University of Southern California acceptance rate and admissions profile
With an acceptance rate near 10%, University of Southern California is a most selective private college in California. Because it admits roughly one in ten applicants or fewer, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.
Use this page to see what University of Southern California weighs, where it ranks among California schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1530, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.
Will I get into University of Southern California?
Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into University of Southern California, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.
What are my chances of getting into University of Southern California?
University of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants, but that overall rate is not your personal chance. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for University of Southern California in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.
Is University of Southern California hard to get into?
University of Southern California is most selective: it admits roughly one in ten applicants or fewer, with about a 10% acceptance rate. At this level, strong grades and scores are the baseline, so essays, recommendations, and a distinctive story are what separate admits.
What GPA do you need to get into University of Southern California?
There is no hard GPA cutoff at University of Southern California, but admitted students almost universally present a 3.9 to 4.0 GPA earned in the most demanding courses their school offers. University of Southern California reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.
What SAT score do you need for University of Southern California?
University of Southern California does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1530. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at University of Southern California.
What University of Southern California looks for
What University of Southern California weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.
In its review, University of Southern California leans most on rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. At this level of selectivity, the difference between admits is rarely the transcript alone; essays, recommendations, and a coherent story matter. These ratings come from University of Southern California's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.
SAT score positioning at University of Southern California
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.
How University of Southern California compares in California
University of Southern California ranks #5 most selective of 61 schools in California in our database.
Among the 61 California schools we track, University of Southern California ranks #5 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like California Institute of Technology (3%) and Stanford University (4%) sit nearby, which makes California a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.
Similar to University of Southern California
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
Build around University of Southern California with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as Claremont McKenna College, Boston University, and University of Notre Dame. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.
Frequently asked questions
What does University of Southern California value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, University of Southern California weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
Does University of Southern California consider legacy or demonstrated interest?
Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. University of Southern California's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.
How can I improve my chances at University of Southern California?
Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at University of Southern California specifically.
Can I get into University of Southern California with a perfect GPA and test scores?
Top grades and scores are necessary but not sufficient at University of Southern California. At this selectivity most applicants are already academically qualified, so essays, recommendations, and a distinctive story are what separate admits.
Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.