University of Southern California

Admission to the University of Southern California is highly competitive, though its acceptance rate sits near the middle of its peer group. In 2025, USC admitted 9.8% of applicants, which was higher than 57% of peer schools in its comparison group of private research universities with similar ranks. In the 2027 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, USC placed 27th, continuing a steady position in the upper twenties over recent years. When it comes to drawing admitted students, USC faces considerable competition: its yield rate stood at 43.3% in 2025, a figure higher than 23% of peer schools. Because fewer than half of admitted applicants choose to enroll, candidates with competitive profiles can view USC as an appealing option, while understanding that many admitted students ultimately weigh offers from competing institutions.

Admission to the University of Southern California requires strong academic preparation and competitive test marks. For the 2025 entering class, USC reported a median SAT score of 1500, which was higher than 24% of peer schools in its comparison group of similarly ranked private research universities. Enrolled students generally post scores near the top of standardized scales across both reading and math. Looking at applicant results, unofficial international applicant cases collected by Forward Pathway show that admitted students had a median unweighted GPA of 3.88 alongside a median SAT score of 1410. In contrast, rejected applicants in those records presented lower overall metrics. For prospective students planning their college lists, these figures demonstrate that competitive candidates typically combine near-top high school grades with strong testing credentials to contend for admission.

Academic programs at the University of Southern California show strong alignment between student enrollment and post-graduation earnings, though degree conferrals are moderately distributed. In 2025, the top three undergraduate majors accounted for 33.1% of bachelor's degree recipients, showing some concentration but leaving room across diverse disciplines. The largest undergraduate major was Management Science with 1,244 graduates, followed by Computer Science. Some of USC's largest programs overlap directly with its highest-ranked offerings, such as Game Design within Computer Science, which ranked 1st nationally in 2026 by U.S. News, and undergraduate Real Estate, ranked 3rd in 2027. Labor market outcomes are particularly lucrative for technology disciplines. In 2023 earnings data, median earnings one year after graduation reached $155,416 for bachelor's graduates in Computer Engineering and $153,063 for those in Computer Science. These outcomes confirm that USC's prominent technical and business programs deliver strong financial returns in the workforce.

The University of Southern California maintains an ethnically diverse student body across its undergraduate and graduate divisions, with graduate programs comprising the majority of overall enrollment. International and Asian students form substantial components of this community, especially in advanced study. In 2025, graduate international students numbered 9,557, representing 36.8% of all graduate students and constituting the largest single demographic group at that level. Asian students also represent a prominent share of advanced degree seekers, with 4,429 students accounting for 17.1% of the graduate population. Across undergraduate cohorts, White, Hispanic, and Asian students make up the largest domestic groups, supported by incoming transfer and freshman classes with balanced gender ratios. This demographic composition creates a cosmopolitan academic setting shaped by strong domestic representation and extensive global participation.

The student age distribution at the University of Southern California reveals a mature campus community across both undergraduate and graduate levels. In 2025, 60.3% of undergraduate students were between 25 and 29 years old, while 39.7% were aged 20 to 21. Graduate enrollment is almost entirely comprised of students in their mid-to-late twenties, with 99.9% of graduate students falling into the 25 to 29 age bracket. This concentration of students beyond typical entry-level college ages indicates that campus life is characterized by independent, career-focused individuals who may bring professional experience or prior academic credentials into academic discussions and social activities.

International student enrollment at the University of Southern California shows diverging patterns by academic level, with graduate programs driving global participation. In 2025, international students comprised 13.7% of all undergraduates, reflecting a slight long-term decrease from earlier years. Conversely, international graduate enrollment has expanded steadily, reaching 36.8% of the graduate student body in 2025. When examining degrees awarded, international graduates concentrate heavily in quantitative and technological disciplines. At the bachelor's level, international students made up 33.3% of graduates in Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, representing their highest undergraduate concentration. At the master's level, international representation is dominant in technical disciplines, where international students accounted for 78.2% of graduates in Computer Science, alongside large cohorts in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Informatics. Prospective international students will find well-established peer communities, particularly when pursuing advanced analytical and engineering fields.

Applicants considering the University of Southern California can explore several other prominent higher education institutions located within the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Occidental College, situated 8.4 kilometers away, provides an alternative educational setting as a liberal arts college ranked 38th in that category for 2027. Nearby comprehensive universities include Loyola Marymount University, located 8.3 kilometers away and ranked 109th among National Universities in 2027. Further west sits the University of California-Los Angeles, a public institution ranked 20th among National Universities and located 9.7 kilometers from USC. To the northeast in Pasadena, California Institute of Technology is ranked 5th among National Universities, located 12.1 kilometers away. These neighboring schools offer students diverse institutional environments and academic structures across Southern California.

Campus safety reports for the University of Southern California show an increase in reported activity in recent years, largely driven by non-violent property offenses. Forward Pathway's weighted crime rate per 1,000 students stood at 11.5 in 2025. Over the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, vehicle theft was by far the most prevalent offense, with 930 motor vehicle thefts recorded across the campus environment. Other frequently recorded incidents during those years included 153 stalking cases, as well as burglaries and assaults. Disciplinary referrals for drug violations and robbery were reported in smaller quantities over the same timeframe. The high concentration of vehicle-related offenses highlights property security as the primary daily safety issue for students, rather than pervasive violent crime. Families and students evaluating USC should take standard urban safety measures, particularly concerning personal property and vehicles.