The University of Southern California sits in the middle of Los Angeles — the film capital of the world, one of the largest tech and aerospace hubs in the USA, and a city with one of the biggest Pakistani and South Asian communities in the country. USC is a private research university with 22 schools, famous for film (the School of Cinematic Arts), business (Marshall), engineering (Viterbi) and the performing arts. Its 2026-27 tuition is US$75,384, with a total annual cost of about US$103,162 — expensive, but with merit scholarships that can cut the bill substantially.
At a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Founded | 1880 |
| Type | Private research university |
| Students | About 47,000 (undergraduate and graduate) |
| World ranking | QS 2026: about 125th (reported) |
| Acceptance rate | About 10–12% (reported) |
| Tuition 2026-27 | US$75,384 |
| Total cost of attendance 2026-27 | About US$103,162 |
Fees and financial aid
The published 2026-27 cost of attendance is US$103,162, including tuition of US$75,384. USC does not offer need-based aid to international undergraduates on the same terms as the need-blind universities — but it does offer substantial merit scholarships to international students, and these are the real route to affordability. The main awards are the Trustee Scholarship (full tuition), the Presidential Scholarship (half tuition) and the Dean's Scholarship (quarter tuition), decided from the admission application for students who apply by the early deadline (normally 1 December). There is no separate scholarship application for most awards — your admission file is your scholarship file, so it has to be exceptional.
Programmes Pakistani students apply for
- Cinematic Arts (SCA) — the oldest film school in the USA and the hardest programme at USC to get into; portfolio matters more than grades alone.
- Computer Science and Engineering (Viterbi) — strong in AI, robotics, games and cybersecurity, with Los Angeles tech employers recruiting on campus.
- Business (Marshall) — one of the largest undergraduate business programmes in the USA, with strong entrepreneurship and entertainment-business links.
- Communication and Journalism (Annenberg) — public relations, journalism and communication, with internships across Los Angeles media.
- Architecture, Music (Thornton) and Theatre (Dramatic Arts) — all nationally ranked, all portfolio or audition based.
Admission and deadlines
USC's undergraduate application normally closes in two stages: 1 December for applicants who want to be considered for merit scholarships, and 15 January for regular admission — confirm the exact dates for the 2027 cycle on the admissions website. English proficiency is required through the TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test. USC has been test-optional for recent cycles; confirm the current SAT/ACT policy on the admissions page for the cycle you apply in. Some programmes — film, music, theatre, architecture — require a portfolio or audition in addition to the Common Application.
Closing merit guidance
A competitive applicant has a top few percent Intermediate or A-Level record and, for scholarship consideration, a Digital SAT score of 1450+ if submitting. For the creative schools, the portfolio or audition counts as much as the transcript. USC reads applications holistically and values demonstrated interest and a clear reason for choosing Los Angeles and the specific school — generic "I love USC" essays do not work.
FAQ
Does USC give scholarships to international students? Yes — merit scholarships (Trustee full tuition, Presidential half tuition, Dean's quarter tuition) are open to international students and are decided from the admission application, normally for those who apply by 1 December.
What is USC best known for? Film (School of Cinematic Arts), business (Marshall), engineering (Viterbi) and the performing arts — and its location in Los Angeles.
How much does USC cost? The published 2026-27 total is about US$103,162 a year. A Trustee Scholarship removes the US$75,384 tuition; a Presidential Scholarship removes about half of it.
Is USC test-optional in 2027? Confirm the current policy on the admissions page — USC has been test-optional for recent cycles, but policies change between cycles.
Figures checked 2026-11-06: 2026-27 tuition US$75,384 and total annual cost US$103,162 from the USC Office of Admission cost of attendance. Acceptance rate and QS ranking are reported figures. Exact 2027 deadlines, the current SAT/ACT policy and 2027-28 tuition are to be confirmed on USC's admissions pages.
Related guides on Pakunii
FAFSA 2027-28 Guide · Digital SAT 2027 Guide · Fully Funded Scholarships 2027 · UCAS Application Guide 2027
Sources and verification: USC Office of Admission 2026-27 cost of attendance; USC admissions pages.