The University of Southern California is one of the primary research hubs of Southern California and home to some of the top undergraduate film and arts programs in the world. Ranked as the 28th best national university in the 2026 US News & World Report annual college ranking, USC is especially a favorite destination for the children of Hollywood’s elite.

What Is The University of Southern California?

Situated in the sunny Pasadena, California, USC’s campus houses a student body consisting of 9,508 full-time male undergraduates and 10,381 full-time female undergraduates, for a total undergraduate population of 20,630 (counting part-timers and gender nonconforming students).

The University of Southern California Admissions Requirements

There is no surefire way to get into USC. Even perfect grades and test scores, of course, do not assure admission. Still, it is helpful to understand the average academic profile of an admitted student to gauge how competitive any given application will be.

USC GPA Requirements

USC is one of the few elite colleges out there to actually maintain a minimum GPA requirement, at least for mathematics: as per the Undergraduate Admission website:

Students are expected to have earned a grade of C or better in at least three years of high school mathematics, including Advanced Algebra (Algebra II). Outside of mathematics, no specific curriculum is prescribed or required, though students offered admission typically pursue the most rigorous program available to them in English, science, social studies, foreign language and the arts. Careful attention is paid to preparation for the intended major.

Does USC Look at Class Rank?

As per USC’s admissions office:

Most admitted students are ranked in the top 10 percent of their graduating class, and their median standardized test score, if submitted, is in the top 5 percent of all test-takers.

Does this mean a 4.0 is necessary for admission? While not necessarily required, strong academic performance in high school is integral to a competitive application.

University of Southern California SAT/ACT Score Requirements

USC is one of the few remaining test-optional schools, meaning applicants do not have to submit SAT or ACT scores to gain admission. However, as loyal readers of Ivy Coach’s admissions blog know all too well, optional never means optional in the case of elite college admissions.

Case in point: 30% of members of the USC Class of 2028 (the most recent year for which we have such data) submitted SAT scores, while 12% submitted ACT scores.

	SAT	ACT
Median	1,520	33
Mid 50% Range	1,450 — 1,550	32 — 35

Does USC Superscore Students’ SAT or ACT scores?

A superscore combines the highest section scores from each test sitting for admissions evaluation. USC superscores both the SAT and the ACT.

However, submitting multiple test administrations is a gamble, as it suggests to USC that you had to work harder than many to achieve your scores. It’s not ideal. Students should submit more than one score only for superscoring.

What High School Courses Does USC Require?

USC’s Undergraduate Admission recommends the following high school curriculum.

• English and Literature: 4 years 
• Math: 3 to 4 years
• Foreign Language: 2 to 4 years
• Laboratory/Natural/Physical Science: 2 to 4 years
• History and Social Science: 2 to 4 years
• Academic Electives: 3 years

Of course, it would be unwise to take only two years of science, history, or foreign language classes. All highly selective colleges across America, USC or otherwise, expect applicants to excel in their core subjects for all four years of high school (and when it comes to foreign language, it is ideal to begin in eighth grade).

What Extracurriculars Does the University of Southern California Look For in Applicants?

Despite colloquial knowledge to the contrary, USC is not looking for applicants with well-rounded resumes. USC is looking for applicants who have excelled in all areas academically, but this admissions philosophy does not extend to extracurricular commitments.

Admissions committees at highly selective colleges across America prize students who are experts in their chosen field, whether those students are famed for their linguistics research, gold-medal skiing, or cutting-edge artistry. A depth of passion should shine through on the application. Curating students with such singular hooks creates a well-rounded cohort.

USC Application Requirements

USC applicants must complete The Common Application, including the USC-specific supplemental essays within the USC supplement, a counselor recommendation or a teacher recommendation (with some schools requiring additional letters), and have the option to submit test scores.

Let’s focus on how each component should be completed for the best shot at admission.

Who to Ask For Letters of Recommendation

Applicants to USC should ask a teacher for their recommendation, ideally a junior year teacher in a core subject, i.e., science, social studies, mathematics, a foreign language, or English.

Does USC Require an Alumni Interview?

USC does not conduct alumni interviews as part of the application process.

What are USC’s Supplemental Essay Topics?

Applicants to USC are asked to complete a series of questions that form one of the most important components of the application.  

The USC supplemental essay questions, to which applicants should respond in 250 words or fewer, are as follows:

• Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests and why you want to explore them at USC specifically. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections.
• Starting with the beginning of high school/secondary school, if you have had a gap where you were not enrolled in school during a fall or spring term, please address this gap in your educational history. You do not need to address a summer break.
• Many of us have at least one issue or passion that we care deeply about – a topic on which we would love to share our opinions and insights in hopes of sparking intense interest and continued conversation. If you had ten minutes and the attention of a million people, what would your talk be about? (Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences applicants ONLY)
• The student body at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering is a diverse group of unique engineers and computer scientists who work together to engineer a better world for all humanity. Describe how your contributions to the USC Viterbi student body may be distinct from others. Please feel free to touch on any part of your background, traits, skills, experiences, challenges, and/or personality in helping us better understand you. (Viterbi School of Engineering applicants ONLY)
• The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and their 14 Grand Challenges go hand-in-hand with our vision to engineer a better world for all humanity. Engineers and computer scientists are challenged to solve these problems in order to improve life on the planet. Learn more about the NAE Grand Challenges at https://viterbiadmission.usc.edu/challenges/ and tell us which challenge is most important to you, and why. (Viterbi School of Engineering applicants ONLY)
• What experiences and/or skills best prepare you for success in our World Bachelor in Business program? (Marshall School of Business applicants ONLY)
• How does the WBB program meet your educational and/or professional goals? (Marshall School of Business applicants ONLY)
• What skills do you find most useful in adapting to changing environments? (Marshall School of Business applicants ONLY)
• Acknowledging that the WBB does not offer a “traditional” or fixed residential experience, please explain why this alternative education experience is a good fit for you. Please share examples of how you plan to create unique or new opportunities in the WBB environment. (Marshall School of Business applicants ONLY)

USC’s short-answer questions, to which applicants should respond in 50 words or fewer, are as follows:

1. Describe yourself in three words. 

First Word:

Second Word:

Third Word:

2. What is your favorite snack?

3. Best movie of all time:

4. Dream job:

5. If your life had a theme song, what would it be?

6. Dream trip:

7. What TV show will you binge watch next?

8. Which well-known person or fictional character would be your ideal roommate?

9. Favorite book:

10. If you could teach a class on any topic, what would it be?

The University of Southern California Application Deadlines

USC has three admissions rounds: Early Action, Early Decision, and Regular Decision.

Admission through the Early Decision program for the Marshall School is binding. Those applications are due on November 1st of each year, as are the non-binding Early Action applications. Regular Decision is non-binding, with applications due on December 1st for programs requiring a portfolio or audition, and January 10th for all other applicants.

USC Acceptance Rate and Statistics

University of Southern California Class Year	Total Applications Received	Total Applications Accepted	Overall Acceptance Rate
Class of 2030	79,290	9,251	11.67%
Class of 2029	83,500	8,684	10.4%
Class of 2028	82,027	8,050	9.8%
Class of 2027	80,808	8,094	10.0%
Class of 2026	69,000	8,200	11.9%
Class of 2025	71,000	8,804	12.4%
Class of 2024	60,000	9,500	15.8%
Class of 2023	66,000	7,260	11.0%
Class of 2022	64,256	8,258	12.9%
Class of 2021	56,000	8,980	16.0%
Class of 2020	54,100	8,920	16.5%
Class of 2019	51,800	9,050	17.5%

How Ivy Coach Helps Students Get Into USC

If you’re interested in Ivy Coach’s assistance in optimizing your child’s case for admission to USC, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch with an outline of our college counseling services led by our team of former elite college admission officers.