Can you get into University of Southern California?
Los Angeles, CA · Private · 20,443 students Here is the class that got in, and where your numbers land inside it.
Add your GPA, or a test score, and the read appears here. Nothing you type leaves this page.
The admitted class · 2024
What it took to get in
Acceptance rate
9.8%
SAT middle 50%
1450–1550
median 1475
ACT middle 50%
32–35
median 34
Admitted GPA
~3.80
unweighted, 4.0 scale
Top 10% of class
73%
of admitted students
Testing
optional
34% submitted an SAT
Graduation rate
92%
within six years
Reported by the college
What University of Southern California actually reads
Colleges publish which parts of an application they weigh. It is the most useful thing they say about admissions and almost nobody reads it, because knowing that an essay is very important here and class rank is not considered changes where the work should go.
Very important
The parts of an application this school weighs most heavily.
- Grades
- Course rigor
- Test scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
Important
Weighed, though below the factors above.
- Extracurriculars
- Talent or ability
- Character and personal qualities
Considered
Looked at, but not decisive on its own.
- First-generation status
- Legacy
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not considered
Reported as playing no part in the decision.
- Class rank
- Interview
- Demonstrated interest
- State residency
- Where you live
- Religious affiliation
From University of Southern California’s Common Data Set, 2024, section C7, where colleges report how heavily they weigh each part of an application.
Admitted GPA · 2024
What GPA you need for University of Southern California
Admitted students average around a 3.80 (unweighted, 4.0 scale). A single average hides how compressed the top of an admitted class is, so here is the whole distribution:
- 3.75 and above78%
- 3.50 to 3.7415%
- 3.25 to 3.494%
- 3.00 to 3.242%
- 2.50 to 2.99<1%
- 2.00 to 2.49<1%
- Below 2.000%
Share of admitted students in each band, from University of Southern California’s Common Data Set. Colleges read GPA alongside course rigor, so a slightly lower GPA in harder courses can read stronger than the number suggests.
Real cost · 2024 data
What families actually pay
The sticker price is $90,300, but almost nobody pays it. Average net price at University of Southern California by family income, after grants and scholarships:
- Under $30k$13,516
- $30k–$48k$14,394
- $48k–$75k$19,539
- $75k–$110k$24,976
- Over $110k$56,116
U.S. Department of Education data: average net price per year for aided first-time students. Your number depends on your family’s finances.
Keep going
More on University of Southern California
Harder to get into
About as selective
Common questions
University of Southern California admissions, answered
What is University of Southern California's acceptance rate?
University of Southern California admits 9.8% of applicants (latest reported cycle: 2024).
What SAT score do you need for University of Southern California?
The middle 50% of admitted students score between 1450 and 1550. A score above 1550 clears the 75th percentile; below 1450, the rest of the application has to carry more weight.
What GPA do you need for University of Southern California?
Admitted students average around a 3.80 GPA (unweighted, 4.0 scale), and 73% ranked in the top 10% of their high school class. Colleges read GPA alongside course rigor, so a slightly lower GPA in harder courses can read stronger.
Is University of Southern California test-optional?
Yes, University of Southern California is currently test-optional. Submit a score if it falls inside or above the admitted middle 50%.
What does University of Southern California look for in an application?
University of Southern California reports that it weighs grades, course rigor, test scores, essay, recommendations most heavily, in its Common Data Set. Anything it lists as not considered is worth knowing too, because effort spent there does not count here.
How much does University of Southern California actually cost?
Sticker price is $90,300, but the average family pays $32,740 after aid. Families earning under $30k pay about $13,516 per year on average.
What Spike does with this
Use the University of Southern California read in your plan.
Spike helps connect your numbers with courses, testing, essays, activities, and the rest of your college list.
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