University

University of Southern California

University
#40 / #17
Global Influence / U.S. Influence
#30
Most Desirable School
Private university in Los Angeles, California, United States

University of Southern California Featured Rankings

About University of Southern California

By James Barham, PhD

The University of Southern California (USC) was founded as the first private research university in the state (five years before Stanford) largely through the efforts of Judge Robert Widney, one of the most prominent citizens of Los Angeles at that time.

Widney’s vision was of an inclusive institution that would serve all sectors of the already-diverse LA community. Accordingly, the board of trustees he assembled included a wealthy Protestant businessman, a Catholic former-governor, and a Jewish banker. While USC was officially affiliated with the Methodist church during its early years, from the beginning its charter provided that no student would be denied admission on the basis of race.

Today, USC enrolls more than 48,000 students, of whom around a quarter (some 12,000) are international students—one of the highest percentages of any university in the country. Half of all students are undergraduates, while the other half are pursuing graduate or professional training.

Nine Nobel Prize laureates have been connected with USC, including the:

  • Physicist, Murray Gell-Mann
  • Chemist, Arieh Warshel
  • Economists, James Heckman & Angus Deaton

USC faculty member Leonard Adleman, who has a joint appointment in computer science and molecular biology, is a Turing Award–recipient.

Among its many other notable faculty and alumni, we may mention:

  • Astronaut, Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon
  • Architect, Frank Gehry
  • Electrical engineer and entrepreneur, Andrew Viterbi
  • Actors John Wayne, Tom Selleck, LeVar Burton, Cybil Shepherd, Daryl Hannah, Will Ferrell, & Forest Whitaker
  • Television producer and film director, Judd Apatow
  • Film directors, Robert Zemeckis, John Singleton, Ron Howard, & George Lucas
  • Mohamed Morsi, the former president of Egypt
  • Shinzō Abe, the current prime minister of Japan

According to Wikipedia, The University of Southern California is a private research university in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1880 by Robert Maclay Widney, it is the oldest private research university in California. The university is composed of one liberal arts school, the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, and 22 undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools, enrolling roughly 21,000 undergraduate and 28,500 post-graduate students from all fifty U.S. states and more than 115 countries. It is a member of the Association of American Universities, which it joined in 1969.

University of Southern California's Online Degrees

MBA in Business Administration
  • Required Credits: 51
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MBT in Business Taxation
  • Required Credits: 30
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MCM in Communication Management
  • Required Credits: 32
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Global Supply Chain Management
  • Required Credits: 30
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Integrated Design, Business and Technology
  • Required Credits: 38
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Human Resource Management
  • Required Credits: 24
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Project Management
  • Required Credits: 24
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Hospitality and Tourism
  • Required Credits: 24
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate in Software Architecture
  • Required Credits: 16
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Computer Science
Degree Concentrations
  • Computer Security
  • Data Science
  • Scientists and Engineers
  • Software Engineering
  • Required Credits: 28
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate in Geospatial Intelligence
Degree Concentrations
  • Spatial Application Development
  • Spatial Data Analysis And Visualization
  • Spatial Data Acquisition And Integration
  • Spatial Thinking
  • Required Credits: 28
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate in Geospatial Leadership
  • Required Credits: 28
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate in Remote Sensing for Earth Observation
  • Required Credits: 28
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
LLM in Master of Laws
  • Required Credits: 37
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Human Security and Geospatial Intelligence
  • Required Credits: 34
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Business Law
  • Required Credits: 14
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Compliance
  • Required Credits: 12
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Financial Compliance
  • Required Credits: 19
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Health Care Compliance
  • Required Credits: 16
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Human Resources Law and Compliance
  • Required Credits: 16
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Privacy Law and Cybersecurity
  • Required Credits: 12
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Criminal Justice
  • Required Credits: 24
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MSL in Law
  • Required Credits: 21
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
EdD in Educational Leadership
  • Required Credits: 43
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership
  • Required Credits: 60
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
EdD in Global Executive
  • Required Credits: 50
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MA in Teaching
Degree Concentrations
  • Primary School
  • Middle or High School
  • TESOL
  • Required Credits: 31
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
ME in Enrollment Management and Policy
  • Required Credits: 30
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
ME in Learning Design and Technology
  • Required Credits: 30
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
ME in School Counseling
  • Required Credits: 49
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate in Library and Information Management Program
  • Required Credits: 16
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
DSW in Social Work
  • Required Credits: 42
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
eMUP in Urban Planning
  • Required Credits: 24
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MMLIS in Library and Information Science
  • Required Credits: 31
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MPA in Public Administration
  • Required Credits: 40
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MSW in Social Work
  • Required Credits: 60
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate in Orofacial Pain
  • Required Credits: 12.5
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate in Oral Pathology and Radiology
  • Required Credits: 13
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate in Geriatric Dentistry
  • Required Credits: 12
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate in Pain Medicine
  • Required Credits: 10
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate in Community Oral Health
  • Required Credits: 13
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate in Gerontology
  • Required Credits: 16
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
DPT in Physical Therapy
  • Required Credits: 130
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
eMHA in Health Administration
  • Required Credits: 36
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MA in Gerontology
  • Required Credits: 28
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MACM in Academic Medicine
  • Required Credits: 32
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MASM in Aging Services Management
  • Required Credits: 32
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MLTCA in Long Term Care Administration
  • Required Credits: 28
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MPH in Public Health
  • Required Credits: 42
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine
  • Required Credits: 33
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Geriatric Dentistry
  • Required Credits: 30.5
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Pain Medicine
  • Required Credits: 33
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Community Oral Health
  • Required Credits: 26
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Medical Device and Diagnostic Imaging
  • Required Credits: 28
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Gerontology
  • Required Credits: 44
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Nutrition, Healthspan, and Longevity
  • Required Credits: 46
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MSN in Nursing
  • Required Credits: 49
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Applied Psychology
  • Required Credits: 34
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate in Astronautical Engineering
  • Required Credits: 12
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate in Smart Oilfield Technologies
  • Required Credits: 12
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate in Petroleum Engineering (Unconventional Resources)
  • Required Credits: 12
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate in Geographic Information Science and Technology
Degree Concentrations
  • Spatial Application Development
  • Spatial Data Analysis And Visualization
  • Spatial Data Acquisition And Integration
  • Required Credits: 28
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MCM in Construction Management
  • Required Credits: 32
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Aerospace Engineering
  • Required Credits: 27
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Degree Concentrations
  • Computational Fluid and Solid Mechanics Program
  • Dynamics and Control
  • Required Credits: 27
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Mechanical Engineering
Degree Concentrations
  • Energy Conversion
  • Required Credits: 27
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Management
  • Required Credits: 48
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Management
  • Required Credits: 48
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Astronautical Engineering
  • Required Credits: 27
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Biomedical Engineering
Degree Concentrations
  • Medical Imaging and Imaging Informatics
  • Required Credits: 28
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Chemical Engineering
  • Required Credits: 28
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Materials Engineering
  • Required Credits: 27
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Petroleum Engineering
Degree Concentrations
  • Geoscience Technologies
  • Smart Oilfield Technologies
  • Required Credits: 27
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Petroleum Engineering and Engineering Management
  • Required Credits: 45
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Civil Engineering
Degree Concentrations
  • Construction Engineering and Management
  • Structural Engineering
  • Required Credits: 27
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Computer Engineering
  • Required Credits: 28
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Electrical Engineering
Degree Concentrations
  • Computer Networks
  • Electric Power
  • VLSI Design
  • Required Credits: 28
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Electrical Engineering and Engineering Management
  • Required Credits: 48
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Engineering Management
  • Required Credits: 30
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Industrial and Systems Engineering
  • Required Credits: 28
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Operations Research Engineering
  • Required Credits: 30
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Product Development Engineering
  • Required Credits: 27
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Systems Architecting and Engineering
  • Required Credits: 30
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Applied Data Science
  • Required Credits: 32
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Cyber Security Engineering
  • Required Credits: 28
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Green Technologies
  • Required Credits: 27
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Financial Engineering
  • Required Credits: 30
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
MS in Geographic Information Science and Technology
Degree Concentrations
  • Spatial Application Development
  • Spatial Data Analysis And Visualization
  • Spatial Data Acquisition And Integration
  • Spatial Thinking
  • Required Credits: 28
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported

University of Southern California Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information

Annual ApplicationsAcceptanceGraduation RateMedian SAT ScoreMedian ACT Score
71,03113%92%143532

How Much Does University of Southern California Cost To Attend?

Tuition (in-state)
$61,503
Price by Family Income
IncomeAverage Net Cost
0 - 30K$17,287
30K - 48K$17,345
48K - 75K$22,826
75K - 110K$32,363
110K+$52,917

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

How Much Do University of Southern California Graduates Make?

If you graduate from University of Southern California, then you can expect to earn an average of $88,800 per year. You also have a 91% chance of being employed after 10 years.

University of Southern California's Demographics

Demographic data is for full-time, on-campus students.

Student BodyUnder-GradsGraduates
52,38022,05230,328

Where is University of Southern California?

University of Southern California is located at University Park, Los Angeles CA 90089

What Is University of Southern California Known For?

University of Southern California is known for it's academic work in the following disciplines:

University of Southern California's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered

Social Work
#4
World Rank
#5
Historical Rank
#4
USA Rank
social-work Degrees
Engineering
#22
World Rank
#24
Historical Rank
#13
USA Rank
engineering Degrees
Criminal Justice
#15
World Rank
#16
Historical Rank
#13
USA Rank
criminal-justice Degrees
Business
#18
World Rank
#18
Historical Rank
#14
USA Rank
business Degrees
Communications
#35
World Rank
#39
Historical Rank
#15
USA Rank
communications Degrees
Medical
#25
World Rank
#28
Historical Rank
#15
USA Rank
medicine Degrees
Education
#39
World Rank
#40
Historical Rank
#15
USA Rank
education Degrees
Computer Science
#29
World Rank
#29
Historical Rank
#17
USA Rank
computer-science Degrees
Law
#54
World Rank
#64
Historical Rank
#18
USA Rank
Political Science
#47
World Rank
#57
Historical Rank
#19
USA Rank
political-science Degrees
History
#47
World Rank
#55
Historical Rank
#19
USA Rank
history Degrees
Literature
#52
World Rank
#77
Historical Rank
#21
USA Rank
literature Degrees
Sociology
#69
World Rank
#63
Historical Rank
#24
USA Rank
sociology Degrees
Earth Sciences
#95
World Rank
#118
Historical Rank
#24
USA Rank
earth-science Degrees
Chemistry
#93
World Rank
#119
Historical Rank
#26
USA Rank
chemistry Degrees
Biology
#80
World Rank
#107
Historical Rank
#28
USA Rank
biology Degrees
Economics
#67
World Rank
#84
Historical Rank
#28
USA Rank
economics Degrees
Religious Studies
#136
World Rank
#156
Historical Rank
#31
USA Rank
religious-studies-hub Degrees
Philosophy
#101
World Rank
#132
Historical Rank
#32
USA Rank
philosophy Degrees
Psychology
#53
World Rank
#67
Historical Rank
#32
USA Rank
psychology Degrees
Anthropology
#80
World Rank
#96
Historical Rank
#33
USA Rank
anthropology Degrees
Mathematics
#118
World Rank
#160
Historical Rank
#37
USA Rank
math Degrees
Physics
#127
World Rank
#153
Historical Rank
#37
USA Rank
physics Degrees

Who Are University of Southern California's Most Influential Alumni?

University of Southern California's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Social Work, Criminal Justice, and Business. Here are some of University of Southern California's most famous alumni:

Frank Gehry
Frank Gehry
A Canadian-American architect.
Neil Armstrong
Neil Armstrong
An American astronaut and lunar explorer .
Jim Lovell
Jim Lovell
An American astronaut.
Jack L. Warner
Jack L. Warner
An American film executive .
John Mearsheimer
John Mearsheimer
An American political scientist.
Boris Podolsky
A Russian-American physicist .
Michael D. Griffin
An American physicist and aerospace engineer.
Max More
Max More
An American philosopher and futurist.
Maulana Karenga
Maulana Karenga
An American political activist.
O. J. Simpson
O. J. Simpson
An American football player and felon .
Thom Mayne
An American architect .
Robert Ballard
Robert Ballard
A United States Navy officer, oceanographer and underwater archaeologist.

Who Are University of Southern California's Most Influential Faculty?

University of Southern California's most influential faculty include professors in the fields of Social Work, Criminal Justice, and Business. Here are some of University of Southern California's most famous alumni:

Cory Doctorow
Cory Doctorow
A Canadian-British blogger, journalist, and science fiction author.
Viet Thanh Nguyen
Viet Thanh Nguyen
An American author of fiction.
Ellis Horowitz
Ellis Horowitz
An American computer scientist.
Chiara Nappi
Chiara Nappi
An Italian physicist.
James C. Kaufman
James C. Kaufman
An American psychologist.
James Gross
An American psychologist.
Henri Ford
Henri Ford
A Haitian-American pediatric surgeon.
Paul Debevec
An American computer graphics professional.
Azra Raza
A Columbia University medical researcher.
Essam Heggy
Essam Heggy
An Egyptian planetary scientist.
Jan Peters
A German computer scientist.
Keyshawn Johnson
Keyshawn Johnson
An All-American college football player, professional football player, wide receiver.