the same |
| Alumni/ae relation | Considered | 40% of schools say the same |
| First generation | Considered | 65% of schools say the same |
| Interview | Considered | 41% of schools say the same |
| Volunteer work | Considered | 66% of schools say the same |
| Work experience | Considered | 69% of schools say the same |
| Geographical residence | Not considered | 62% of schools say the same |
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Not considered | 89% of schools say the same |
| State residency | Not considered | 57% of schools say the same |
The school’s own ratings from its Common Data Set filing, set against the 362 filings in our dataset. Bold rows are ratings fewer than a quarter of schools share — the places this school’s process is genuinely unusual. Declared weight is not submission policy; requirements change year to year and should be checked directly.
Two ratings are worth planning around. USC rates demonstrated interest important — only one school in ten declares that — so engagement genuinely counts, and its Early Action round is the natural way to show it without binding yourself. Character and talent also sit above the national norm, consistent with a school whose flagship programmes audition as much as admit.
The admitted middle 50% runs 720–760 on SAT reading and 740–790 on maths, with 33% of enrolled first-years having submitted an SAT score — a share that describes the class, not the current submission rules.
Cost: read the aid tables before the brochures
The sticker is about $89,087, and the average net price after grants is $32,740 — higher than 89% of American colleges. USC reports meeting 99.4% of demonstrated need, with an average first-year grant of $56,128.
| Family income | University of Southern California | US median |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $13,516 / year | $15,238 |
| $30,000 – $48,000 | $14,394 / year | $15,431 |
| $48,000 – $75,000 | $19,539 / year | $17,510 |
| $75,000 – $110,000 | $24,976 / year | $21,308 |
| Over $110,000 | $56,116 / year | $25,893 |
Average net price actually paid by aided US students at each income level, from the College Scorecard. Sticker price is what almost nobody at these income levels pays.
The borrowing column is where USC separates from the schools it competes with: 34% of students take loans — roughly double the share at the Ivies profiled here — and the median borrower leaves owing $18,000.
Outcomes
Median earnings, 10 years after entry · US median $53,038
Earnings of students from the lowest-income third · US median $42,600
Average net price after aid · US median $20,150
Median debt at graduation · US median $23,000
Bar length is the share of US colleges this school beats on each measure; the tick marks the national median. Price and debt are inverted, so a longer bar is always the better outcome. Source: College Scorecard.
Median earnings reach $92,498 ten years after enrolling, and students from the lowest-income third of families are earning a mean $97,700 a decade after they started. 95.2% of first-years return and 90.3% graduate within six years — solid figures that nonetheless trail the Ivy-tier schools this price competes against.
The campus: 20,768 undergraduates — a fifth of first-years international, the highest share profiled here — on a 9:1 student–faculty ratio with 58.3% of course sections under 20 students.
Frequently asked questions
What is USC’s acceptance rate?
11.2%. USC received 83,488 applications and admitted 9,345 students; 40.2% of those admitted enrolled.
How much does USC actually cost?
An average $32,740 a year after grants, against a sticker of about $89,087. A family earning $75,000–$110,000 averages $24,976. 34% of students borrow — the highest share among the elite privates profiled here.
Does demonstrated interest matter at USC?
Yes — USC rates an applicant’s level of interest important, a weight only about one school in ten declares. Engagement, visits and a considered “why USC” are worth real effort here.
What SAT scores do you need for USC?
The admitted middle 50% scored 720–760 on reading and 740–790 on maths, with an average high-school GPA of 3.85. Only 33% of enrolled first-years submitted a score.
Is USC good for international students?
By enrolment, the most international campus profiled here — 20.4% of first-years come from outside the US. International applicants should check USC’s aid terms separately; need-based aid differs for non-citizens.
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