Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
University of Southern California is a private national university located in Los Angeles, California. University of Southern California is very selective in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at University of Southern California is in the top 25% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $83,426 10 years after enrolling, 10th in California, and in the top 5% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, University of Southern California bachelor students earn 22% more than the national average. University of Southern California is ranked 32nd in California.
University of Southern California’s median net annual cost of $32,569 and average years to graduate of 4.3 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at University of Southern California sorted by number of graduates - Business Administration, Comms & Media Studies, Computer Science, Human Biology., Economics, Accounting - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$32,569
Average years to graduate
4.3
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #211
Economic score: 2.46
Applied Mathematics
Rank: #27
Economic score: 2.88
Real Estate Development.
Rank: #1
Economic score: 3.84
International Relations
Rank: #33
Economic score: 4.1
Neurobiology & Neurosciences
Rank: #14
Economic score: 4.98
Poli Sci/Government
Rank: #230
Economic score: 5.23
Psychology
Rank: #166
Economic score: 5.43
FIlm, Video & Photography
Rank: #25
Economic score: 6.89
Public Health
Rank: #96
Economic score: 8
Drama
Rank: #131
Economic score: 39.02
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at University of Southern California - Computer Science, Social Work, Business Administration, Quantitative methods Mgmt., Electrical Engineering, Education (subject specific) - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Engineering, Other
Rank: #8
Economic score: 0.38
Health Administrative Services
Rank: #60
Economic score: 0.46
Public Administration
Rank: #122
Economic score: 0.72
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #33
Economic score: 0.8
Student Counseling
Rank: #152
Economic score: 0.9
Gerontology
Rank: #3
Economic score: 1.19
Public Health
Rank: #152
Economic score: 1.3
Therapeutic professions
Rank: #154
Economic score: 1.58
Legal Research
Rank: #30
Economic score: 3.42
FIlm, Video & Photography
Rank: #16
Economic score: 3.94
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.3 years. 92% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at University of Southern California is 25% higher than the state average, and 25% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At University of Southern California, Pell Grant recipients represent 21% of the measured graduating class, 14% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at University of Southern California graduates within 4.3 years.
University of Southern California is in the top 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
University of Southern California’s economic mobility score of 19.53 is calculated by adjusting the 0.86 economic score of lower-income students by the 21% pell grant recipients within the student body. University of Southern California’s EMS of 19.53 ranks in the top 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 50%
The average Title IV recipient at University of Southern California pays $32,569 a year, $47,582 less than the $80,151 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $32,569
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At University of Southern California, 72% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $32,569 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 22% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $6,300. This is 32% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,215
Pell grants
$4,881
State grants
$8,917
Institutional grants
$36,359
University of Southern California's very selective admissions are indicated by their 13% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 71,031 applicants, of which 8,884 were admitted and 3,668 enrolled. University of Southern California doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
100%
83%
Female
55%
59%
First time
66%
59%
In-state
42%
68%
1st generation
25%
35%
White
35%
52%
Black
5%
14%
Hispanic
17%
15%
Asian
23%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
20%
12%