USC Admission Requirements
Chances of getting into University of Southern California
University of Southern California
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
13%| 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 13% acceptance rate ranking it #6 in California for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 8,339 out of 64,352 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 41% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
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Calculate My ChancesUSC SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
1350-1530Applicants Submitting SAT
61%| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 660 |
| SAT Math 25th | 690 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1350 |
| 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 requires applicants to be in the top 8 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1350 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 1260. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1440 out of 1600. The school ranks #5 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. Note: SAT scores presented on this page have been adjusted upwards per the College Board's concordance tables for test takers after March 2016.
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Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1530 and Above | Good | >20% |
| 1440 to 1530 | Avg + | 13%-20% |
| 1350 to 1440 | Avg - | 8%-13% |
| 1260 to 1350 | Reach | 5%-8% |
| Less than 1260 | Low | <5% |
USC ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
30-34Applicants Submitting ACT
52%| 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 #8 in California for highest average ACT composite score. 52 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to University of Southern California.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 34 and Above | Good | >20% |
| 32 to 34 | Avg + | 13%-20% |
| 30 to 32 | Avg - | 8%-13% |
| 28 to 30 | Reach | 5%-8% |
| Less than 28 | Low | <5% |
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
3.73Typical High School Grades
A-You will need very good grades in high school to get into University of Southern California. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at University of Southern California was 3.73 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily A- students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #22 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 3.75+ | 57% | Good |
| 3.50 to 3.75 | 25% | Avg - |
| 3.25 to 3.50 | 12% | Reach |
| 3.00 to 3.25 | 4% | Reach |
| 2.75 to 3.00 | 2% | Reach |
| 2.50 to 2.75 | N/A% | Low |
| 2.25 to 2.50 | N/A% | Low |
| 2.00 to 2.25 | N/A% | Low |
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 34,320 | 30,032 | 64,352 |
| Accepted | 4,310 | 4,029 | 8,339 |
| Acceptance Rate | 13% | 13% | 13% |
| Enrolled | 1,723 | 1,678 | 3,401 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 40% | 42% | 41% |
Fall 2020 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Jan 10, 2020Days left to Apply
NoneThe application deadline for Fall 2020 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 10, 2020.
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to University of Southern California and what considerations affect 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 |
Other Colleges to Consider
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=123961 IPEDS survey data for University of Southern California.
Frequently Asked Questions
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?
13% 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 1350 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.