University of Southern California | Rankings, courses, admission

What makes the University of Southern California a cut above the rest?

The University of Southern California is a world-class private research university with an international reputation for excellence. The University of Southern California, a backbone of Los Angeles and a global hub for the arts, technology, and international business, provides diverse curricular options that enable students to collaborate with world-renowned researchers. Let us find out more about the university in detail.

Why should you study at the University of Southern California?

Here are a few reasons to study at USC

Economics programs

The Department of Economics strongly emphasizes research on racial inequality and discrimination, demonstrating a commitment to equality in the economics profession.

Furthermore, the department focuses on research in economic concepts and econometrics, and applied economic analysis. It includes microeconomics, macroeconomics, international and development economics, and urban and regional economics.

Tuition fees

The cost of courses at the University of Southern California is a significant consideration if you want to attend the university. As it is a private US university, attending USC can turn out to be prohibitively expensive for most students. That is why financial aid is so important, with roughly two-thirds of university students receiving some form of financial assistance.

The university estimates total attendance costs, including tuition and the high cost of living in Los Angeles. A full-time undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral student can expect to pay $60,000 in tuition per year, plus an additional $26,000 in housing, food, books, transportation, and personal expenses.

Living in Los Angeles

One of USC’s most appealing features is its location. USC, located just southwest of downtown Los Angeles, provides easy access to one of the most exciting industries of our time, the film industry. If you work in this industry, you will never be disappointed by the uncertainty.

In reality, Los Angeles provides numerous opportunities outside of the film industry. Medical departments at USC and UCLA are remarkably progressive and well-known in the international medical community.

Courses 

Here are a few courses at the University of Southern California-

Courses	Duration
MS	12-24 months
MIM	12 months- 2 years
MBA/PGDM	1-4 years
MEM	18-24 months
B.E/ B.Tech	4-5 years
BBA	4 years
B. Sc	4 years
MFA	18 months- 3 years
M.A.	11 months- 2 years
M.Arch	1-4 years

Rankings

The University of Southern California’s ranking has been relatively stable. The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education ranked it 19th out of over 1,000 public and private institutions in 2022. Additionally, it has earned recognition as one of California’s top 20 public and private universities. It is ranked third among western US universities and fourth among the top 25 schools in student engagement.

Here are the University of Southern California rankings

Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University

2022	2021	2020
53	61	61

World University Rankings by Times Higher Education

2022	2021	2020
63	53	62

QS World University Rankings by Top Universities

2022	2021	2020
112	134	129

How to apply?

Here’s how you can apply at the University of Southern California-

• Enter all of your personal information.
• Include a brief education history.
• Fill in the blanks with your work history.
• Choose your courses
• Make a personal statement.
• Make payment for the application fee.
• Please submit your application.

Documents required

Here are a list of documents you might need-

• Financial documentation demonstrating adequate funds for the fees.
• You need a passport copy ID pages Statement of Purpose
• A personal statement outlining your educational background and experience.
• A copy of your degree certificates and transcripts confirming your final grades is required if you already have them.
• Reference letters, if needed, for your chosen program.
• If English is not your first language, you should demonstrate your ability to communicate in written and spoken English.
• One should provide certified translations if the original documents are not in English.
• Submit a research proposal if you are applying for a Ph.D.

Eligibility 

Applicants must meet the following English proficiency test requirements to get admission to the University of Southern California –

Test	Score requirement
IELTS	6.5 minimum and above
PTE	61
TOEFL iBT	90 minimum and above

Student life

USC Village is home to a freshman honors college, a sophomore honors college, and six themed colleges for second-year students. The residential college experience at USC Village offers the newest Trojans a built-in community from the moment they arrive, fostering USC students’ success throughout their university careers.

Sports facilities

Here are some excellent sports facilities for men and women-

Men’s Sports

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Football
• Golf
• Swimming & Diving
• Tennis
• Track & Field
• Volleyball
• Water Polo

Women’s Sports

• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Golf
• Lacrosse
• Rowing
• Beach Volleyball
• Soccer
• Swimming & Diving
• Tennis
• Track & Field
• Volleyball
• Water Polo.

Student clubs

USC encourages all graduate students to participate in student organizations at USC. Organizations exist for various affiliations, interests, professions, and other reasons. More than 800 student organizations at USC organize programs, events, seminars, and other gatherings. 

The major Viterbi organizations are listed below and linked to other USC student organizations-

• Viterbi Student Graduate Association
• Viterbi Graduate Student Liaison (VGSL)
• USC Student Organizations

Key takeaways

• The University of Southern California is well-known for its research university and has an excellent worldwide reputation.
• The rankings for the University of Southern California are pretty good. The university has good rankings from QS World Rankings and Times Higher.
• You must have good scores in IELTS, PTE, and TOEFL iBT.
• One can look forward to student life at the university, with excellent sports and student clubs.

Did you find this blog informative? Do let us know your thoughts and views in the comments below. Click here to contact us for more information on the University of Southern California. We would be happy to oblige with your queries.

Liked this blog? Read next: The University of Warwick | Campus, courses, and more

FAQs

Q1. What is the University of Southern California’s acceptance rate?

Answer- The acceptance rate for the University of Southern California is 16%.

Q2. Is USC an Ivy League?

Answer- Outside of the Ivy League, USC, UCLA, and Stanford are among the most prestigious universities. Like their Ivy League equivalents, these top universities have challenging classes, distinctive professors, challenging acceptance rates, and distinguished alum networks.

Q3. What does your GPA have to be to get into USC?

Answer- You should also have a GPA of 3.79 or higher. If your GPA is lower, you must make the difference with a higher SAT/ACT score. You’ll also need to amaze them with the rest of your application for a school like USC.