Chances of getting into University of Southern California
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Elite | |
| Applicant Competition | Very High |
How hard is it to get into USC and can I get accepted? The school has a 16% acceptance rate ranking it #6 in California for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 9,618 out of 59,712 applicants were admitted making USC a very highly competitive school to get into with a low chance of acceptance for typical applicants. Academically, it has exceptionally high requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 8 percent. University of Southern California typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students. Only 36% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
Test Requirements
You must submit admission test scores with your application. University of Southern California is not a test optional school. Note: Please consult the school directly to determine if testing requirements are temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
USC SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
Applicants Submitting SAT
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 660 |
| SAT Math 25th | 680 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1340 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 740 |
| SAT Math 75th | 790 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1530 |
| Average SAT Score | 1440 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to University of Southern California?
University of Southern California typically prefers applicants to be in the top 9 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1340 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1240. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1440 out of 1600. The school ranks #4 in California for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 61 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1530 and Above | Good | >24% |
| 1435 to 1530 | Avg + | 16%-24% |
| 1340 to 1435 | Avg - | 10%-16% |
| 1245 to 1340 | Reach | 6%-10% |
| Less than 1245 | Low | <6% |
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USC ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
Applicants Submitting ACT
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 32 |
| ACT Math 25th | 28 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 30 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 35 |
| ACT Math 75th | 34 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 34 |
| Average ACT Score | 32 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into USC?
Admission data indicates that USC regularly accepts students with ACT's of 30 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 7 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 28 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 32 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 34 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #6 in California for highest average ACT composite score. 52 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to University of Southern California.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 34 and Above | Good | >24% |
| 32 to 34 | Avg + | 16%-24% |
| 30 to 32 | Avg - | 10%-16% |
| 28 to 30 | Reach | 6%-10% |
| Less than 28 | Low | <6% |
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USC GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
Typical High School Grades
What GPA do you need to get into University of Southern California?
Applicants require exceptionally good grades to get into USC. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at University of Southern California was 3.83 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily A- students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #16 in California for highest average GPA. Meeting these GPA requirements alone is not enough to gain admission as USC is a very selective school.
| High School GPA | Freshmen Within Range | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 26.52% | Avg + |
| 3.75 to 3.99 | 47.97% | Avg - |
| 3.50 to 3.74 | 18.24% | Reach |
| 3.25 to 3.49 | 4.59% | Reach |
| 3.00 to 3.24 | 1.6% | Reach |
| 2.50 to 2.99 | 0.96% | Reach |
| 2.00 to 2.49 | 0.12% | Reach |
| 1.00 to 1.99 | 0% | Reach |
| less than 1.00 | 0% | Reach |
GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2021
Similar Requirements
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 31,881 | 27,831 | 59,712 |
| Accepted | 4,988 | 4,630 | 9,618 |
| Acceptance Rate | 16% | 17% | 16% |
| Enrolled | 1,822 | 1,638 | 3,460 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 37% | 35% | 36% |
Fall 2022 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Days left to Apply
The application deadline for Fall 2022 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 10, 2022.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to University of Southern California is $85.
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to University of Southern California and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Neither required nor recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| Recommendations | Required |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Required |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | No |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=123961 IPEDS survey data for University of Southern California.
FAQs
Does University of Southern California prefer SAT or ACT?
61% of students submit their SAT scores to USC. 52% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into University of Southern California?
16% of those who apply are granted admission to USC. Admission competition is very high and the college has elite admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for University of Southern California?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1340 and 1530. 61% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for University of Southern California?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 30 and 34. 52% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.