University of Southern California Acceptance Rate 2024

Established, 1880, University of Southern California is a top-tier private research university in Los Angeles, United States. USC is one of the best study abroad universities for international students as USC ranking has been consistent among the top 25 global universities for a decade now. It is well-known for its highly esteemed School of Cinematic Arts, which has produced directors like George Lucas and Judd Apatow, as well as its Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

Students across the globe apply for the University of Southern California admissions. However, only a fraction of candidates secure an enrolment due to the competitive nature of the university. Students can check out more about the University of Southern California campus here.

University of Southern California Acceptance Rate 2024

For the academic year 2023-24, University of Southern California received record breaking over 80,000 applications. However, only about 8,000 candidates got enrolled in the university for their higher education. Thus, it can be concluded that with the University of Southern California acceptance rate of merely 10%, the university is extremely competitive to get into.

University of Southern California Acceptance Rate for International Students

University of Southern California boasts an inclusive community of students from all around the globe and diverse backgrounds. Southern Cal international students count stands at 12,753, which contributes about 23% to the total student population. A total of 135 nationalities are represented by the overseas audience of Southern Cal and the count of the Indian students stands at 2,682.

In terms of nationalities, most of the international students in SoCal are from China, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Canada and more.

University of Southern California Trends

Lately, the acceptance rate of University of Southern California has plummeted in comparison to the previous years. In the 2023-24 admission cycle, the USC acceptance rate stood at 10%. Whereas, for the academic year 2020-21, it was recorded to be at 16.1%.

Number of students applying for USC admissions has significantly increased in the past few years. In fall 2023, SoCal received a total of over 80,000 applications, out of which 8,094 students managed to secure an admission in the university. When we talk about the fall 2020 admissions, 59,712 candidates applied to the university and 9,618 out of them were granted an admission.

University of Southern California Early Action VS Regular Decision Acceptance Rate

Every year, the University of Southern California admits international students through Early Action as well as Regular Decision. Usually, the university’s early action acceptance rate is higher in comparison to regular decision acceptance rate. Early action allows applicants to apply to a university earlier than regular decision.

Southern Cal does not release any data on it's early action acceptance rate. When it comes to the USC regular decision acceptance rate, it stands at about 10-12%.

University of Southern California Admission Requirements for International Students

In order to secure an admission, all overseas applicants must fulfill certain University of Southern California admission requirements listed below:

• High school certificate / Bachelor's degree in relevant field;
• Official academic transcripts / academic records;
• Proof of English language proficiency (IELTS: 7.0 | TOEFL: 100);
• Resume/CV;
• Statement of purpose (SOPs);
• Letters of recommendation (LORs);
• SAT/ACT score;
• GRE/GMAT score;
• Portfolio; and
• Financial documents for the proof of sufficient funds.

University of Southern California Admission Requirements for Indian Students

Southern Cal accepts country-specific qualifications for admissions. Indian students can refer to the table below for the USC admission requirements:

University of Southern California Average GPA, SAT or ACT Scores

University of Southern California admission cycle is test optional, which means that international students can apply without SAT or ACT scores. However, if candidates have a standardized test score, they can submit it along with their applications. Similarly, USC does not have a university-wide minimum GPA requirement for admission eligibility.

Tips to Get Selected in the University of Southern California

University of Southern California takes a holistic approach when it comes to admissions and they look for students who thee think will succeed at the university. Southern Cal admission process is intended to learn more about the candidate and their unique story, enabling them to assess how well they would benefit from USC's wealth of opportunities. SoCal takes a holistic review of the candidate's application to consider academic and personal characteristics. They review the applicant's performance in school, the rigor of their program, writing skills and any test scores they choose to submit. USC also consider personal qualities, as revealed in community involvement, leadership and achievements.

USC Acceptance Rate VS UCLA Acceptance Rate

UCLA acceptance rate of 9% makes it globally one of the toughest universities to get into. Compared to the USC acceptance rate of 10%, University of California, Los Angeles is considered to be as selective as Southern Cal in its admission process.

UCLA admissions are extremely competitive in nature and thus, a candidate must be academically excellent along with participating in activities outside the classroom. Applicants must also possess a good character as UCLA admits students on the basis of a holistic approach.