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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 17,380, 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 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 23. Its tuition and fees are $42,818 (2011-12).
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. USC operates from two main campuses. The University Park campus, south of downtown Los Angeles, is adjacent to the museums and recreational facilities of historic Exposition Park. With its park-like atmosphere and rich architectural history, the campus fosters a stimulating academic environment as well as a vibrant cultural community. The Health Sciences campus, northeast of downtown, offers world-class patient care, classroom and laboratory facilities that draw scientists, patients and students from around the world, forming a dynamic, interactive environment that is shaping the future of health care. Within the USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and 17 professional schools, USC encourages all students to develop breadth with depth by crossing academic boundaries in their pursuit of knowledge. The university offers bachelor's degrees in 155 undergraduate majors, and, as of fall 2010, graduate students were enrolled in nearly 340 master's, certificate, doctoral and professional degree programs. Hand in hand with this wide array of majors, USC has developed some 150 different academic and professional minors -- the broadest selection of any U.S. university. Selected students also may elect to participate in Thematic Option, USC's interdisciplinary undergraduate honors program. The Renaissance Scholars program honors students who study subjects across widely separated fields. USC also presents unrivaled opportunities for travel and independent discovery. The Global Scholars program singles out undergraduates who excel both at home and abroad, and the Discovery Scholars program recognizes students who demonstrate original research and creativity. At the graduate level, each year the Provost's Ph.D. Fellowship Program supports 100 doctoral students who show outstanding promise. The USC Annenberg Graduate Fellowship Program funds cutting-edge study in communication and digital media, and USC's Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) program offers grants and fellowships to increase the involvement of women in science and engineering. The new Provost's Postdoctoral Scholars Program in the Humanities eventually will attract up to 10 humanities scholars to USC. USC boasts a strong tradition of public service as well. Academic and administrative units across the university are involved with some 340 community-service programs that are making a real difference in the lives of USC's neighbors. The university also has a commitment to fostering research with wide-ranging social impacts and is one of a small number of premier research institutions upon which the United States depends for a steady stream of new knowledge, art and technology. USC plays an important role in making Los Angeles one of the world's great centers for the arts. The USC Thornton School of Music is the city's most active producer of live music performances, presenting more than 500 concerts annually. Additionally, the USC School of Theatre produces a full schedule of performances, the USC Fisher Museum of Art offers exhibitions ranging from contemporary works to antiquities, and the USC School of Cinematic Arts presents a variety of film screenings and other events. USC's storied Doheny Memorial Library also hosts lectures, readings, concerts and special exhibits. Through USC's innovative arts program, Visions and Voices, some 20,000 students each year go to theatrical productions, music and dance performances, conferences, lectures, film screenings and other events both on and off campus. |
General Information
| School type | private, coed college |
| Year founded | 1880 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | urban |
| 2010 Endowment | $2,947,978,000 |
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 $65. It is most selective, with an acceptance rate of 24.4 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | most selective |
| Fall 2010 acceptance rate | 24% |
| 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 62.9 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 96.5 percent.
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| Student-faculty ratio | 9:1 | ||||||||||
| 4-year graduation rate | 72% - High | ||||||||||
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Student Life
University of Southern California has a total undergraduate enrollment of 17,380, with a gender distribution of 49.5 percent male students and 50.5 percent female students. 40.9 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 59.1 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 | 36,896 |
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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, 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, 41.6 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $26,121.
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 | $42,818 (2011-12) |
| Room and board | $12,078 (2011-12) - High |
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* Overview details based on 2010 data
