Most international students will love to study at the University of Sothern California for one or two reasons. We have researched and written this post to expose details on how to Study at the University of Southern California.
Major Highlights include the University of Southern California admission requirements, acceptance rate, courses offered, ranking, tuition fees, scholarship opportunities, and notable alumni.
Here is a table of what to expect:
Table of contents
- About the University of Southern California
- Study at University of Southern California: Admission, Courses, Ranking, Tuition Fees
- University of Southern California Ranking
- University of Southern California Tuition
- University of Southern California Acceptance Rate
- Courses Offered at the University of Southern California
- Majors at University of Southern California
- University of Southern California Admission Requirements
- Notable Alumni of University of Southern California
- WE ALSO RECOMMEND
Before we fully break these things down, here is a little introduction about the University of Southern California.
About the University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private research university in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1880, it is the oldest private research university in California and has historically educated many of the nation’s (U.S.A) business leaders and professionals.
As an engine for economic activity, the University of Southern California contributes US$8 billion annually to the Los Angeles metropolitan area and California economy. It has also used its location in Los Angeles to establish relationships with research and cultural institutions throughout Asia and the Pacific Rim.
The University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 18,794, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 226 acres.
It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. The University of Southern California’s ranking in the 2020 edition of Best Colleges is 21. Its tuition and fees are $54,259.
The University’s central campus, the University Park campus, is located in Los Angeles’s Downtown Arts and Education Corridor.
It has other campuses in L.A. and sites around Southern California and in Sacramento, Calif., and Washington, D.C. Students can participate in the more than 1,000 on-campus organizations, ranging from religious groups to club sports.
University of Southern California students are not required to live on campus, but the university offers to the house in its 40 or so residence halls and apartment buildings.
A growing Greek life comprises over 50 chapters representing about 20 percent of undergraduate students. The University of Southern California Trojans compete in the Pac-12 Conference and are known for their legendary football program.
The University of Southern California comprises the USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and 22 graduate and professional schools.
The amount of graduate students exceeds the number of undergraduates at USC, with students enrolled in such programs as the highly ranked Marshall School of Business, Rossier School of Education, the Andrew and Erna Viterbi School of Engineering, Gould School of Law, Keck School of Medicine and School of Social Work.
History of the University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is also well known for its Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and its highly esteemed School of Cinematic Arts, which has graduated students such as directors Judd Apatow and George Lucas.
On May 1, 2014, the Office of Civil Rights was named as one of many higher education institutions under investigation the University for potential Title IX violations by Barack Obama’s White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual harassment.
USC is also under a concurrent Title IX investigation for potential anti-male bias in disciplinary proceedings and denial of counselling resources to male students, as of March 8, 2016.
In previous years, the University of Southern California came into the national spotlight when the Los Angeles Times published information about Carmen A. Puliafito, the dean of USC’s medical school.
After accusations of drug usage, he resigned from his position as dean in 2016 and was fired from the school the following year after the news stories were published. His medical license was then suspended pending a decision on whether it should be terminated.
In the subsequent year, the Los Angeles Times broke another story about USC focusing on George Tyndall, a gynaecologist accused of abusing 52 patients at USC.
The reports span from 1990 to 2016 and comprise using racist and sexual language, conducting exams without gloves and taking pictures of his patient’s genitals.
Inside Higher Ed pointed out that there have been “other incidents in which the university is perceived to have failed to act on misconduct by powerful officials” when it reported that the university’s president, C. L. Max Nikias, is resigning.
Tyndall was sacked after settling with the university. The school did not report him to state medical authorities or law enforcement then, though the LAPD is now investigating Tyndall. As of June 1st, 401 people had contacted a special hotline to receive complaints about the doctor.
Study at University of Southern California: Admission, Courses, Ranking, Tuition Fees
University of Southern California Ranking
The University of Southern California Ranking is currently 15th according to the US University ranking and 66th by the World University ranking.
University of Southern California Tuition
The annual list price to attend the University of Southern California full-time is $72,209 for all students, regardless of their residency.
This fee is the University of Southern California fee comprises $53,448 for tuition, $14,886 room and board, $1,200 for books and supplies and $811 for other fees. Below is a table with a breakdown of the various items and fees required at the University of Southern California.
| Items | Fee |
| Tuition | $53,448 |
| Books and supplies | $1,200 |
| Room and Board | $14,886 |
| Other fees | $811 |
| Other Expenses Budget | $1,864 |
| Total | $72,209 |
University of Southern California Acceptance Rate
The University of Southern California has an acceptance rate is 17.7% and a graduation rate of 91%. The average cost after aid is $30K.
Courses Offered at the University of Southern California
Business and Accounting
Global Supply Chain Management, M.S.G.S.C.M.
Master of Business Administration, M.B.A.
Master of Business Taxation, M.B.T.
Communication
Communication Management, M.C.M.
Computer Science
Computer Science, M.S.
Computer Science (Computer Security), M.S.
Computer Science (Data Science), M.S.
Computer Science (Scientists and Engineers), M.S.
Computer Science (Software Engineering), M.S.
Graduate Certificate in Software Architecture
Dentistry
Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine, M.S.
Certificate in Orofacial Pain
Certificate in Oral Clinical Pathology and Radiology
Geriatric Dentistry, M.S.
Certificate Program in Geriatric Dentistry
Master of Science in Pain Medicine
Certificate in Pain Medicine
Master in Community Oral Health
Certificate in Oral Health
Design
Master of Science in Integrated Design, Technology and Business, M.S.
Education and Teaching
Master of Arts in Teaching, M.A.T.
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, M.A.T.
Learning Design and Technology, M.Ed.
Global Executive, Ed.D.
Organizational Change and Leadership, Ed.D.
Special Education Credential
Gifted Education Credential
Engineering, Science, Technology
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Aerospace Engineering, M.S.
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (Computational Fluid & Solid Mechanics), M.S.
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (Dynamics & Control), M.S.
Mechanical Engineering, M.S.
Mechanical Engineering (Energy Conversion), M.S.
Dual Degree: Aerospace Engineering, M.S./Engineering Management, M.S.
Dual Degree: Mechanical Engineering, M.S./Engineering Management, M.S.
Astronautical Engineering
Astronautical Engineering, M.S.
Graduate Certificate in Astronautical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering, M.S.
Biomedical Engineering (Medical Imaging and Imaging Informatics), M.S.
Medical Device and Diagnostic Engineering, M.S.
Chemical, Materials and Petroleum Engineering
Chemical Engineering, M.S.
Materials Engineering, M.S.
Petroleum Engineering, M.S.
Petroleum Engineering (Geoscience Technologies), M.S.
Petroleum Engineering (Smart Oilfield Technologies), M.S.
Graduate Certificate in Smart Oilfield Technologies
Graduate Certificate in Petroleum Engineering (Unconventional Resources)
Dual Degree: Petroleum Engineering, M.S./Engineering Management, M.S.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Civil Engineering (Construction Engineering), M.S.
Civil Engineering (Structural Engineering), M.S.
Construction Management, M.C.M.
Electrical Engineering
Computer Engineering, M.S.
Electrical Engineering, M.S.
Electrical Engineering (Computer Networks), M.S.
Electrical Engineering (Electric Power), M.S.
Electrical Engineering (Multimedia and Creative Technologies), M.S.
Electrical Engineering (VLSI Design), M.S.
Dual Degree: Electrical Engineering, M.S./Engineering Management, M.S.
Industrial and Systems Engineering
Engineering Management, M.S.
Industrial and Systems Engineering, M.S.
Operations Research Engineering, M.S.
Product Development Engineering, M.S.
Dual Degree: Aerospace Engineering, M.S./Engineering Management, M.S.
Dual Degree: Mechanical Engineering, M.S./Engineering Management, M.S.
Dual Degree: Petroleum Engineering, M.S./Engineering Management, M.S.
Dual Degree: Electrical Engineering, M.S./Engineering Management, M.S.
Systems Architecting and Engineering
Systems Architecting and Engineering, M.S.
Graduate Certificate in Systems Architecting and Engineering
Additional Engineering, Science and Technology Programs
Cyber Security Engineering, M.S.
Green Technologies, M.S.
Financial Engineering, M.S.
Gerontology
Gerontology, M.S.
Aging Services Management, M.A.S.M.
Gerontology, M.A.
Long Term Care Administration, M.L.T.C.A.
Nutrition, Healthspan, and Longevity, M.S.
Certificate in Gerontology
Geographic Information Science (GIS)
Geographic Information Science and Technology, M.S.
Human Security and Geospatial Intelligence, M.S.
Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Science & Technology
Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Intelligence
Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Leadership
Health and Medicine
Academic Medicine, M.A.C.M.
Executive Master of Health Administration, E.M.H.A.
Nursing, M.S.N.
Public Health, M.P.H.
Master of Science in Pain Medicine
Certificate in Pain Medicine
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Law
Master of Laws, LL.M
Master of Studies in Law
Business Law Certificate
Online Compliance Certificate
Entertainment Law and Industry Certificate
Library Science
Library and Information Science, M.M.L.I.S.
Pharmacy
Management of Drug Development, M.S.
Regulatory Science, M.S.
Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research Design and Management
Graduate Certificate in Food Safety
Graduate Certificate in Patient and Product Safety
Graduate Certificate in Preclinical Drug Development
Graduate Certificate in Regulatory and Clinical Affairs
Professional Studies
Human Resource Management, M.S.
Project Management, M.S.
Psychology
Applied Psychology, M.S.
Public Policy
Public Administration, M.P.A.
Executive Master of Urban Planning Online
School of Social Work
Nursing, M.S.N.
Social Work, M.S.W.
Doctor of Social Work, D.S.W.
Majors at University of Southern California
Arts and Humanities
- Acting for the Stage, New Media, and Screen (BFA)
- American Popular Culture (B.A.)
- American Studies and Ethnicity (B.A.)
- American Studies and Ethnicity (African American Studies) (B.A.)
- American Studies and Ethnicity (Asian American Studies) (B.A.)
- American Studies and Ethnicity (Chicano/Latino Studies) (B.A.)
- Animation and Digital Arts (B.A.)
- Archaeology (B.A.)
- Architectural Studies (B.S.)
- Architecture (B.Arch.)
- Art (B.A.)
- Art History (B.A.)
- Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation (B.S.)
- Central European Studies (B.A.)
- Choral Music (B.A.)
- Cinema and Media Studies (B.A.)
- Cinematic Arts, Film and Television Production (B.A., BFA)
- Cinematic Arts, Media Arts, and Practice (B.A.)
- Classics (B.A.)
- Comparative Literature (B.A.)
- Composition (B.M.)
- Contemporary Latino and Latin American Studies (B.A.)
- Dance (B.F.A.)
- East Asian Area Studies (B.A.)
- East Asian Languages and Cultures (B.A.)
- English (B.A.)
- English (Creative Writing) (B.A.)
- Fine Arts (B.F.A.)
- French (B.A.)
- Gender Studies (B.A.)
- Health and Humanity (B.A.)
- History (B.A.)
- Interactive Entertainment (B.A.)
- Italian (B.A.)
- Jazz Studies (B.M.)
- Jewish Studies (B.A.)
- Iberian Cultures and Latin American, Media, and Politics (B.A.)
- Law, History, and Culture (B.A.)
- Linguistics/East Asian Languages and Cultures (B.A.)
- Linguistics/Philosophy (B.A.)
- Music (B.A.)
- Music Industry (B.M., B.S.)
- Music Production (B.M.)
- Narrative Studies (B.A.)
- Performance (Bassoon) (B.M.)
- Performance (Clarinet) (B.M.)
- Performance (Classical Guitar) (B.M.)
- Performance (Double Bass) (B.M.)
- Performance (Flute) (B.M.)
- Performance (French Horn) (B.M.)
- Performance (Harp) (B.M.)
- Performance (Oboe) (B.M.)
- Performance (Organ) (B.M.)
- Performance (Percussion) (B.M.)
- Performance (Piano) (B.M.)
- Performance (Popular Music) (B.M.)
- Performance (Saxophone) (B.M.)
- Performance (Studio Guitar) (B.M.)
- Performance (Trombone) (B.M.)
- Performance (Trumpet) (B.M.)
- Performance (Tuba) (B.M.)
- Performance (Viola) (B.M.)
- Performance (Violin) (B.M.)
- Performance (Violoncello) (B.M.)
- Performance (Vocal Arts) (B.M.)
- Philosophy (B.A.)
- Philosophy, Politics, and Law (B.A.)
- Religion (B.A.)
- Russian (B.A.)
- Spanish (B.A.)
- Theatre (B.A.)
- Theatre (Acting) (B.F.A., B.A.)
- Theatre (Design) (B.F.A., B.A.)
- Theatre (Sound Design) (B.F.A.)
- Theatre (Stage Management) (B.F.A.)
- Theatre (Technical Direction) (B.F.A.)
- Visual and Performing Arts Studies (B.A.)
- Writing for Screen and Television (B.F.A.)
- Accounting (B.S.)
- Anthropology (B.A.)
- Anthropology (Visual Anthropology) (B.A.)
- Business Administration (B.S.)
- Business Administration (Cinematic Arts) (B.S.)
- Business Administration (International Relations) (B.S.)
- Business Administration (Real Estate Finance) (B.S.)
- Business Administration (World Program) (B.S.)
- Cognitive Science (B.A.)
- Communication (B.A.)
- Computational Linguistics (B.A.)
- Computer Science/Business Administration (B.S.)
- Economics (B.A.)
- Economics/Mathematics (B.S.)
- GeoDesign (B.S.)
- Global Studies (B.A.)
- Health and Human Sciences (B.A.)
- History and Social Science Education (B.A.)
- Human Development and Aging (B.S.)
- Informatics (B.A.)
- International Relations (B.A.)
- International Relations (Global Business) (B.A.)
- International Relations and the Global Economy (B.A.)
- Journalism (B.A.)
- Law, History, and Culture (B.A.)
- Lifespan Health (B.S.)
- Linguistics (B.A.)
- Linguistics/Cognitive Science (B.A.)
- Linguistics/Psychology (B.A.)
- Middle East Studies (B.A.)
- Music Industry (B.S.)
- Non-Governmental Organizations and Social Change (B.A.)
- Occupational Therapy (B.S.)
- Philosophy, Politics, and Law (B.A.)
- Political Economy (B.A.)
- Political Science (B.A.)
- Psychology (B.A.)
- Public Policy (B.S.)
- Public Relations (B.A.)
- Real Estate Development (B.S.)
- Social Sciences (Economics) (B.A.)
- Social Sciences (Psychology) (B.A.)
- Sociology (B.A.)
- Urban Studies and Planning (B.S.)
- Applied and Computational Mathematics (B.A., B.S.)
- Astronomy (B.A., B.S.)
- Biochemistry (B.S.)
- Biological Sciences (B.A., B.S.)
- Biomedical Engineering (B.S.)
- Biomedical Engineering (Biochemical Engineering) (B.S.)
- Biophysics (B.S.)
- Chemical Engineering (B.S.)
- Chemical Engineering (Biochemical Engineering) (B.S.)
- Chemistry (B.A., B.S.)
- Chemistry (Chemical Biology) (B.S.)
- Chemistry (Chemical Nanoscience) (B.S.)
- Chemistry (Research) (B.S.)
- Computational Linguistics (B.S.)
- Computational Neuroscience (B.S.)
- Dental Hygiene (B.S.)
- Earth Sciences (B.A.)
- Economics/Mathematics (B.S.)
- Environmental Science and Health (B.A., B.S.)
- Environmental Studies (B.A., B.S.)
- Geological Sciences (B.S.)
- Global Health (B.S.)
- Health and Humanity (B.A.)
- Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Studies (B.S.)
- Human Biology (B.A., B.S.)
- Human Development and Aging (B.S.)
- Lifespan Health (B.S.)
- Mathematics (B.A., B.S.)
- Neuroscience (B.A., B.S.)
- Occupational Therapy (B.S.)
- Pharmacology and Drug Development (B.S.)
- Physical Sciences (B.S.)
- Physics (B.A., B.S.)
- Physics/Computer Science (B.S.)
- Quantitative Biology (B.S.)
Engineering, Computer, Quantitative, and Technical Sciences
- Accounting (B.S.)
- Aerospace Engineering (B.S.)
- Applied and Computational Mathematics (B.A., B.S.)
- Applied Mechanics (B.S.)
- Architectural Studies (B.S.)
- Architecture (B.Arch.)
- Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation (B.S.)
- Astronautical Engineering (B.S.)
- Biomedical Engineering (B.S.)
- Biomedical Engineering (Biochemical Engineering) (B.S.)
- Biomedical Engineering (Electrical Engineering) (B.S.)
- Biomedical Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) (B.S.)
- Chemical Engineering (B.S.)
- Chemical Engineering (Biochemical Engineering) (B.S.)
- Chemical Engineering (Environmental Engineering) (B.S.)
- Chemical Engineering (Nanotechnology) (B.S.)
- Chemical Engineering (Petroleum Engineering) (B.S.)
- Chemical Engineering (Polymer/Materials Science) (B.S.)
- Chemical Engineering (Sustainable Energy) (B.S.)
- Civil Engineering (B.S.)
- Civil Engineering (Building Science) (B.S.)
- Civil Engineering (Environmental Engineering) (B.S.)
- Civil Engineering (Structural Engineering) (B.S.)
- Computer Engineering and Computer Science (B.S.)
- Computer Science (B.S.)
- Computer Science (Games) (B.S.)
- Computer Science/Business Administration (B.S.)
- Electrical Engineering (B.S.)
- Environmental Engineering (B.S.)
- Industrial and Systems Engineering (B.S.)
- Informatics (B.A.)
- Mechanical Engineering (B.S.)
- Mechanical Engineering (Petroleum Engineering) (B.S.)
- Physics/Computer Science (B.S.)
University of Southern California Admission Requirements
SAT Requirements
The University of Southern California usually requires applicants to be in the top 9 percent of SAT test-takers.
The University consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1340 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach.
From our estimate, some students could be accepted with SAT’s as low as 1245.
The approximate average SAT composite for admitted freshmen is 1435 out of 1600. A competitive SAT score is analytical, as 61 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
ACT Requirements
Admission data indicates that the University of Southern California regularly accepts students with ACT of 30 and above. Successful applicants usually send ACT scores in the top 7 percent nationally.
From our estimate, the school accepts minimum ACT composite scores of around 28 sometimes.
Future students submitting an ACT composite of 32 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants – and students with a 33 and above have very competitive chances. 55 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to the University of Southern California.
Notable Alumni of University of Southern California
Over the years, the University of Southern California has successfully produced World beaters. Below is a list of some of the University of Southern California Notable alumni:
- Marouf al-Bakhit (M.P.A. 1982); 69th Prime Minister of Jordan
- Fayez Al-Tarawneh (M.S 1974, Ph.D. 1980); 73rd Prime Minister of Jordan
- Zulfikar Ali Bhutto; first democratically elected Prime Minister and President of Pakistan
- Abdurrahim El-Keib (M.S.E.E. 1976); Interim Prime Minister of Libya
- Ljupčo Jordanovski (Ph.D. 1985); ex-acting President of the Republic of Macedonia, Speaker of the Macedonian Parliament, and Macedonian Ambassador to the U.S.
- Takeo Miki; 41st Prime Minister of Japan
- Mohamed Morsi (Ph.D. Electrical Engineering 1982); 5th President of Egypt
- Shinzō Abe; 90th and 96th Prime Minister of Japan
- Kang Young-Hoon (M.A. 1966, Ph.D. 1973); 21st Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) Dean Heller (B.S. 1985) – United States Senator from Nevada
- Thomas H. Kuchel (B.A. 1932, LL.B. 1935); former U.S. Senator from California
- Jim Webb; U.S. Senator from Virginia Elizabeth Allen – director
- Zeenat Aman; Indian actress, model, and ex-Miss Asia Pacific (1970)
- Thom Andersen; film critic
- David Anspaugh; director
- Judd Apatow; filmmaker
- Gregg Araki; filmmaker
- John August; filmmaker
- June Bacon-Bercey, M.P.A 1979; television meteorologist, first African American and the first woman to be presented with the American Meteorological Society’s Seal of Approval
- John Bailey; cinematographer
- Hugh Beaumont; Methodist, television director, actor, and minister
- Walt Becker; filmmaker
- Jack Bender; executive producer of Lost
- Beck Bennett; actor and comedian of Saturday Night Live
- Laura Bialis; filmmaker
- Les Blank; documentary filmmaker
- Jeffrey Blitz; filmmaker
- Paul Harris Boardman; producer and screenwriter
- Robert F. Boyle; art director and production designer
- Charles Braverman; filmmaker
- Henry Bumstead; art director and production designer
- Bryan Burk; executive producer of Lost
- Keith Calder; producer
- Trey Callaway; screenwriter and producer
- Andrés Cantor; sportscaster
- John Carpenter; film director
- Adam Christian Clark; filmmaker
- Lily Collins; actress
- Sandro Corsaro; executive producer and creator of Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil
- Miranda Cosgrove; actress of iCarlyand singer
- Sean Covel; producer
- Buster Crabbe (B.A. 1931); actor
- J. Cutler (B.A. 1993); filmmaker
- Thomas Del Ruth; cinematographer
- Scott Derrickson; filmmaker
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