First-year deadlines, 2026–27
| Plan | Deadline | Decision by |
|---|---|---|
| Early action Apply early, hear early, not binding. | November 1, 2026 | |
| Early decision Apply early, hear early, and you must enroll if admitted. Binding. | November 1, 2026 | |
| Regular decision The standard deadline, with answers in spring. Not binding. | January 10, 2027 | April 1, 2027 |
Plans are listed in calendar order. What the plans mean
Source: admission.usc.edu · checked September 26, 2026
What families actually pay
Average yearly net price after grants, all students, by family income
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, College Scorecard · data snapshot October 2, 2026
AP credit
Most-taken exams, lowest score that earns credit| Exam | Min score | University of Southern California course | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculus AB | 4 | ||
| Calculus BC | 4 | ||
| Biology | 4 | ||
| Chemistry | 4 | ||
| Physics 1 | 4 | ||
| Statistics | 4 | ||
| Macroeconomics | 4 | ||
| Microeconomics | 4 |
Show all 18 exams and every score level
| Exam | Min score | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculus AB | 4 | ||
| Calculus BC | 4 | ||
| Biology | 4 | ||
| Chemistry | 4 | ||
| Physics 1 | 4 | ||
| Statistics | 4 | ||
| Macroeconomics | 4 | ||
| Microeconomics | 4 | ||
| World History: Modern | 4 | ||
| Physics 2 | 4 | ||
| European History | 4 | ||
| Art History | 4 | ||
| African American Studies | 4 | ||
| Physics B | 4 | ||
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | ||
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | ||
| Precalculus | 4 | ||
| U.S. History | 4 |
Source: arr.usc.edu · checked September 19, 2026
Biggest majors
| Major | Graduates |
|---|---|
| Management Science | 1,346 |
| Computer Science | 352 |
| Human Biology | 278 |
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric | 235 |
| Psychology | 223 |
| Econometrics and Quantitative Economics | 178 |
| International Relations and Affairs | 124 |
| Political Science and Government | 120 |
Show the other 110 majors
| Real Estate Development | 110 |
| Computational and Applied Mathematics | 94 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 93 |
| Neuroscience | 90 |
| Cinematography and Film/Video Production | 90 |
| Journalism | 85 |
| Behavioral Aspects of Health | 82 |
| Acting | 79 |
| Public Relations/Image Management | 76 |
| Film/Cinema/Media Studies | 74 |
| Biology/Biological Sciences | 73 |
| Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering | 73 |
| Music Management | 72 |
| Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology | 65 |
| Cognitive Science | 64 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 61 |
| Philosophy, Other | 61 |
| Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts | 58 |
| Industrial Engineering | 53 |
| Environmental Science | 52 |
| Financial Mathematics | 50 |
| Design and Visual Communications | 50 |
| Electrical and Computer Engineering | 50 |
| Sociology | 49 |
| Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism | 49 |
| History, Other | 48 |
| Public Policy Analysis | 45 |
| Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation | 45 |
| Biochemistry | 40 |
| Creative Writing | 39 |
| Computer Engineering | 36 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 35 |
| International Public Health/International Health | 34 |
| Engineering-Related Fields, Other | 33 |
| Playwriting and Screenwriting | 31 |
| English Language and Literature | 31 |
| History | 30 |
| Chemical Engineering | 30 |
| Social Sciences | 29 |
| Game and Interactive Media Design | 28 |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology, Other | 28 |
| Structural Engineering | 26 |
| Digital Arts | 25 |
| Dance | 22 |
| Physics | 21 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences, Other | 20 |
| Gerontology | 20 |
| Political Economy | 20 |
| Music Performance | 19 |
| Art/Art Studies | 19 |
| Mathematics | 18 |
| Chemistry | 18 |
| Computational Biology | 17 |
| Informatics | 17 |
| Jazz/Jazz Studies | 15 |
| Philosophy | 15 |
| Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects | 14 |
| Spanish Language and Literature | 14 |
| Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology | 14 |
| Fine/Studio Arts | 13 |
| Geographic Information Science and Cartography | 12 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 12 |
| Environmental Studies | 12 |
| Musical Theatre | 10 |
| Art History, Criticism and Conservation | 10 |
| Music Theory and Composition | 9 |
| Voice and Opera | 9 |
| Occupational Therapy/Therapist | 9 |
| Stringed Instruments | 8 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 8 |
| Chemical Engineering, Other | 8 |
| Architecture | 8 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | 7 |
| Anthropology | 7 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Other | 7 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other | 7 |
| Keyboard Instruments | 6 |
| East Asian Studies | 6 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences | 6 |
| Civil Engineering | 5 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 5 |
| Music | 5 |
| Music, Other | 5 |
| Advanced Legal Research/Studies | 4 |
| Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| Dramatic/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Other | 4 |
| African-American/Black Studies | 3 |
| Civil Engineering, Other | 3 |
| Linguistics | 3 |
| French Language and Literature | 3 |
| Biotechnology | 3 |
| Astronomy | 3 |
| Archeology | 3 |
| Visual and Performing Arts | 3 |
| Brass Instruments | 3 |
| Pharmaceutics and Drug Design | 2 |
| Geology/Earth Science | 2 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology, Other | 2 |
| Comparative Literature | 2 |
| Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies | 2 |
| Near and Middle Eastern Studies | 2 |
| American/United States Studies/Civilization | 2 |
| Physical Sciences | 1 |
| Jewish/Judaic Studies | 1 |
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology | 1 |
| Biophysics | 1 |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 1 |
| Human-Centered Technology Design | 1 |
| Asian-American Studies | 1 |
| Area Studies, Other | 1 |
Bachelor’s graduates, first major, most recent year · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS · data snapshot October 2, 2026
Ranked programs
Where University of Southern California ranks in the top 25 on our top-programs lists, best rank first. How we rank programs
- #1 for Cybersecurityof 50 colleges
- #1 for Pre-physical therapyof 50 colleges
- #2 for Public healthof 50 colleges
- #3 for Aerospace engineeringof 50 colleges
- #3 for Business administration and managementof 50 colleges
- #3 for International businessof 50 colleges
- #4 for Computer engineeringof 50 colleges
- #4 for Real estateof 38 colleges
Show the other 15 ranked programs
- #7 for Information technologyof 50 colleges
- #8 for Civil engineeringof 50 colleges
- #8 for Industrial engineeringof 50 colleges
- #10 for Computer scienceof 50 colleges
- #10 for Electrical engineeringof 50 colleges
- #10 for Neuroscienceof 50 colleges
- #11 for Software engineeringof 50 colleges
- #13 for Businessof 50 colleges
- #14 for Biochemistryof 50 colleges
- #14 for Mechanical engineeringof 50 colleges
- #17 for Accountingof 50 colleges
- #17 for Biologyof 50 colleges
- #18 for Mathematicsof 50 colleges
- #19 for Biomedical engineeringof 50 colleges
- #24 for Financeof 50 colleges
Sports and campus life
Men’s varsity · NCAA Division I, Big Ten
Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf, Swimming and Diving (combined), Tennis, Track and Field and Cross Country (combined), Volleyball, Water Polo
Women’s varsity · NCAA Division I, Big Ten
Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Golf, Lacrosse, Rowing, Soccer, Swimming and Diving (combined), Tennis, Track and Field and Cross Country (combined), Volleyball, Water Polo
ROTC
Air Force, Army, Navy
Faith groups
Cru, Hillel, InterVarsity, Newman Connection
Also
Honors college, Study abroad
Greek life
3% of men in fraternities · 12% of women in sororities · 8% of undergraduates overall (Common Data Set 2025–26)
Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education athletics data (EADA), Common Data Set (Greek life), hillel.org · checked September 4, 2026 · data snapshot October 2, 2026
The place
Setting
City, large
Federal locale classification
Metro area
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
12,927,614 people
Big-city metro (1 million+)
Yes
More about the place
Nearest airport
Los Angeles International (LAX)
Nearest hub airport
Los Angeles International (LAX)
Walkability
EPA walkability index 17.2 of 20
Elevation
189 ft
Time zone
Pacific
January low
49°F
July high
82°F
Annual snowfall
0.0 in
Days at 90°F or higher
26 per year
One-bedroom fair market rent
$1,930 per month
Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education (IPEDS locale), U.S. Census metro estimates, NOAA climate normals, HUD fair market rents, EPA walkability · data snapshot October 2, 2026
Colleges nearby
- California College of ASU2 mi
- Antioch University-Los Angeles6 mi
- California State University-Los Angeles7 mi
- Loyola Marymount University8 mi
- Occidental College8 mi
- Otis College of Art and Design9 mi
Straight-line distance between campuses
Similar colleges
Private nonprofit, city campus, NCAA Division I, similar size
- Boston University18,656 students
- Cornell University16,051 students
- Northeastern University15,891 students
- Syracuse University15,739 students
- St. John's University-New York15,699 students
- Baylor University15,155 students