University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Official website ↗
10%
Admission rate
20,443
Undergraduates
$75,162
Tuition / yr
$95,048
Cost of attendance / yr
$103,420
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
1450–1550
SAT, middle 50% (approx.)
32–35
ACT, middle 50%
International students should also budget for health insurance, visa and travel costs not shown here.
Reference only. Automatically checked against the college's official pages on 2026-11-10; maintained by Jordan Lee, editor. Colleges can change policies at any time — confirm on the official page before you apply. Spotted an error? Tell us.
Financial aid & requirements for international students
| Aid & admission for international applicants | No need-based aid for international undergraduates International students are not eligible for need-based institutional aid; only merit awards or outside funding. Sources (2)“USC does not offer need-based financial aid for international applicants.”admission.usc.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-10“All international applicants who apply by the appropriate deadline are eligible for USC Merit Scholarships.”admission.usc.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-10 |
|---|---|
| Meets full financial need | No — does not promise to meet full need |
| Merit scholarships | Yes — international students can receive merit scholarships |
| SAT / ACT policy | Test-optional (SAT/ACT may be submitted)Source (1)“USC will continue our test-optional policy for the upcoming year, meaning that first-year applicants to the 2027-28 academic year are not required to send SAT or ACT scores to apply.”admission.usc.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-10 |
| English proficiency | English proficiency test required for non-native speakers
Sources (5)“All international applicants whose native language is not English, including those already residing in the United States, must submit a USC-approved English proficiency examination to be considered for admission.”admission.usc.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-10“TOEFL (or TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition): for an exam taken prior to 21 January 2026, a minimum score of 100 and no less than a score of 20 in each section. For an exam taken on or after 21 January 2026, a minimum score of 5 and no less than a score of 4 on each section.”admission.usc.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-10“TOEFL (or TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition): for an exam taken prior to 21 January 2026, a minimum score of 100 and no less than a score of 20 in each section.”admission.usc.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-10“IELTS (or IELTS Indicator) score of 7.”admission.usc.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-10“If you are not able to sit for one of the USC-approved examinations, you can instead sit for the Duolingo English Test. You must achieve a minimum score of 130.”admission.usc.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-10 |
Scholarships for first-year students
USC Merit Scholarships
Amount not published
Sources (3)
“All international applicants who apply by the appropriate deadline are eligible for USC Merit Scholarships.”admission.usc.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-10“Merit scholarships are not based on financial need and are awarded on the basis of a comprehensive, holistic review of an applicant’s candidacy.”admission.usc.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-10“Apply Regular Decision by December 1 to be considered for first-year admission to our performing arts majors and USC Merit Scholarships.”admission.usc.edu ↗ · checked 2026-11-10Location
| City / state | Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|
| Setting | Large city |
| Nearest major airport | Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), about 14 km in a straight line |
| Map | View on OpenStreetMap ↗ |
Setting from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard); airport from OurAirports (public-domain data).
Cost, admission rate, test-score ranges and earnings come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (retrieved 2026-11-11). SAT range adds the 25th/75th-percentile section scores, so it is approximate. Scorecard earnings are for federal-aid recipients.