University of Southern California
Basic Information
Demographics
Total Undergraduates
20,817
Men / Women
48% / 52%
White
27%
Asian
23%
Hispanic
18%
International
13%
Black
5%
Mixed
5%
Native American
0%
Academics
Undergraduate Degrees
Business & Economics
27%
Computer Science & Math
13%
Arts
12%
Life & Natural Sciences
11%
Engineering
7%
Health Sciences
3%
Professional
1%
Financial
Tuition & Fees
$73,260
Est. Cost of Attendance
$90,300
10-Year ROI
$272,000
ROI Percentile
95th
Retention & Graduation
Full-Time Retention
96%
4-Year Graduation Rate
74%
6-Year Graduation Rate
92%
Transfer-Out Rate
0%
Weather
Comfortable Days
135 (97th pctl)
Sunshine Hours
3,300 (96th pctl)
Days Without Precipitation
327 (98th pctl)
Muggyness
Nice
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
12%
Yield (Unbound)
43%
Early Decision
Nov 1
Early Action
Nov 1
Regular Decision
Jan 1
Research
Research Level
R1
Expenditure
| Humanities & Social Sciences | $93M | #8 |
| Engineering, Computing & Math | $219M | #25 |
| Life & Natural Sciences | $885M | #25 |
Graduate Degrees
| Life & Natural Sciences | 925 | #6 |
| Humanities & Social Sciences | 720 | #7 |
| Engineering, Computing & Math | 191 | #22 |
Honors College
Standardized Tests
Test Scores
Test Policy
test_optional
Submitted Test Scores
42%
SAT Range
1470
–
1530
SAT Math Range
740
–
790
SAT RW Range
710
–
760
ACT Range
32
–
35
Earnings by Major Category
Each major category's degree-weighted 5-year earnings at this college, expressed as a z-score against the national degree-weighted distribution for that category. 0 is the national average; +1 is one standard deviation above. The emphasized lines at +2 and −2 mark two standard deviations. One chart per macro-category; all charts share a common y-axis.
Schools & Majors
| ⇅ | Trends | Degrees | Male/Female | Intl | 5yr Earn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism | 396 | 30% / 70% | 11% | $73,012 | |
| Communication | 235 +17 | 31% / 69% | 14% | $78,180 | |
| Journalism | 85 +3 | 42% / 58% | 1% | $65,904 | |
| Public Relations and Advertising | 76 +2 | 13% / 87% | 9% | $64,986 |
| ⇅ | Trends | Degrees | Male/Female | Intl | 5yr Earn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences | 2,305 | 42% / 58% | 12% | $71,405 | |
| Computational and Applied Mathematics | 94 +9 | 63% / 37% | 47% | $83,768 | |
| Cybersecurity | 98 — | 47% / 53% | 6% | — | |
| Financial Mathematics | 50 — | 78% / 22% | 46% | $83,768 | |
| Mathematics | 18 +1 | 83% / 17% | 33% | — | |
| Astronomy | 3 — | 33% / 67% | 33% | — | |
| Biochemistry | 40 — | 42% / 57% | 12% | $78,536 | |
| Biological Sciences | 73 — | 44% / 56% | 1% | $68,385 | |
| Biophysics | 1 — | 0% / 100% | 0% | $78,536 | |
| Biotechnology | 3 — | 33% / 67% | 0% | — | |
| Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 — | 75% / 25% | 0% | — | |
| Chemistry | 18 — | 61% / 39% | 0% | — | |
| Computational Biology | 17 +1 | 47% / 53% | 18% | — | |
| Earth Sciences | 2 — | 0% / 100% | 0% | — | |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology | 2 — | 50% / 50% | 0% | — | |
| Environmental Science | 52 — | 37% / 63% | 0% | $71,021 | |
| Environmental Studies | 12 +7 | 25% / 75% | 0% | $71,021 | |
| Human Biology | 278 +4 | 30% / 70% | 5% | $71,409 | |
| Marine Biology | |||||
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 20 — | 45% / 55% | 15% | $69,241 | |
| Neuroscience | 90 +1 | 39% / 61% | 3% | $69,241 | |
| Physical Sciences | 1 — | 100% / 0% | 0% | — | |
| Physics | 21 +1 | 76% / 24% | 10% | — | |
| Behavioral Aspects of Health | 82 — | 35% / 65% | 2% | $72,910 | |
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology | 1 — | 0% / 100% | 0% | — | |
| Health and Human Sciences | 6 — | 33% / 67% | 0% | — | |
| International Public Health/International Health | 34 — | 21% / 79% | 3% | $72,910 | |
| Pharmaceutics and Drug Design | 2 — | 0% / 100% | 0% | $150,852 | |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | 28 — | 32% / 68% | 4% | — | |
| Economics | 178 +19 | 61% / 39% | 35% | $87,217 | |
| Political Economy | 20 +1 | 65% / 35% | 15% | $69,031 | |
| Advanced Legal Research/Studies | 4 — | 25% / 75% | 25% | $71,073 | |
| African American Studies | 3 +1 | 33% / 67% | 0% | $47,798 | |
| American Studies and Ethnicity | 2 +2 | 0% / 100% | 0% | $59,177 | |
| Anthropology | 7 +4 | 14% / 86% | 0% | — | |
| Archaeology | 3 — | 33% / 67% | 0% | — | |
| Area Studies | 1 — | 100% / 0% | 0% | $59,177 | |
| Asian-American Studies | 1 — | 100% / 0% | 0% | $47,798 | |
| Classical Languages | 1 — | 0% / 100% | 0% | — | |
| Cognitive Science | 64 +6 | 27% / 73% | 9% | — | |
| Comparative Literature | 2 +1 | 50% / 50% | 50% | — | |
| Contemplative Studies | 30 +8 | 53% / 47% | 47% | $84,091 | |
| Creative Writing | 39 +1 | 44% / 56% | 3% | $61,656 | |
| East Asian Languages and Cultures | 12 +4 | 50% / 50% | 8% | — | |
| East Asian Studies | 6 +2 | 83% / 17% | 17% | $59,177 | |
| English | 31 +3 | 35% / 65% | 3% | $51,265 | |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 7 — | 14% / 86% | 14% | $47,798 | |
| French | 3 +2 | 33% / 67% | 0% | $58,894 | |
| Geographic Information Science and Cartography | 12 — | 58% / 42% | 8% | $77,112 | |
| Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies | 2 — | 100% / 0% | 0% | $47,798 | |
| History | 30 +4 | 60% / 40% | 3% | $62,747 | |
| History | 48 +3 | 31% / 69% | 2% | $62,747 | |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | 35 +3 | 43% / 57% | 3% | $53,051 | |
| International Relations | 124 +15 | 41% / 59% | 15% | $77,588 | |
| International/Globalization Studies | 5 — | 40% / 60% | 20% | $51,336 | |
| Italian | |||||
| Jewish/Judaic Studies | 1 — | 0% / 100% | 0% | — | |
| Linguistics | 3 +1 | 67% / 33% | 0% | — | |
| Linguistics | 7 — | 43% / 57% | 0% | — | |
| Near and Middle Eastern Studies | 2 — | 0% / 100% | 0% | $59,177 | |
| Philosophy | 61 +4 | 46% / 54% | 13% | $84,091 | |
| Political Science | 120 +7 | 43% / 57% | 5% | $69,031 | |
| Psychology | 223 +15 | 26% / 74% | 10% | $59,345 | |
| Public Policy Analysis | 45 — | 40% / 60% | 7% | $86,414 | |
| Religion/Religious Studies | |||||
| Russian | |||||
| Social Sciences | 29 +4 | 55% / 45% | 3% | $52,644 | |
| Sociology | 49 +4 | 33% / 67% | 6% | $59,405 | |
| Spanish | 14 +8 | 29% / 71% | 0% | $58,894 | |
| Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects | 14 — | 14% / 86% | 43% | — | |
| Art History | 10 +2 | 20% / 80% | 0% | $54,328 | |
| Urban Studies | 7 — | 100% / 0% | 0% | — |
| ⇅ | Trends | Degrees | Male/Female | Intl | 5yr Earn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glorya Kaufman School of Dance | 22 | 55% / 45% | 9% | ||
| Dance | 22 — | 55% / 45% | 9% | — |
| ⇅ | Trends | Degrees | Male/Female | Intl | 5yr Earn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leonard Davis School of Gerontology | 20 | 45% / 55% | 0% | $66,163 | |
| Gerontology | 20 — | 45% / 55% | 0% | $66,163 |
| ⇅ | Trends | Degrees | Male/Female | Intl | 5yr Earn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall School of Business | 1,346 | 57% / 43% | 13% | $131,485 | |
| Accounting | 135 — | 57% / 43% | 13% | $131,485 | |
| Artificial Intelligence for Business | 53 — | 57% / 43% | 13% | $131,485 | |
| Business Administration | 1,104 — | 57% / 43% | 13% | $131,485 | |
| International Business | 54 — | 56% / 44% | 13% | $131,485 |
| ⇅ | Trends | Degrees | Male/Female | Intl | 5yr Earn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy | 9 | 22% / 78% | 0% | $77,818 | |
| Nursing | |||||
| Occupational Therapy | 9 — | 22% / 78% | 0% | $77,818 |
| ⇅ | Trends | Degrees | Male/Female | Intl | 5yr Earn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price School of Public Policy | 1 | 100% / 0% | 0% | ||
| Real Estate Development | 1 — | 100% / 0% | 0% | — |
| ⇅ | Trends | Degrees | Male/Female | Intl | 5yr Earn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roski School of Art and Design | 82 | 26% / 74% | 17% | $64,341 | |
| Art | 19 +4 | 26% / 74% | 16% | $54,328 | |
| Design | 50 — | 24% / 76% | 18% | $70,750 | |
| Fine Arts | 13 — | 31% / 69% | 15% | $54,328 |
| ⇅ | Trends | Degrees | Male/Female | Intl | 5yr Earn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School of Architecture | 73 | 36% / 64% | 16% | $69,816 | |
| Architectural Studies | 8 — | 50% / 50% | 25% | $69,816 | |
| Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology | 65 — | 34% / 66% | 15% | — |
| ⇅ | Trends | Degrees | Male/Female | Intl | 5yr Earn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School of Cinematic Arts | 248 | 44% / 56% | 12% | $51,559 | |
| Interactive Media and Games | 28 — | 50% / 50% | 14% | $70,750 | |
| Cinema and Media Studies | 74 +2 | 49% / 51% | 4% | $51,159 | |
| Animation and Digital Arts | 25 +1 | 20% / 80% | 24% | $49,273 | |
| Film and Television Production | 90 +1 | 47% / 53% | 19% | $51,159 | |
| Playwriting and Screenwriting | 31 — | 42% / 58% | 3% | $38,186 |
| ⇅ | Trends | Degrees | Male/Female | Intl | 5yr Earn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School of Dramatic Arts | 165 | 33% / 67% | 2% | $38,186 | |
| Acting | 58 +11 | 26% / 74% | 3% | $38,186 | |
| Dramatic/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 4 — | 25% / 75% | 0% | $38,186 | |
| Musical Theatre | 79 +1 | 46% / 54% | 1% | $38,186 | |
| Musical Theatre | 10 — | 10% / 90% | 0% | $38,186 | |
| Stage Management | 14 — | 14% / 86% | 0% | $38,186 |
| ⇅ | Trends | Degrees | Male/Female | Intl | 5yr Earn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thornton School of Music | 154 | 49% / 51% | 8% | $52,655 | |
| Brass Instruments | 3 — | 100% / 0% | 0% | $25,143 | |
| Choral Music | 19 — | 53% / 47% | 5% | $25,143 | |
| Composition | 9 — | 67% / 33% | 22% | $25,143 | |
| Jazz/Jazz Studies | 15 — | 87% / 13% | 0% | $25,143 | |
| Keyboard Instruments | 6 — | 17% / 83% | 33% | $25,143 | |
| Music | 5 +1 | 40% / 60% | 0% | $25,143 | |
| Music | 5 — | 100% / 0% | 0% | $25,143 | |
| Music Industry | 72 — | 39% / 61% | 7% | $82,984 | |
| Percussion Instruments | |||||
| Stringed Instruments | 8 +1 | 12% / 88% | 12% | $25,143 | |
| Visual and Performing Arts | 3 +1 | 33% / 67% | 33% | $49,273 | |
| Voice and Opera | 9 — | 67% / 33% | 0% | $25,143 | |
| Woodwind Instruments |
| ⇅ | Trends | Degrees | Male/Female | Intl | 5yr Earn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viterbi School of Engineering | 894 | 60% / 40% | 16% | $139,837 | |
| Aerospace Engineering | 61 — | 69% / 31% | 2% | $113,347 | |
| Biomedical Engineering | 73 — | 37% / 63% | 7% | $102,708 | |
| Chemical Engineering | 38 — | 45% / 55% | 11% | $94,160 | |
| Civil Engineering | 8 — | 25% / 62% | 0% | $100,527 | |
| Electrical and Computer Engineering | 50 — | 70% / 30% | 12% | — | |
| Environmental Engineering | 8 — | 25% / 75% | 12% | — | |
| Industrial and Systems Engineering | 53 — | 47% / 53% | 21% | $121,761 | |
| Mechanical Engineering | 93 — | 63% / 37% | 9% | $104,458 | |
| Structural Engineering | 26 — | 73% / 27% | 12% | $100,527 | |
| Water Resources Engineering | |||||
| Artificial Intelligence | |||||
| Computer Engineering and Computer Science | 36 — | 67% / 33% | 25% | $142,736 | |
| Computer Science | 352 — | 66% / 34% | 22% | $171,814 | |
| Computer Science (Games) | 45 — | 64% / 36% | 29% | $146,212 | |
| Human Technology Interaction | 1 — | 100% / 0% | 0% | — | |
| Informatics | 17 +18 | 53% / 47% | 18% | — | |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 33 — | 45% / 55% | 3% | — |
Rankings
Academics
Syllabus Week Lasts All Semester
Grade Hyperinflation
GPA Paradise
College Costs
We Marked It Up Just to Put It on Sale
Highest List Price
Sticker Shock
Fun and Games
Party til You Drop (Out)
Party Schools
Legendary
Politically Incorrect
Equal Opportunity Objectification
Most Attractive Men
Greek God Territory
I'm Getting Cancelled in 3, 2, 1...
Most Attractive Women
Instagram vs Reality (It's Real)
Prestige
Grandma Eyebrow Raisers
Easy Brags for the Prestigious-Conscious
Big City, World Famous
My Tribe
Call Your Mother!
Most Jewish
Significant Community
Engineering
It Actually IS Rocket Science
Aerospace Engineering
Rocket Scientists
It's Not About Molecules, It's About Pipes
Chemical Engineering
Polymer Whisperers & Battery Bros
Playing House
Civil Engineering
Hard Hat Ready
Resistance Is Not Futile
Electrical & Computer Engineering
Ohm My God
Drill, Baby, Drill
Energy & Mining Engineering
Black Gold Elite
Making Spreadsheets Go Brrrr
Industrial & Systems Engineering
The Suits
Is It a Solid? Is It a Liquid? Yes.
Materials Engineering
Composite Crew
WD-40 & Duct Tape
Mechanical Engineering & Robotics
Whiteboard-preferred
Computer Science & Math
Chat-GPT? Claude? I can do better.
Artificial Intelligence
AI is the New CS
No, I Can't Fix Your Printer
Computer Science
LeetCode Sweatshops
Hoodie Not Included
Cybersecurity
NSA Recruiters Already Have Your Number
import pandas as pd
Data Science
Jupyter Notebook Jockeys
Pixels, Psychology, and Post-its
Human-Computer Interaction
The HCI & Gaming Overlords
No Words Allowed
Pure Mathematics
Number Crunchers
It Works On My Machine
Software Development
The 10x Production Breakers
p < 0.05
Statistics
The "Wanted to Code but Couldn't" Club
Life & Natural Sciences
Pre-Med Reject Waiting Room
Biology
Cell Division
Breaking Bad
Chemistry
Pre-Med Darwinian Thunderdome
Rocks and Whales
Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
Fossil Hunters
Doomsday Prepping with Data
Environmental Science
Carbon Neutral
Memorizing 206 Bones
Human Biology
Bone Collectors
Action Potentials
Neuroscience
Serotonin Seekers
The "I Understand Interstellar" Elite
Physics & Astronomy
Spherical Cow Enthusiasts
Health Sciences
Open Wide
Dentistry & Oral Health
Plaque Attackers
Behind Every Doctor
Health Services
Hospital VIPs
Legal Drug Dealers
Pharmacy
Pill Counters
Sweat Equity
Sports & Fitness
Game Day Ready
Business & Economics
LIFO the Party
Accounting
GAAP Gatekeepers
PowerPoint Presentation Power Rankings
Business Administration
Suit & Tie on a Tuesday Pre-Professionals
Pivot Tables & Missing Pallets
Business Analytics
Just-In-Time Jugglers
It's Basic Supply and Demand, Bro
Economics
I Actually Wanted to do Finance
Move Fast, Break Tuition
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Future Founders
Wolf of Wall Street Prep
Finance
Sun, Sand, and Syndication
Office Politics 101
Human Resources
Org Chart Architects
Tik-Tok Generation
Marketing
Brand Builders
Glengarry Glen Ross Prep
Real Estate
Location, Location, Location
Ballers, Shot Callers & Hollywood Hustlers
Sports & Entertainment Business
The "Do You Know Who I Am?" Elite
Humanities & Social Sciences
Much Ado About Nothing
English, Literature & Writing
Well-Versed
Model UN Generation
Government & Politics
Campaign Trail
Hindsight is 20/20 (And So is My Salary)
History & Archaeology
The Time Travelers
Passport Stamp Collectors
International Relations
Globe Trotters
Nosy for a Living
Journalism
The "We Trained the Anchor You're Watching" Cartel
Professional Yapping
Media & Communication Studies
The "Our Alumni Control Your Feed" Mafia
The "Why Are We Here?" Support Group
Philosophy & Ethics
The Questioners
Spin Class
Professional Communication
The "Damage Control" Dream Team
I Want To Understand Myself
Psychology
Maze Runners
Everything is a Construct
Sociology & Anthropology
Field Observers
Grammar Police Academy
World Languages & Linguistics
Grammar Nerds
Education
Surviving PTA Karens
General Education
Lesson Planners
Gym Class Heroes and Art Teachers
Specific Subjects Education
Studio to Schoolroom
Arts
Sleep Deprivation by Design
Architecture
Design Visionaries
Trapped in the Render Queue
Digital Arts & Photography
The Pixar Pipeline
Lights, Camera, Tuition
Film
Hollywood Pipeline
Eight Hours of Scales
Music
The Maestros' Lounge
Theatre Kid Generation
Performing Arts
Standing Ovation