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Summary
University of Southern California is a private institution that was founded in 1880. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 17,414, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 226 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Southern California's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 24. Its tuition and fees are $44,463 (2012-13).
The University of Southern California’s central campus, referred to as the University Park campus, is located in Los Angeles’s Downtown Arts and Education Corridor. USC has other campuses in L.A. in addition to sites around Southern California and in Sacramento, Calif., and Washington. Students can participate in the more than 600 on-campus organizations, ranging from religious groups to club sports. USC students are not required to live on campus, but the university offers housing in its 40 or so residence halls and apartment buildings. A thriving Greek life comprises more than 60 chapters representing about 4,000 students. The USC Trojans compete in the Pac-12 Conference and are known for their legendary football program, which has won more Rose Bowls than any other college team.
USC is comprised of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and 17 graduate and professional schools. The number of graduates exceeds the number of undergraduates at USC, with students enrolled in such programs as the highly ranked Marshall School of Business, Rossier School of Education, Andrew and Erna Viterbi School of Engineering, Gould School of Law, Keck School of Medicine, and School of Social Work. USC is also well known for its Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and its highly esteemed School of Cinematic Arts, which has graduated students such as directors Judd Apatow and George Lucas. Films including The Graduate, Legally Blonde, and Forrest Gump all filmed scenes on USC’s campus.
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Located in the heart of Los Angeles, a global center for arts, technology and international trade, the University of Southern California is a world-renowned private research institution enrolling more international students than any other U.S. university and operating an integrated academic medical center that serves more than a million patients each year. |
General Information
| School type | private, coed college |
| Year founded | 1880 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | urban |
| 2011 Endowment | $3,517,173,000 |
Applying
When applying to University of Southern California, it's important to note the application deadline is January 10. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due February 15. The application fee at University of Southern California is $70. It is most selective, with an acceptance rate of 23.0 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | most selective |
| Fall 2011 acceptance rate | 23.0% |
| Application deadline | January 10 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | February 15 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at University of Southern California is 9:1, and the school has 60.8 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of Southern California include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Social Sciences; Visual and Performing Arts; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; and Engineering. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 96.8 percent.
Student Life
University of Southern California has a total undergraduate enrollment of 17,414, with a gender distribution of 49.4 percent male students and 50.6 percent female students. At this school, 38.4 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 61.6 percent of students live off campus. University of Southern California is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at University of Southern California.
| Total enrollment | 38,010 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA I |
Campus Info & Services
University of Southern California offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. University of Southern California also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at University of Southern California.
| Students who have cars on campus | N/A |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At University of Southern California, 42.3 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $28,377.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| Tuition and fees | $44,463 (2012-13) |
| Room and board | $12,440 (2012-13) |
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* Overview details based on 2011 data
