Updated: Tuesday, September 8, 2026
The University of Southern California — or USC, as it’s best known — is a top research university and one of the most selective schools in the country. Located in sunny Los Angeles, California, it’s been a pioneer in academic and research initiatives since its beginnings in 1880. If you dream of being a Trojan, you’ll have stiff competition for admission. However, hard work and thorough preparation can help you stand apart from your peers.
How to Get into USC: Table of Contents
Before applying to USC, it’s important to understand the different admissions options and timelines offered. High school seniors must decide whether to apply in the early or regular admission rounds and stay on track to submit all their materials on time.
USC’s deadlines may vary by a day or two from year to year. Students applying to USC during the 2026-27 admissions cycle must submit their materials by these deadlines:
ED applicants will receive a decision in mid-December. Students applying Early Action can expect to receive a decision in mid- to late- January.
If you’re planning to apply to the World Bachelor in Business program through the Marshall School of Business, you must also submit your application by the ED/EA deadline, since this program does not participate in Regular Decision.
All RD notifications are released by April 1.
Students applying to majors within the Kaufman School of Dance, USC School of Dramatic Arts, and USC Thornton School of Music must apply through the Regular Decision process, since performing arts programs do not participate in Early Decision or Early Action.
USC offers three application deadlines: Early Action, Early Decision, and Regular Decision. However, it’s still important to understand the key differences between the different application options, including those that USC does not offer.
Early Decision (ED) and Early Action (EA) are early application deadlines offered by many colleges and universities. Unlike Early Action, Early Decision is binding — if you are admitted, you must enroll and withdraw all other applications. Consider applying ED to USC if it is your first choice and your application is strong enough without submitting senior grades.
Regular Decision is the most common admissions option and typically has the largest applicant pool. Students often choose this option if they need to include senior year fall grades with their application.
Finally, some schools offer rolling admissions. This option does not have strict deadlines. Instead, universities continue accepting applications until they meet their enrollment capacity. This often means students can apply any time from September to May, though applying earlier offers a better chance of admission. USC does not offer this option.
Many colleges and universities waitlist qualified applicants in the Regular Decision round because they do not have space for them in the incoming class. However, USC is one of the few highly selective schools that does not have a waitlist for undergraduate admissions. Students who apply RD will either be denied or granted admission.
Students who apply EA or ED to USC may be admitted or deferred. If you are deferred, it means that your application will be evaluated during the Regular Decision round. You may wonder what to do if you get deferred. Each school has different policies regarding deferrals. USC only accepts an EA Deferral Form and mid-year transcripts from deferred students.
USC has always been a selective institution, as the admission rates from the past four cycles show:
USC looks at your academic record and extracurricular involvement for all four years of high school, so it’s important to get an early start to maximize your chances of admission.
You may be wondering what does USC look for in applicants? USC is excited about academically rigorous students who have interdisciplinary interests and passions. While academic factors — such as GPA, course rigor, and test scores — are the most important elements that USC evaluates, they also have other considerations, like extracurriculars and non-academic interests. Your application should demonstrate a sustained commitment to developing your interests and leadership skills both in and out of the classroom.
Located in downtown Los Angeles, USC is perfectly positioned for those who want to be in the heart of the city. But you won’t know for sure if USC is right for you without visiting the campus. It’s important to plan your visit well in advance so you can register for an official campus visit through USC Undergraduate Admission. Keep in mind that USC does not track demonstrated interest, so visiting campus and interacting with admissions staff will not give you an advantage in the admissions process.
You can register for an information session and/or an academic department session as well as a student-led tour of campus. Prospective students can also attend the Discover USC Open House, which is scheduled in the fall. Can’t make it to campus? USC also offers an immersive virtual tour and other online programming.
If you come to campus, you have two options for connecting with students. You can find student ambassadors at the Admission Center who are happy to answer your questions. These ambassadors also lead campus tours, so take the opportunity to ask your tour guide about their experience as a USC student.
If you can’t visit the USC campus in person, you can learn more about student experiences by following current students on social media. The “Daily Trojan“ — USC’s independent student newspaper — is also a great source to learn more about life on campus.
Students will use the Common Application to apply to USC. Your application will consist of both hard and soft factors, which USC will evaluate under the holistic review process. Your academic record carries the most weight; however, the soft factors are what set you apart from peers with similar academic records.
Like most colleges, USC does not have an official minimum GPA requirement for admission. However, you can look at the admissions data for the most recent class to see the average GPA — the best source for this information is the Common Data Set. For the class of 2029, the average GPA was 3.85.
USC is currently test-optional; however, submitting a strong test score will only help your chances of admission. The middle 50% of students in the class of 2029 had a score range of 1470-1540 on the SAT and 32-35 on the ACT. If you have scores within this range, you should submit them — keeping in mind that USC superscores both the ACT and SAT.
Your personal statement is one of the most important soft factors of your application, since it gives the admissions committee insight into who you are outside of academics. You have seven Common App essay prompts to choose from, which provides an opportunity to write about almost any aspect of your life. Focus on being authentic — the admissions committee wants to know the real you.
In addition to your personal statement, you will be expected to respond to USC-specific prompts.
Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests and why you want to explore them at USC specifically. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections. (250 words).
The USC Student Commitment charges Trojans to “value honest, open communication and robust debate,” and to “champion ideological diversity and embrace freedom of expression.” Describe a time when you disagreed with someone you know about something important to you. Did you change your mind or reach common ground? (250 words max).
Starting with the beginning of high school/secondary school, if you have had a gap where you were not enrolled in school during a fall or spring term, please address this gap in your educational history. You do not need to address a summer break. (250 words).
Please complete 10 of 10 essays
Students applying to specific programs, schools, and colleges may have additional essays.
The USC letter of recommendation is another soft factor that helps the admissions committee learn more about you. USC requires one letter from either a teacher or your school counselor. If a teacher writes your recommendation, it should be someone who taught you in a core subject either junior or senior year and can speak to your academic performance and contributions to the classroom. Students applying to the School of Cinematic Arts are required to submit two recommendation letters.
USC does not offer interviews for undergraduate admission. However, prospective students have a dedicated admission counselor who can answer any questions they may have. It’s also worth noting that, while interviews are not part of the admissions process, students applying to performing, visual, and fine arts programs may be required to submit a portfolio or complete an audition.
USC admissions wants to admit students who will make an impact on the campus community in their own unique way. If you’re a USC hopeful, it’s important to showcase your academic and extracurricular interests and achievements in your application. This gives the admissions committee an idea of how you contributed to your school and the broader community — and how you might continue these contributions on USC’s campus.
Recent class profiles for USC can provide you with valuable information about admissions outcomes, class size, and the diversity of the student body. Here are just a few key statistics for admits to USC for fall 2025. Out of the approximately 83,500 applications USC received, 9,345 students received offers of admission.
| Acceptance rate | 11.19% |
| Class size | 3,759 |
| Undergraduate majors | 150+ |
USC is a major, multi-faceted research university in Southern California. The university boasts rigorously strong programs and opportunities in fields as varied as engineering and cinematic arts. A future star engineer or the next Steven Spielberg could be among your peers. There aren’t too many places like that!
The USC School of Cinematic Arts is one of the best film schools in the world, providing opportunities for future Hollywood pioneers and stars. Thanks to USC’s academic flexibility and commitment to interdisciplinary learning, students from any school or college can take classes at the School of Cinematic Arts — and vice versa.
The USC Museums have more than 25,000 objects in its collection. These works are displayed at the Pacific Asia Museum, Fisher Museum of Art, and across campus. The main campus also features 12 historically significant buildings. Across the street is Exposition Park, featuring several cultural attractions.
A discussion of USC wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Trojan athletics. A part of NCAA Division I, USC moved to the Big Ten conference in 2024. The USC vs UCLA rivalry is a big part of the campus culture. Additionally, USC has a long Olympic heritage, producing the most medalists and gold medalists of any U.S. university. The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum — USC’s football stadium — was the centerpiece of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. The Olympic cauldron is lit for every home game.
As you might imagine, USC boasts a number of notable alumni, including Neil Armstrong, George Lucas, Will Ferrell, John Ritter, Forest Whitaker, Shonda Rhimes, America Ferrera, and Lisa Leslie.
Where is USC located?
USC is located in Los Angeles, California.
What is USC known for?
In addition to being a world-class research university that attracts students from around the world, USC is known for its football program and school spirit. USC has one of the finest cinematic arts programs in the world and is also well known for its medical school.
How many students are at USC?
The current student population is around 46,000 — 21,000 undergraduates and 25,000 graduate and professional students.
What GPA do you need to get into USC?
While USC does not require a specific GPA for admission, the average high school GPA for the class of 2029 was 3.85.
What is the acceptance rate for USC?
The acceptance rate at USC was 11.19% for fall 2025 — making it a reach school for many students.
To gain admission to a competitive university like USC, most students could use a little help. A college admissions counselor specializes in guiding students through the entire admissions process, from building a competitive application strategy and balanced college list to brainstorming and writing strong essays and supplements.
At IvyWise, all our counselors have direct admissions experience at some of the most highly selective schools in the U.S., so they know exactly what it takes to stand out. Counselors that are accredited, experienced, and knowledgeable in the field will provide key advice to set applicants up for success. Schedule an Initial Consultation and take the first step toward becoming a Trojan.
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