University of Southern California

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at USC was $66,640 a year.

Tuition increased 5% in 2023–from $63,468 the prior year. Usually, colleges raise tuition about 3% each year.

If this information makes going to college feel scary, remember, the total cost of tuition isn't necessarily what you will have to pay to attend a school. Many students pay way less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are applied. And, student loans can make thecost of college feel more doable until you're done with college.

University of Southern California meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student at University of Southern California is around $63,884 a year.

Students in the class of 2023 who had taken out student loans graduated with an average of $26,534 of debt.

University of Southern California: In-state vs. Out-of-State Tuition

University of Southern California is a private, nonprofit institution, which means it has the same tuition for students from California as it does for residents from other states.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Choosing a college where you qualify for in-state tuition can cut the cost of college tuition. Be sure to check your state's requirements for in-state residency. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. Most states require students to have resided in the state for a certain period of time before qualifying. There may be other criteria too, depending on where you live.

Explore other California colleges

University of Southern California International Student Tuition

Tuition at University of Southern California is the same for each student.

International students usually do not qualify for for federal financial aid, but may be eligible for private or University of Southern California-specific aid and scholarships. International students who demonstrate financial need may be eligible for the following types of financial support at University of Southern California:

•University of Southern California-specific scholarships

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships and athletic awards.

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University of Southern California Room, Board, Fees, and More

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Tuition is not the only cost of attending college; there are other costs associated with college, like room and board, facility fees, and books and supplies. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at University of Southern California.

Room and Board Costs at University of Southern California

Housing and campus dining at University of Southern California is $19,200 a year. This covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a meal plan that allows you to eat all or some of your meals the University of Southern California's on-campus cafeterias and dining facilities.

Meal-plan costs may vary depending on how many meals are included in the plan you choose.

How Much Do Books Cost at University of Southern California?

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The real cost of books depends on the courses you take and the materials required. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Annual Fees

The majority of colleges charge some yearly fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

There may be additional fees associated with participating in special activities, like joining a fraternity or sorority, or playing on an intramural sports team. Many schools have ways so that those with financial need to find ways to lower or eliminate these fees.

Transportation costs

The total cost of transportation in college depends on a few key factors. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Will you need to pay to park on-campus? Is the campus walkable? Do you plan to bring a car or will you need to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these questions can drastically impact your transportation budget. Keeping in mind, first-year students are allowed to park a car on campus.

Where are a college is located can impact transportation costs. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the other hand transportation in a city might be expensive, but cities may offer more trains, busses and low-cost flight options to actually get to school. University of Southern Californiais located in a city in California, not far from Los Angeles.

Other Costs

When estimating your budget for college, don’t forget to factor in the cost of things like entertainment, clothes, furnishings and toiletries.

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Financial Breakdown for University of Southern California

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Now, let’s go over all of the costs we've covered, to get a better estimate of what is really costs to go to University of Southern California.

Total Cost of University of Southern California

What will the cost of attending University of Southern California be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$66,640
Room and Board	$19,200
Other expenses	$1,820

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$90,457
Off-Campus	$69,437

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

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University of Southern California Financial Aid

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In 2023, 8,413 of the 20,790 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. University of Southern California meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $63,884 a year. Around 32% of University of Southern California undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. University of Southern California graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $26,534 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$17,916
Private Loans	$53,839

Most Common Loans for University of Southern California Students
Federal Loans	31%
Private loans	5%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on University of Southern California financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at University of Southern California

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, University of Southern California awarded 7,569 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $440.6 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $99.04 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of University of Southern California

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for University of Southern California students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at University of Southern California was $63,884 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of University of Southern California seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$26,573
Off-Campus	$5,553

What will attending University of Southern California really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families understand the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the University of Southern California's net cost calculator on their website.

University of Southern California Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Students cannot pay tuition in installments. Contact the financial aid office to verify this and discuss options.

Does USC Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes waiver tuition for certain groups, to make attending more affordable. Some colleges offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even with a tuition waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

University of Southern California's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

University of Southern California's endowment was valued at $5.7 billion in 2023, compared to a national average of $905 million.

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Learn More About University of Southern California

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