University of Southern California
#1 Best Online Colleges in California- Graduation Rate
- 92% A
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $92,498 A+
- Top 2% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $32,740 F
- 91% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 10% A+
- Rejects about 90 of every 100 applicants
Bottom line: A B overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 18.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.6 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Online Colleges in California.
Every $1 spent returns $18.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,307,483.
What The Data Says
-
A B overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Graduates earn 127% more than the national college median.
-
A 92% graduation rate — 61% above the national average.
-
A top feeder school for 3 major employers.
-
Social mobility rate of 3.93% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.8%
- Top 28%
- Patents
- 229
- Linked to graduates
- World Rank
- #73
- Times Higher Education
- Employer Pipelines
- 3
- Top feeder programs
- Patent Citations
- 1,283
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 49/100
- Times Higher Education
Why University of Southern California Matters
University of Southern California is a private research university in Los Angeles, CA ranked #73 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by exceptional admissions selectivity, a top-tier research enterprise, an unusually high rate of inventors and patents, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 2% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 20,443
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Visual & Performing Arts, Communications
Why students choose University of Southern California
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Highly selective — admits about 10% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1450–1550. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $32,740 a year after grants and scholarships — 91% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $92,498 ten years after enrolling — 127% above the typical college, against $18,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 4% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.78 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
The University of Southern California has an impressive graduation rate of 92%. This reflects the institution's strong commitment to student success and academic support. Students here are likely to find a community that encourages them to complete their degrees on time.
According to data from Opportunity Insights, while specific mobility metrics are not available, the high graduation rate suggests that many students are able to improve their economic prospects through education. Graduates from USC earn a median salary of $92,498 a decade after leaving, indicating a solid return on investment for their education.
The cost of attendance at USC is $32,740, with a median debt of $18,000 for those who borrow. This financial landscape makes it essential for prospective students to consider their funding options. Students who thrive at USC often have a clear focus on their career paths, particularly in fields like business, arts, and technology.
Rankings
- #1 Best Online Colleges in California
- #2 Best MBA Programs in California
- #3 Best Business Colleges in California
- #3 Best Communications Colleges in California
- #3 Best MBA Programs for Supply Chain Management
- #5 Best Colleges in California
- #5 Best Colleges in Far West
- #5 Best Colleges in Pacific Northwest
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Southern California is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Southern California? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Los Angeles, California, University of Southern California turns away the vast majority of its applicants. The acceptance rate is 10%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,495. The graduation rate is roughly 92%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 10%
- Retention Rate
- 96%
- SAT Average
- 1495
- ACT Midpoint
- 34
- SAT Range
- 1450–1550
- ACT Range
- 32–35
- Full-Time Faculty
- 59%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $17,924
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 9:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.81
- First-Gen Students
- 25%
- Applicants
- 69,062
- Admitted
- 8,304
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard University of Southern California is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 43% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school many admits weigh against other offers.
- Yield Rate
- 43%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 30%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 12%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 42% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Southern California? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Southern California is $72,097, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $32,740. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,516 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $72,097
- Out-of-State
- $72,097
- Avg Net Price
- $32,740
- Median Debt
- $18,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 22%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 24%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $13,516
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $14,394
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $19,539
- Family Income $110K+
- $56,116
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University of Southern California — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Southern California Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Southern California earn a median of $92,498, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $74,461
- 8 Years
- $87,601
- 10 Years
- $92,498
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.19x
- Earning > $25K
- 81%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (2,426)
- 79%
- 100% (2,426)
- 79%
- 100% (2,426)
- 79%
- 100% (2,426)
- 79%
Where Grads Go
University of Southern California is a top feeder for:
Rank among programs feeding each employer.
Top employers of University of Southern California’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is University of Southern California Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Southern California delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $32,740/year ($130,960 total). Graduates earn $92,498 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,438,443 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,307,483 (18.6× your investment). The median debt is $18,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 92% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $130,960
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,438,443
- Net Return
- $2,307,483
- ROI Multiple
- 18.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $32,740
- Median Debt
- $18,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 92%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does University of Southern California Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of Southern California is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.93%, among the highest in the country. About 7.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 54.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $120,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 3.93%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 54.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 7.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $163,174
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Research & Teaching
Data: Times Higher Education World University Rankings
How Research-Intensive Is University of Southern California? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places University of Southern California at #73 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 49/100, teaching at 65/100, and citation impact of 72/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
- World Rank
- #73
- Teaching
- 65.4
- Research
- 48.7
- Citations
- 71.9
- International
- 31.2
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
University of Southern California produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 229 patents tied to its graduates, and ranks among research universities with a 49/100 research score.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.83%
- Top 28% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 229
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 1,283
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 49/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 72/100
- Citation impact (THE)
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.65%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-632,950,000
Top Programs
The fields University of Southern California awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 22% $85,126 early-career
- Social Sciences 11% $59,364 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 11% $50,714 early-career
- Communications 8% $53,125 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 8% $129,096 early-career
- Engineering 8% $107,653 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 5% $35,271 early-career
- Psychology 3% $42,293 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Southern California's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Southern California? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Los Angeles, California, University of Southern California turns away the vast majority of its applicants. The acceptance rate is 10%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,495. The graduation rate is roughly 92%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Southern California? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Southern California is $72,097, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $32,740. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,516 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,000 in federal student loans.
Is University of Southern California Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Southern California earn a median of $92,498, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does University of Southern California Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of Southern California is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.93%, among the highest in the country. About 7.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 54.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $120,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is University of Southern California? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Southern California. Its economic connectedness score is 1.78, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is University of Southern California? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places University of Southern California at #73 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 49/100, teaching at 65/100, and citation impact of 72/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Is University of Southern California really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 42% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at University of Southern California (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at University of Southern California?
About 43% of admitted students choose to enroll at University of Southern California — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
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Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Southern California.
- Northeastern UniversityBoston, MA · Close peer90% grad $92,538 earn 5% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- New York UniversityNew York, NY · Close peer88% grad $82,509 earn 9% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY · Close peer95% grad $104,043 earn 9% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville, VA · Close peer95% grad $86,863 earn 17% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA · Close peer93% grad $92,446 earn 11% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Boston UniversityBoston, MA · Close peer89% grad $83,238 earn 11% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Southern California? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Southern California. Its economic connectedness score is 1.78, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note