Admissions
Getting in, fall 2025
U. Southern California admits about 1 in 9 applicants (11%). That puts it in the "Highly selective" tier, more selective than 97% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
Men and women were admitted at similar rates (11% and 9.1%).
Applicants from California and from other states were admitted at similar rates (11% and 9.8%).
$85 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Yield
40% of admitted students enroll, one of the highest nationally.
No wait list
Applying early
Early action (not binding): apply by Nov 1
No early decision plan.
Where you stand
How U. Southern California reads a record
and GPA are both very important; tests are important; class rank is considered. 80% of first-years had a 3.75 or higher, so and rarely sets an applicant apart; the courses behind it carry more of the weight. Scores are optional. 33% of first-years sent an SAT and 12% an ACT. Most first-years were admitted without scores. Of the 30% whose high school reported a rank, 69% were in the top tenth. Recommends 3 years of science and social studies (2 of each required). See the years by subject
What they look at
Considers whether an applicant's parent attended (legacy status).
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Considered | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Important | ||||
| Essay | Very important | ||||
| Recommendations | Very important | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Important | ||||
| Talent or ability | Important | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Very important | ||||
| First generation | Important | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Important | ||||
| Geographic residence | Considered | ||||
| State residency | Considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Important | ||||
| Work experience | Important | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program required; demonstration of competencies required; English proficiency test required
Transferring in
27% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 11% of first-year applicants
10,827 applied · 2,929 admitted · 1,544 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall and spring.
At least 1 semester completed to apply as a transfer.
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: priority date February 15, apply by May 31, decisions by June 30
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Standardized test scores
- Required of some
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required of some
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by January 10 for fall 2026.
- Priority date: November 1. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Decisions are sent by April 1.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1.
- $800 housing deposit, due May 31, non-refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: One year, in limited circumstances.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; doesn't accept the GED.
Recommends a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 4 |
| Math | 3 | 3 |
| Science (lab: 2 / 3) | 2 | 3 |
| Foreign language | 2 | 3 |
| Social studies | 2 | 3 |
| Academic electives | 3 | 3 |
| Total | 16 | 20 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.85
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.028%
- 3.75–3.9952%
- 3.50–3.7414%
- 3.25–3.494%
- 3.00–3.241%
- below 3.01%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.75–4.0.
All nine bands
| GPA | All |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 28.2% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 52.0% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 14.3% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 3.5% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 1.1% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 0.7% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 0.2% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
69% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 89% in the top quarter, of the 30% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:University of Southern California Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1505 on the SAT, 335 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students who entered in fall 2024.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
Nearly all who sent an SAT (95%) scored 1400 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an ACT (96%) scored 30 or higher.
90% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an SAT (93%) scored 700 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an ACT (93%) scored 30 or higher.
79% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
Shares of the 33% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 12% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:University of Southern California Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;University of Southern California Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;University of Southern California Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)