University of Southern California (USC)

Your Opinion: Is this School Hard to Get Into?
You already voted!

USC can be found in Los Angeles, CA, a nonprofit private college which focuses on only a select few programs offered. University of Southern California enrolls around 50,000 students annually.

The majority of students admitted to USC earned an SAT score in the range of 1360 - 1530, or got accepted with an ACT composite score within the range of 31 - 34. We were able to estimate the USC average GPA (3.82 - 3.96) of admitted students by applying sampled GPA data on over 150 schools. The competition to get accepted at this school runs high, given that only 10% of students who applied are admitted to the school. Using acceptance rate data from previous years, we can project that the USC acceptance rate in 2021 is going to be around 12%. You can get more information from the admissions office website at usc.edu.

Overall USC Acceptance Rate - Fall 2020

11.4%

The overall acceptance rate for University of Southern California was reported as 11.4% in Fall 2020 with over 66,200 applications submitted to USC. Both in state and out of state applicants are included in these figures. We do not have data on transfer acceptance rates currently.

Accepted Applicants Profile

  • USC ACT Scores: 31 - 34
  • USC Average GPA: 3.82 - 3.96

How Hard Is It to Get into University of Southern California?

Applicant Selectivity: High

USC has a very competitive selection process for applicants, where most students accepted have a higher than average high school GPA and scored in the top percentiles on standardized tests like the SAT or ACT exam.

Historical Trend and Acceptance Rate 2024 Projection

The historical trend chart shows acceptance rates from the previous years, from which we have projected the acceptance rate for the 2024-2025 school year. The overall acceptance rate trend for University of Southern California has been on a downward trend over the past few years.

Acceptance Rate By Year

  • 2016-2017: 16.6%
  • 2017-2018: 16.0%
  • 2018-2019: 13.0%
  • 2019-2020: 11.4%
  • Projected USC Acceptance Rate 2024-2025: 12.4%

How Does USC Compare?

11.4%
This School
56.7%
National Avg

The acceptance rate for University of Southern California is more than 100% lower than the national average of all colleges which is around 56.7%.

Nearby Similar College Acceptance Rates

SchoolAcceptance Rate
California State University-Los Angeles47.8%
University of California-Los Angeles12.3%
California State University-Dominguez Hills77.0%
California State University-Long Beach39.3%
California State University-Northridge59.3%

Admissions Rates & Enrollment Rates - Details

General Recommendations & Requirements for Admissions

  • High School GPA Scores are Required
  • School Records are Required
  • College Prep Classes are Required
  • Submit Recommendation Letters are Required
  • Standardized Test Scores (SAT,ACT,...) are Required
  • TOEFL Exam (Foreign Language Students) are Required

Number of Applicants, Percent Accepted, and Enrolled Students (Fall 2020)

TotalMaleFemale
Applicants66,19846.2%53.8%
Admitted7,55846.8%53.2%
Enrolled3,16845.4%54.6%

Average ACT/SAT Scores of Applicants to USC (Fall 2020)

SAT® SectionScore Range
Critical Reading670 - 740
Math690 - 790
Total Score1360 - 1530
ACT®Score Range
English32 - 35
Math28 - 34
Composite Score31 - 34
To learn more about the data and calculations that power this site, please visit our data discussion page.