Private colleges in California · By CalChannel Editorial Team · Updated September 29, 2026
The University of Southern California admitted about 11% of first-year applicants for Fall 2025, or 9,345 of 83,488, according to its Common Data Set. USC is a private university in Los Angeles, not part of the UC system. Its 2026-27 cost of attendance is $103,162 on campus, but families earning $80,000 or less with typical assets pay no tuition.
USC and UC are two letters apart and completely different systems, and people mix them up constantly. The University of Southern California is a private research university with its own tuition, its own admission process and one of the largest financial aid programs in the country.
Here are the official numbers: how selective USC is, what it costs in 2026-27, how big it is and what it’s known for.
| Fact | University of Southern California |
|---|---|
| Type | Private research university (not part of the UC system) |
| Location | University Park, Los Angeles, just south of downtown |
| Founded | 1880 |
| Acceptance rate | 11.2% (Fall 2025: 9,345 admitted of 83,488 applicants) |
| Average high school GPA | 3.85 (Fall 2025 first-years) |
| SAT/ACT | Test-optional; middle 50% SAT 1470-1540, ACT 32-35 for those who submitted |
| Students | 45,815 total, 20,768 undergraduates (Fall 2025) |
| Tuition and fees (2026-27) | $75,384 tuition + $1,952 fees |
| Cost of attendance, on campus (2026-27) | $103,162 |
| Tuition-free threshold | Family income of $80,000 or less, with typical assets |
| Retention / graduation rate | 95% / 90% in six years (2019 cohort) |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 9:1 |
| Athletics | Trojans, NCAA Division I, Big Ten Conference |
Sources: USC Common Data Set 2025-26; USC Undergraduate Admission, 2026-27 Cost of Attendance. Full list at the end of the article.
In This Article
What Is the University of Southern California?
USC, the University of Southern California, is a private research university founded in 1880, which makes it the oldest private research university in California. It’s governed by its own board of trustees and organized into many schools, including the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, the School of Cinematic Arts, the Marshall School of Business, the Viterbi School of Engineering, the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and the Keck School of Medicine.
Undergraduates apply to USC through the Common Application and choose a first-choice major, so the school or program you apply to shapes much of your experience.
Is USC a UC School?
No. USC is private and has no connection to the University of California system, even though the names sound similar and both are in California. UC campuses such as UCLA and UC Berkeley are public, use the UC application and charge lower tuition to California residents.
At USC, tuition is the same for California residents and out-of-state students. That’s the practical difference: a Californian’s sticker price at USC is several times the in-state price at a UC, although USC’s need-based aid can close much of that gap for many families.
What Is the USC Acceptance Rate?
USC admitted 11.2% of first-year applicants for Fall 2025: 83,488 students applied, 9,345 were admitted and 3,759 enrolled, according to its Common Data Set 2025-26. That places USC among the most selective universities in California, alongside Stanford and Caltech.
| Fall 2025 first-year applicants | Applied | Admitted | Acceptance rate | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California residents | 32,499 | 3,692 | 11.4% | 1,701 |
| Out-of-state | 34,374 | 3,378 | 9.8% | 1,198 |
| International | 16,615 | 2,275 | 13.7% | 860 |
| All applicants | 83,488 | 9,345 | 11.2% | 3,759 |
Source: USC Common Data Set 2025-26, items C1 and C2 (residency by known address at time of application).
Unlike the UC and CSU systems, USC doesn’t give California residents a meaningfully easier path: the in-state admit rate was 11.4%, close to the overall figure. Californians do make up the largest share of the entering class, at about 45% of enrolled first-years.
How to Get Into USC
The University of Southern California uses holistic review, so grades, course rigor, essays, activities and recommendations all matter. The academic profile of admitted students is very strong: Fall 2025 first-years had an average high school GPA of 3.85, and 69% of those who reported class rank were in the top tenth of their class.
- Application: the Common Application, with USC-specific questions and a first-choice major
- Testing: USC is test-optional for applicants to the 2027-28 academic year; applicants without scores are not penalized
- Scores, if you send them: the middle 50% of Fall 2025 submitters scored 1470-1540 on the SAT and 32-35 on the ACT; 33% of enrolled first-years submitted SAT scores and 12% submitted ACT scores
- Early action: USC offers a nonbinding early action plan with a November 1 deadline; it does not offer early decision
- Some majors, such as those in cinematic arts, music, theatre and art, also require a portfolio or audition
So what does that mean in practice? Admission is very competitive in every category, so treat USC as a reach school even with top grades, and pair it with UC, CSU and other private California colleges on your list.
How Much Does USC Cost?
USC’s estimated 2026-27 cost of attendance for a full-time undergraduate is $103,162 living on campus, $102,792 off campus and $94,630 living with parents or relatives. Tuition is $75,384 for 12-18 units per semester, and it’s the same for California and out-of-state students.
| USC cost of attendance, 2026-27 | On campus | Off campus | With parents or relatives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (12-18 units, two semesters) | $75,384 | $75,384 | $75,384 |
| Fees | $1,952 | $1,952 | $1,952 |
| Housing | $13,510 | $13,140 | $8,776 |
| Food | $8,442 | $8,442 | $3,762 |
| Books and supplies | $670 | $670 | $670 |
| Transportation | $1,188 | $1,188 | $2,070 |
| Personal and miscellaneous | $2,016 | $2,016 | $2,016 |
| Total | $103,162 | $102,792 | $94,630 |
Source: USC Undergraduate Admission, 2026-27 Cost of Attendance. New students add a one-time $450 fee in their first semester.
Few families pay that full price. USC says nearly two-thirds of its undergraduates receive some form of financial aid, and it meets the full USC-determined need of eligible undergraduates who meet all deadlines. Families with an annual income of $80,000 or less and typical assets can attend tuition-free.
“USC’s sticker price passed $100,000 a year for 2026-27, and that number scares off a lot of California families who would actually pay less at USC than at a public university. If your family earns $80,000 or less, tuition is covered, and many middle-income families qualify for substantial need-based grants. Run USC’s net price calculator before you rule it out, and compare the result with your UC and Cal Grant estimates.”
CalChannel Editorial Team
To be considered for need-based aid, file the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application and the CSS Profile by USC’s deadlines. California residents can also use a Cal Grant at USC.
How Big Is USC?
The University of Southern California had 45,815 students in Fall 2025: 20,768 undergraduates and 25,047 graduate and professional students, according to its Common Data Set. That makes it one of the largest private universities in the country, with more graduate students than undergraduates.
Despite its size, the student-to-faculty ratio is 9:1. Students also finish: about 95% of first-year students returned for their second year, 71% of the 2019 entering class graduated in four years and 90% graduated within six years.
Where Is USC Located?
USC’s main University Park campus is in Los Angeles, a few miles south of downtown, next to Exposition Park and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where the Trojans play football. The Health Sciences campus, home to the Keck School of Medicine, is northeast of downtown in Boyle Heights.
The urban location is a big part of USC’s appeal. Students have easy access to internships and jobs in entertainment, media, business and tech across Los Angeles, and the Metro E Line stops near campus.
What Is USC Known For?
The University of Southern California is known for its School of Cinematic Arts, one of the most famous film schools in the world, and for its ties to the entertainment industry. It’s also well known for business through the Marshall School, engineering through Viterbi, communication and journalism through Annenberg, and its large alumni network, often called the “Trojan Family.”
Athletics are a major part of campus identity. The Trojans compete in NCAA Division I and joined the Big Ten Conference in 2024. USC football has one of the most decorated histories in college sports, and USC athletes have won more Olympic medals than athletes from any other American university.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the USC acceptance rate?
USC admitted 11.2% of first-year applicants for Fall 2025, or 9,345 of 83,488, according to its Common Data Set. The rate for California residents was 11.4%.
Is USC part of the UC system?
No. USC is a private university with no connection to the University of California. UC campuses such as UCLA and UC Berkeley are public universities with a separate application and in-state tuition.
How much is USC tuition?
USC tuition for 2026-27 is $75,384 for 12-18 units per semester, plus $1,952 in fees. The full cost of attendance on campus is $103,162. Tuition is the same for California and out-of-state students.
Is USC free for low-income families?
USC says families with an annual income of $80,000 or less and typical assets can attend tuition-free. Housing, food and other costs may still be covered partly or fully by need-based aid.
Does USC require the SAT or ACT?
No. USC is test-optional for first-year applicants to the 2027-28 academic year, and applicants without scores are not penalized. Scores that are sent are considered alongside the rest of the application.
What GPA do you need to get into USC?
USC has no minimum GPA, but the average high school GPA of Fall 2025 first-years was 3.85, and about 80% had a GPA of 3.75 or higher.
What is USC called in Spanish?
The Spanish translation is “Universidad del Sur de California.” It refers to the same university in Los Angeles; there is no separate Spanish-language campus.
The Bottom Line on USC
The University of Southern California is a private research university in Los Angeles with no ties to the UC system. It admitted 11.2% of Fall 2025 applicants, enrolls about 21,000 undergraduates, and is known for film, business, engineering, communication and athletics.
Its 2026-27 sticker price is $103,162 on campus, but families earning $80,000 or less pay no tuition, and most undergraduates receive aid. Apply by the November 1 early action deadline if USC is a top choice, file the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and compare USC with UC campuses and other private colleges in California, such as Loyola Marymount.
Sources
- USC Office of Institutional Research. “Common Data Set 2025-26.” usc.edu.
- USC Undergraduate Admission. “Financial Aid: 2026-2027 Cost of Attendance.” usc.edu.
- USC Financial Aid. “Cost of Attendance.” usc.edu.
- USC Undergraduate Admission. “Standardized Test Scores.” usc.edu.
- USC. “Affordability Initiative.” usc.edu.
- Wikipedia. “University of Southern California.” Wikipedia.org.
CalChannel Editorial Team California college guides
The CalChannel editorial team researches and writes guides to California colleges, admissions and financial aid. We build our college profiles and aid guides from colleges’ own published data, federal IPEDS data and the California Student Aid Commission. Read our editorial policy.
