Frequently Asked Questions for Freshman Applicants
What GPA and test score is required for admission?
What were the average GPA and test scores of the most recent admitted class?
What standardized tests does USC require for admission?
What is the last SAT or ACT sitting that USC will accept for fall applicants?
How does USC treat Advanced Placement (AP) exams? Are AP scores factored into admission decisions? What kind of advanced credit does USC offer for these exams?
Does USC accept late applications?
Are USC application deadlines postmark deadlines?
English is not my native language. Am I required to take the TOEFL exam?
Is a personal interview required?
Does USC offer early decision or early action admission?
Does USC accept freshman and transfer applications for the spring semester?
What are USC's tuition and fees?
What GPA and test score is required for admission?
There is no minimum requirement or absolute "cutoff" for grades, class rank or test scores. USC evaluates prospective students through an individualized, comprehensive review process that takes these, and many other factors, into account. Regardless, we have found that GPA and standardized test scores are powerful predictors of success at USC, so they do play a significant role during our review process.
What were the average GPA and test scores of the most recent admitted class?
Click here to view the current Freshmen Profile (PDF).
Are SAT II exams required?
We only require SAT Subject tests from freshman applicants who do not attend a regionally accredited high school (e.g., home school, some non-accredited parochial or community based programs, even some newer schools). These students must submit three SAT Subject exams, including one in mathematics, in addition to the SAT or ACT. For all other applicants, these exams are optional, but recommended. We find them helpful in evaluating applications for merit scholarships.
What standardized tests does USC require for admission?
USC requires scores from the SAT or the ACT (with optional writing component) from:
What is the last SAT or ACT sitting that USC will accept for fall applicants?
We suggest that freshman applicants take all SAT and/or ACT exams by December of their senior year. Although we will accept scores from later sittings, we cannot guarantee that your results will reach us in time to be considered by our admission committee.
How does USC treat Advanced Placement (AP) exams? Are AP scores factored into admission decisions? What kind of advanced credit does USC offer for these exams?
USC awards 4 units of elective credit for each AP exam score of 4 or higher (for exams taken April 2008 or earlier, credit is awarded for scores of 3 or higher, except for Computer Science). Although these exams can only yield elective credit, some departments may also use their results for course placement or to waive degree requirements. A maximum of 32 units (8 exams worth of credit) can be earned.
Additionally, scores of 4 or 5 on the following AP exams provide general education credit:
- Art History (fulfills USC GE Category I)In order to receive USC credit as outlined above, AP exam results must be officially sent from the College Board to USC. We will not grant credit for AP scores reported on high school transcripts or on student test reports.
* Please note that a score of 4 of 5 on the AP Physics B exam will waive Architecture majors of the USC Physics for Architects (Physics 125) requirement.
For more information about AP exam credits, please visit the USC Office of Articulation.
If I am applying for scholarships, do the recommendation letters from my teachers and/or counselors need to be submitted by December 1 as well?
We prefer that scholarship applicants submit all required materials by the December 1st deadline.
Does USC accept late applications?
Applications postmarked after USC's deadlines will be considered late and may not be considered for the term in question. If this is the case, USC will automatically consider the application for the next available semester (the applicant will be informed if this is the case).
In no case will USC return a student's application or refund an application fee.
Are USC application deadlines postmark deadlines?
USC application deadlines are postmark deadlines. Therefore, as long as an application or other materials are mailed and postmarked by the deadline date, they will be considered on-time.
For students submitting online applications, anything submitted by 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time) of the deadline day will be considered "on time."
I am not a California resident. Will it be harder for me to gain admission? Will my tuition and fees be higher than those for California residents?
USC is a private university and thus has no state residency requirements. We recruit nationally and internationally and almost half of our student body comes from outside of California. Tuition and fees are the same for all students, regardless of state of residence or national citizenship.
English is not my native language. Am I required to take the TOEFL exam?
International freshman applicants whose native language is not English must take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the SAT or ACT. International transfer applicants must take the TOEFL unless they have successfully completed, or are currently taking, a college course equivalent to USC's freshman English composition (WRIT 130).
New international students whose native language is not English must demonstrate language proficiency by taking USC's International Student Examination (ISE) prior to their first registration at USC. The level of achievement on this test determines whether or not a student must enroll in intensive English classes at USC's American Language Institute (ALI) before or during their period of study at USC.
Certain students may be waived from taking the ISE:
- freshmen with TOEFL scores of 600 or more on the paper-based test (250 on the computer-based test) or 100 on the Internet Based (IBT) test with 20 or higher in each section or sufficiently high scores (approximately 600) on the Critical Reading and Writing sections of the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT I)Is a personal interview required?
Personal interviews are an optional part of the freshman application process. The University's Office of Admission offers on- and off-campus interviews throughout the fall. USC’s admission interviews are evaluative in nature, and the notes from each interview are considered by the committee during the review process. The School of Architecture does not conduct interviews.
The size of our applicant pool preludes the University from interviewing every applicant, therefore this element of the application is strictly optional. Appointments are limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Past history has shown that there is no appreciable difference in the admission rates of students who are not interviewed.
To sign up for an admission interview, please Click Here.
Does USC offer early decision or early action admission?
USC does not offer early decision or early action admission programs. All students who apply to the university by the appropriate deadline (December 1st for freshman scholarship applicants, January 10th for all other freshman applicants and February 1st or all transfer applicants) are given equal consideration in the application review process.
Does USC accept freshman and transfer applications for the spring semester?
USC no longer accepts freshman or transfer applications for spring admission. However, a small number of fall applicants may be offered spaces in the spring semester.
What are USC's tuition and fees?
See a full listing of tuition and fees on USC's Financial Aid Office website.