University of Southern California

University of Southern California is extremely difficult to get into. The acceptance rate at University of Southern California is 13%. In 2023, just 8,884 out of the 71,031 students who applied were accepted.

If you are planning on applying to University of Southern California, the application fee is $85.

University of Southern California Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here's an overiew of some of University of Southern California's admissions stats.

University of Southern California 2023	Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA	3.8
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	80%
Admissions Test Policy	Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs	47%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	26%
Waitlist	No

University of Southern California Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for University of Southern California.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	Info Not Available	–	–
Early Decision II	–	–	–
Early Action	Yes	November 1	–

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Applying Early to University of Southern California?

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University of Southern California may or may not offer early admission, however the school has not provided any application information. Check with University of Southern California directly for more information about early applications.

🗓️ The Early Action deadline is November 1.

Some students apply early because they believe it will help their chances of being offering admission. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase your chance of acceptance, since it demonstrates your interest in a school.

➡️ Discover a list of some competetive colleges that admit significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on University of Southern California Admissions

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How Hard Is It To Get Admitted to USC?

Getting into USC is extremely difficult.

In 2022, USC accepted 13% of all applicants, approximately 8,884 from 71,031 applicants.

Schools that are extremely difficult to get into, like USC, accept fewer than 30% of all applicants. At least 75% of admitted students have GPAs in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1310 on the SAT or over 29 on the ACT.

Transferring to University of Southern California

For more information on transferring to University of Southern California, contact the school directly.

For Students Waitlisted to University of Southern California

University of Southern California has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What Does University of Southern California Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when determining who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college determines which factors are they consider most important in the admissions process. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that prioritize the areas where you're strong.

Admissions Factors at University of Southern California

Curious about the factors that are considered by University of Southern California during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Application Essay	Very Important
Recommendation(s)	Very Important
Standardized Test Scores	Very Important
Academic GPA	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Character/Personal Qualities	Important
Extracurricular Activities	Important
Talent/Ability	Important
Alumni/ae Relations	Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status	Considered
Volunteer Work	Considered
Work Experience	Considered
First Generation	Considered

Make sure to check with University of Southern California for more information on admission factors.

University of Southern California 2022-2023 Application Requirements

To apply to University of Southern California, all applicants must submit the following items. Check in with University of Southern California's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Interview	–	–	–	–
Transcript(S) of College Record	–	–	–	–
Standardized Test Scores	–	–	–	–
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)	–	–	–	–
Written Essay or Personal Statement	√	–	–	–
Transcript of High School Record	√	–	–	–

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into University of Southern California?

Students admitted to University of Southern California have an average unweighted GPA of 3.8.

Out of all students that were admitted, 28.57% submitted a class rank. At University of Southern California 80% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 95% were in the top 25% and 99% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At University of Southern California, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	26.25%
3.75 and 3.99	49.67%
3.50 and 3.74	16.57%
3.25 and 3.49	4.73%
3.00 and 3.24	1.59%
2.50 and 2.9	1.06%
2.00 and 2.49	0.13%

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to University of Southern California directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

University of Southern California is a test optional school. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 47% of University of Southern California's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 26% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for University of Southern California?

To be competitive with other University of Southern California applicants, you should aim to earn between 1330 and 1520 (or higher!) on the SAT. At University of Southern California 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1520 and 25% of scored lower than 1330, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of University of Southern California students scored 780 or higher and 75% of students scored 650 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of University of Southern California students scored 740 or higher, and 75% scored a 650 or higher.

To be most competitive at University of Southern California, you should strive to earn between 30 and 34 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 34 means you fall in the 75th percentile for University of Southern California's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 34, and three out of four students scored lower than 34 on the ACT.

A 30 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for University of Southern California students. Only one out of every four students scored below 30.

More Information on Transferring to University of Southern California

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is February 15. Applicants should hear back by May 31.

Transfer students can enroll in University of Southern California during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Spring Term

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University of Southern California Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to University of Southern California?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to University of Southern California.

Does University of Southern California accept transfer credits?

✅ University of Southern California accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. University of Southern California accepts:

• CLEP subject tests • DSST/DANTES

Does University of Southern California accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ University of Southern California accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to University of Southern California?

❌ No, University of Southern California is test optional, so you can choose whether or not to submit your ACT or SAT scores. If you have higher than average scores, you probably want to include them. If you scored lower than a school's average, you may want not want to include them in your application.

What is University of Southern California's acceptance rate?

✅ University of Southern California has an acceptance rate of 13%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at University of Southern California?

🟨 University of Southern California may or may not offer early decision. The school has not provided any information on early decision including ED acceptance rates.

Want To Learn More About University of Southern California?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

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