About
The University of Southern California is a private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in California and has an enrollment of more than 47,000 students.
Admissions & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Pell and non-Pell students graduate at nearly identical rates — a notably small equity gap.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 350 Title IV programs, 118 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 2 fail. 230 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing118 · 33.7%
- No Data230 · 65.7%
- Failing2 · 0.6%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
WASC Senior College and University Commission
Programmatic accreditations · 32
Action history · 60
- Nov 2025Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar · Law (LAW) - Professional schools
- Jul 2025Initial AccreditationAmerican Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology · Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) - Graduate degree programs
- Jan 2025Grant Substantive Change: ProgramAmerican Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation · Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS)
- Aug 2024Removal of Monitoring StatusAmerican Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation · Predoctoral
- Mar 2024Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Occupational Therapy Association, Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education · Occupational Therapy (OTM) - Programs leading to a Master's Degree
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 5,763 students received $35.4M in Pell grants, alongside $584.1M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 7,403 borrowers who entered repayment, 38 (0.5%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at USC
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 13
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus368
- Non-campus88
- Public property91
Includes 30 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
- National origin8
- Race2
- Religion2
- Sexual orientation2
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
- Parkside Residential Building1 fireOtherDamage $100-$999
- McMorrow Residential College1 fireCookingDamage $1,000-$9,999
- New North Residential College (EVK, Harris, College, University)5 fireswillful burning of paper towel in restroomDamage $100-$999
- New North Residential College (EVK, Harris, College, University)5 firesWillful burning of crumpled piece of paperDamage $100-$999
- New North Residential College (EVK, Harris, College, University)5 firesWillful burning of a small portion of curtainDamage $100-$999
- New North Residential College (EVK, Harris, College, University)5 firesAsh from intentional burning found in bathroomDamage $100-$999
- New North Residential College (EVK, Harris, College, University)5 firesOtherDamage $100-$999
Data quality: 26 reports were later determined unfounded across the reporting period and are excluded from the totals above.
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
USC vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions USC selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectUniversity of Southern California | 92% | — | 46,566 | $31,927 | R1 Research |
| 86% | 40.5% | 5,205 | $33,885 | R1 Research | |
| 96% | 5.4% | 11,956 | $26,572 | R1 Research | |
| 94% | 2.6% | 2,430 | $18,902 | R1 Research | |
| 94% | 11.7% | 15,888 | $31,671 | R1 Research | |
| 87% | 36.5% | 12,475 | $38,909 | R1 Research | |
| 96% | 4.0% | 35,173 | $20,148 | R1 Research | |
| 95% | 8.8% | 26,793 | $32,337 | R1 Research | |
| 97% | 5.7% | 17,499 | $34,454 | R1 Research | |
| 91% | 10.6% | 15,175 | $23,911 | R1 Research | |
| 98% | 3.6% | 30,259 | $16,816 | R1 Research | |
| 94% | 6.4% | 30,210 | $18,161 | R1 Research | |
| 96% | 4.5% | 11,886 | $19,813 | R1 Research | |
| 88% | 9.2% | 56,832 | $35,035 | R1 Research | |
| 95% | 7.7% | 23,856 | $27,143 | R1 Research | |
| 98% | 4.6% | 9,137 | $10,555 | R1 Research | |
| 95% | 8.0% | 8,961 | $12,640 | R1 Research | |
| 92% | 3.6% | 18,625 | $12,136 | R1 Research | |
| 84% | 45.9% | 22,589 | $41,026 | R1 Research | |
| 86% | 14.0% | 13,310 | $43,939 | R1 Research | |
| 96% | 4.5% | 18,566 | $18,967 | R1 Research | |
| 97% | 5.4% | 29,109 | $31,229 | R1 Research | |
| 85% | 40.1% | 11,946 | $30,248 | R1 Research | |
| 94% | 5.9% | 13,575 | $19,040 | R1 Research | |
| 94% | 12.1% | 16,357 | $22,117 | R1 Research | |
| 96% | 3.9% | 15,564 | $27,818 | R1 Research | |
| Peer group median | 94% | 6.4% | 16,123 | $26,858 |
Institutions like USC
Explore the federal data for institutions in USC's comparison group.
- R1 ResearchMassachusetts
Brandeis University
Grad rate86%Admit rate40.5%Enrollment5,205Net price$33,885View data - R1 ResearchRhode Island
Brown University
Grad rate96%Admit rate5.4%Enrollment11,956Net price$26,572View data - R1 ResearchCalifornia
California Institute of Technology
Grad rate94%Admit rate2.6%Enrollment2,430Net price$18,902View data - R1 ResearchPennsylvania
Carnegie Mellon University
Grad rate94%Admit rate11.7%Enrollment15,888Net price$31,671View data - R1 ResearchOhio
Case Western Reserve University
Grad rate87%Admit rate36.5%Enrollment12,475Net price$38,909View data - R1 ResearchNew York
Columbia University in the City of New York
Grad rate96%Admit rate4.0%Enrollment35,173Net price$20,148View data - R1 ResearchNew York
Cornell University
Grad rate95%Admit rate8.8%Enrollment26,793Net price$32,337View data - R1 ResearchNorth Carolina
Duke University
Grad rate97%Admit rate5.7%Enrollment17,499Net price$34,454View data - R1 ResearchGeorgia
Emory University
Grad rate91%Admit rate10.6%Enrollment15,175Net price$23,911View data - R1 ResearchMassachusetts
Harvard University
Grad rate98%Admit rate3.6%Enrollment30,259Net price$16,816View data - R1 ResearchMaryland
Johns Hopkins University
Grad rate94%Admit rate6.4%Enrollment30,210Net price$18,161View data - R1 ResearchMassachusetts
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Grad rate96%Admit rate4.5%Enrollment11,886Net price$19,813View data - R1 ResearchNew York
New York University
Grad rate88%Admit rate9.2%Enrollment56,832Net price$35,035View data - R1 ResearchIllinois
Northwestern University
Grad rate95%Admit rate7.7%Enrollment23,856Net price$27,143View data - R1 ResearchNew Jersey
Princeton University
Grad rate98%Admit rate4.6%Enrollment9,137Net price$10,555View data - R1 ResearchTexas
Rice University
Grad rate95%Admit rate8.0%Enrollment8,961Net price$12,640View data - R1 ResearchCalifornia
Stanford University
Grad rate92%Admit rate3.6%Enrollment18,625Net price$12,136View data - R1 ResearchNew York
Syracuse University
Grad rate84%Admit rate45.9%Enrollment22,589Net price$41,026View data - R1 ResearchLouisiana
Tulane University of Louisiana
Grad rate86%Admit rate14.0%Enrollment13,310Net price$43,939View data - R1 ResearchIllinois
University of Chicago
Grad rate96%Admit rate4.5%Enrollment18,566Net price$18,967View data - R1 ResearchPennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
Grad rate97%Admit rate5.4%Enrollment29,109Net price$31,229View data - R1 ResearchNew York
University of Rochester
Grad rate85%Admit rate40.1%Enrollment11,946Net price$30,248View data - R1 ResearchTennessee
Vanderbilt University
Grad rate94%Admit rate5.9%Enrollment13,575Net price$19,040View data - R1 ResearchMissouri
Washington University in St Louis
Grad rate94%Admit rate12.1%Enrollment16,357Net price$22,117View data - R1 ResearchConnecticut
Yale University
Grad rate96%Admit rate3.9%Enrollment15,564Net price$27,818View data
USC Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
The Office of Institutional Research collects, analyzes and disseminates data relevant to the daily operations, and role and mission, of the University of Southern California. Made available to university officials and to the public, this information supports university planning and helps maintain transparency.
Visit IR office page- Ray GonzalesDirector
- Matthew MarchakAssistant Director
- Sunnary AdevaSenior Institutional Research Associate
- Yunyun DaiSenior Researcher
- Sydney LiuCourse Evaluation Administrator
- Henry SunSenior Technical Project Leader
Common Data Set
USC's own annual Common Data Set: the most detailed self-reported reference for selectivity, cost, outcomes, and the student body.
Selectivity & Admissions
Admissions funnel
C182,027 applied → 8,050 admitted (9.8%) → 3,489 enrolled.
Selectivity
C1Most selective — 9.8% acceptance rate.
Admit rate by gender
C1Admit rate varies by gender.
SAT range (middle 50%)
C9Middle 50% SAT 710–760 (median 740).
ACT range (middle 50%)
C9Middle 50% ACT 32–35 (median 33).
High-school class rank
C10Share of enrolled first-years by HS class-rank band.
What matters in admission
C7Relative importance of each admission factor.
Affordability & Value
Cost of attendance
GTotal sticker cost of attendance is $90,907 (2025-2026).
Outcomes & Equity
Graduation & retention
B6-year graduation rate 92%; first-year retention 96%.
Academic Experience
Class-size distribution
I361% of classes have under 20 students; 12% have 50+.
Faculty profile
IKey faculty indicators.
Degrees by discipline
JSTEM-dominant: ~23% of bachelor's degrees are in computing, engineering, math & sciences.
Student Body & Diversity
Undergraduate race/ethnicity
B2Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity.
International students
B214% of undergraduates are international (nonresident).
Undergrad vs graduate
B120,630 undergraduates and 25,936 graduate students.
Transfer Path
Transfer admissions
D111,019 transfer applicants → 2,381 admitted (21.6%) → 1,339 enrolled
Source publications
Reports & documents (4)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DashboardDashboardoir.usc.edu
- Data definitionCommon Data SetThe Common Data Set (CDS) page on the University of Southern California's Office of Institutional Research website offers access to standardized data items and definitions for the purpose of enhancing the quality, comparability, and accuracy of institutional information. This data is shared among educators, journalists, and other stakeholders. The page provides links to the Common Data Set archives for various academic years, such as 2024-2025, 2023-2024, and earlier.oir.usc.edu
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- Strategic planThe 2018 USC Strategic Plan – Answering The Call2018The USC Strategic Plan 'Answering The Call' aims to position USC as a great research university of the 21st century by focusing on four key pillars: Values, People, Impact, and Transformation. The plan emphasizes ethical governance, investment in intellectual talent, tackling global and local challenges, and embracing change to secure a bright future for the institution. Adopted by the Board of Trustees in February 2018, the plan outlines the university's ambitions and practical guiding principles for progress.provost.usc.edu
Grants & funding (2)
Federal grant awards and open funding opportunities awarded to this institution.
Notable alumni of USC (24)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Neil ArmstrongAstronautics
- Frank GehryArchitecture
- Charles BoldenAstronautics
- Andrew ViterbiEngineering
- Randy JohnsonAthletics
- O. J. SimpsonAthletics
- Allyson FelixAthletics
- Lisa LeslieAthletics
- Bryan CranstonPerforming Arts
- George LucasFilm
- Will FerrellPerforming Arts
- John WaynePerforming Arts
Frequently asked questions about University of Southern California
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about USC.
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