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University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA usc.edu 20,817 students

The University of Southern California's campus is located in the heart of Los Angeles, offering a blend of urban energy and traditional college atmosphere. Students benefit from the university's proximity to cultural institutions, entertainment venues, and diverse industries. Known for its strong school spirit, USC fosters a vibrant student culture with a focus on both academic excellence and athletic achievement. The university's location provides unique opportunities for internships, research, and engagement with the city's dynamic environment.

Programs
43
Analyzed in dataset
Earnings
$54,432
Average graduate, 1 yr after
Tuition
$68,237
Sticker price (est.)

Financial Aid

The sticker price is rarely what families actually pay. University of Southern California's grant and scholarship aid lowers the net price for most income brackets. 22% of students receive Pell Grants; 25% take federal loans.

Key Insight

Average net price across income brackets is $26,873, roughly 61% lower than the published tuition.

Net Price by Family Income

Academic Year 2025
Income Bracket Avg Net Price 4-Year Net Cost
$0 – $30K $15,470 $61,880
$30K – $48K $13,692 $54,768
$48K – $75K $18,993 $75,972
$75K – $110K $29,865 $119,460
$110K+ $56,347 $225,388
Sticker price (no aid) $68,237 $272,948
Net price = tuition + fees + room & board minus grants and scholarships, by reported family-income bracket. Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey via College Scorecard.

Programs at University of Southern California

43 degree programs ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any program for AI scenario analysis and 10-year earnings projections.

Degree Program DW Score 1-yr Earnings AI Risk ROI
Computer Science Compare across schools →
79
$137,284/yr Very High 5.6x
Software Development Compare across schools →
77
$103,071/yr Very High 5.1x
Accounting Compare across schools →
73
$73,903/yr Very High 2.9x
Business Administration Compare across schools →
69
$71,668/yr High 2.8x
Industrial Engineering Compare across schools →
65
$87,807/yr High 4.0x
Civil Engineering Compare across schools →
65
$85,262/yr High 3.3x
Real Estate Compare across schools →
64
$98,763/yr High 4.3x
Electrical Engineering Compare across schools →
64
$89,684/yr Very High 3.5x
Economics Compare across schools →
64
$57,060/yr Very High 2.6x
Aerospace Engineering Compare across schools →
63
$78,980/yr High 3.2x
Mechanical Engineering Compare across schools →
62
$83,356/yr Very High 2.9x
Biomedical Engineering Compare across schools →
59
$80,508/yr High 3.1x
Applied Mathematics Compare across schools →
59
$71,622/yr Very High 2.5x
Chemical Engineering Compare across schools →
58
$68,234/yr High 2.9x
Dental Services Compare across schools →
51
$69,479/yr Moderate 2.0x
Design Compare across schools →
51
$64,846/yr High 1.9x
International Relations Compare across schools →
50
$52,262/yr High 2.2x
Engineering-Related Fields Compare across schools →
48
$73,234/yr High 1.7x
Public Relations & Advertising Compare across schools →
47
$50,041/yr High 1.6x
Real Estate Development Compare across schools →
44
$49,353/yr High 0.8x
Public Policy Analysis Compare across schools →
42
$52,403/yr High 0.9x
Political Science Compare across schools →
42
$38,063/yr Very High 1.9x
Public Health Compare across schools →
42
$36,300/yr High 2.0x
Communication and Media Studies Compare across schools →
41
$47,651/yr High 1.8x
Fine Arts Compare across schools →
38
$50,161/yr Moderate 1.2x
Architectural Sciences and Technology Compare across schools →
38
$47,874/yr High 0.8x
History Compare across schools →
38
$36,876/yr High 1.6x
Philosophy Compare across schools →
37
$38,380/yr Very High 2.5x
Journalism Compare across schools →
36
$44,651/yr Very High 1.7x
Neuroscience Compare across schools →
33
$38,063/yr High 1.9x
Biochemistry Compare across schools →
33
$34,468/yr High 2.3x
Social Sciences Compare across schools →
33
$33,789/yr High 1.2x
Sociology Compare across schools →
31
$35,580/yr High 1.5x
Psychology Compare across schools →
31
$34,139/yr High 1.5x
Cognitive Science Compare across schools →
29
$34,295/yr Moderate 0.3x
Biology Compare across schools →
25
$20,210/yr High 1.8x
Arts & Media Management Compare across schools →
24
$26,975/yr High 0.6x
Dance Compare across schools →
22
$25,653/yr Low -0.1x
Film & Photography Compare across schools →
21
$34,187/yr High 1.0x
Human Biology Compare across schools →
21
$23,405/yr High 2.0x
Music Compare across schools →
18
$12,947/yr High -0.1x
Rhetoric & Writing Compare across schools →
17
$26,636/yr Very High 1.4x
Theater & Drama Compare across schools →
14
$21,473/yr Moderate 0.1x