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University of Southern California acceptance rate, GPA needed and real cost
Also known as USC
University of Southern California accepts 10% of applicants. It is a private university in Los Angeles, California, with about 20,443 undergraduates. The sticker price is $95,979 a year, but after aid the average family pays $33,056.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, checked October 29, 2026.
What GPA do you need for USC?
Even with a 4.0 unweighted GPA, Admitly estimates a typical applicant has about a 12% chance, so a top GPA is expected and the rest of the application decides most outcomes.
The U.S. Department of Education does not collect high school GPAs, so Admitly does not publish an "average GPA" figure. Colleges that report one do so in their own Common Data Set.
Chances of getting into University of Southern California by GPA
Assumes an SAT of 1475, the middle score for admitted students (tests are optional here). A higher or lower score moves these numbers. GPA is unweighted, on a 4.0 scale.
| GPA | Estimated chance |
|---|---|
| 3.0 | 1% Reach |
| 3.3 | 2% Reach |
| 3.5 | 3% Reach |
| 3.7 | 5% Reach |
| 3.9 | 9% Reach |
| 4.0 | 12% Reach |
Likely = 80% or higher, Target = 30–80%, Reach = under 30%. Course rigour, class rank, activities and AP scores all change the estimate.
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Check my chancesWhat families actually pay at University of Southern California
Yearly cost after need-based grants, by household income. Sticker price is $95,979 a year including room and board.
| Family income | Cost per year |
|---|---|
| Under $50k | $24,000 |
| $50k – $100k | $24,000 |
| $100k – $150k | $28,000 |
| $150k – $250k | $63,800 |
| Over $250k | $69,700 |
Outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, checked October 29, 2026.
Common questions about University of Southern California
What is the acceptance rate at University of Southern California?
University of Southern California admits 10% of applicants, according to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, checked October 29, 2026.
What GPA do you need to get into University of Southern California?
Even with a 4.0 unweighted GPA, Admitly estimates a typical applicant has about a 12% chance, so a top GPA is expected and the rest of the application decides most outcomes. This is an estimate from Admitly's admission model, not an official cutoff: course rigour, test scores, activities and essays all matter.
What SAT or ACT score do you need for University of Southern California?
The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1450–1550 on the SAT and 32–35 on the ACT. Submitting scores is optional.
How much does University of Southern California cost after financial aid?
The sticker price is $95,979 a year including room and board, but the average family pays $33,056 after grants. Families earning under $50k pay about $24,000.
What is the graduation rate at University of Southern California?
90% of students finish their degree, and 96% return for a second year.
Colleges similar to University of Southern California
- University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA · admits 9%
- University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, CA · admits 11%
- Stanford UniversityStanford, CA · admits 4%
- New York UniversityNew York, NY · admits 9%
- Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA · admits 11%
- Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY · admits 9%