Key takeaways
For the Class of 2029, USC's acceptance rate is 10.4% – the first increase after years of decline. But don't read too much into it. Application volume dropped slightly, not standards. USC has never been harder to get into.
- Class of 2029 acceptance rate: 10.4% (fall admissions); 13% including spring
- Early Action acceptance rate (Class of 2029): 8.3%
- Average GPA of enrollees: ~3.90–3.92 unweighted
- SAT middle 50%: 1450–1550; ACT middle 50%: 32–35
Contents
USC Acceptance Rate: Class of 2029 and Class of 2030
USC’s fall acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 rose to 10.4%, with around 83,500 applicants – a new record – and 8,700 students admitted for fall.
That 10.4% figure applies to fall admissions only. Including spring admission, the overall rate is 13%. Two different numbers, both correct – depends what you’re counting.
For the Class of 2030, USC received more than 40,000 Early Action applications and admitted around 3,800 learners in January 2026. This produced an EA acceptance rate of roughly 9.5%.
Historical trend, fall admissions:
| Cycle | Class | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2025–26 | Class of 2030 | ~9.5% (EA); RD pending |
| 2024–25 | Class of 2029 | 10.4% |
| 2023–24 | Class of 2028 | 9.2% |
| 2022–23 | Class of 2027 | 9.8% |
| 2021–22 | Class of 2026 | 12.5% |
USC went from 17% (Class of 2020) to the current range. That’s not a blip – it’s a structural shift in where the university sits in the admissions landscape.
USC Admission Requirements: Scores and GPA
USC uses holistic admissions. No single number admits or rejects anyone. That said, the admitted student profile is narrow.
GPA: 3.92 average GPA – Class of 2030, all-time high. Up from 3.90 the year before. Most admitted students finished in the top 10% of their high school class.
SAT/ACT: Class of 2029 enrolled students who submitted scores: SAT middle 50% landed at 1450–1550, ACT at 32–35. On SAT Math specifically, 97% of admitted students scored between 700 and 800 – that’s from USC’s own Common Data Set 2024–2025.
Test-optional runs through the 2026–27 cycle. Scores at or above those ranges – submit them. Below the middle 50%? Don’t. A weak score doesn’t stay neutral; it works against you
Letters of recommendation: Two teacher letters, one counselor, all through Common App. Pick teachers who’ve actually watched you think through something difficult – not the one who gave you the best grade.
Essay writing: USC’s supplements go beyond the Common App essay. Several short responses, and they read differently than a main essay – admissions officers spot “I’ve always dreamed of LA” from the first sentence. Name something specific: a lab, a faculty member, a program. Generic doesn’t move anyone.
USC Acceptance Rate by Major
USC doesn’t publish program-level acceptance rates. What’s known from institutional and historical data:
School of Cinematic Arts undergraduate acceptance rate is estimated at 2–4% – one of the tightest in the country. Marshall School of Business and Viterbi are both well below the university’s overall 10.4%. Within Viterbi, electrical engineering and computer science consistently pull the largest applicant pools. Thornton School of Music is selective in a different way – audition results carry more weight than grades.
Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences is the most accessible entry point – still highly selective, but the broadest pool. If your target is Marshall or SCA specifically, treat USC’s 10.4% headline rate as irrelevant to your situation.
USC Out-of-State Acceptance Rate
USC doesn’t break out in-state vs. out-of-state rates. Private university, no residency preference – the process is the same regardless of where an applicant lives. California: 39% of the admitted Class of 2029. After that – Texas, New York, Washington, Illinois, Florida. Every state had at least one admitted student. 2024–25 cost of attendance has been around $95,225 all-in.
Early Action vs. Regular Decision
EA launched with the Class of 2027. Non-binding, November 1 deadline – which also happens to be the merit scholarship cutoff. Class of 2029 EA rate: 8.3%. RD: 9.2%. EA is actually harder. The reason is straightforward: scholarships are EA-only, so the strongest applicants concentrate there. Starting Class of 2031, ED arrives – binding, November 1, likely the best odds for anyone with USC as a clear first choice.
Transfer Students
27.1% – that’s the transfer rate for Fall 2025. 2,929 admitted from 10,827 who applied. Roughly 2.5x the freshman rate. Competitive, but a different kind of competition
How to Get Into USC
USC’s admissions process is holistic. These are the factors that consistently differentiate admitted learners:
Course rigor first. An A in an honors or AP course reads differently than an A in a standard class. USC’s admitted pupils don’t just have high GPAs – they earned them in demanding coursework. Preparation for the intended major matters specifically; admissions officers look for evidence you’ve already engaged with your field.
Essays that say something specific. Generic enthusiasm for USC is the most common essay failure. Name specific labs, programs, faculty, or LA-based opportunities that connect to your goals. The Viterbi School of Engineering near SpaceX and JPL. The Marshall School’s case competitions. SCA’s alumni network. Specificity is what separates an essay from a template.
No waitlist. USC is one of the only top-25 universities without a waitlist. Every applicant gets an admit or deny with no middle option. This means your round choice matters more than at schools where a waitlist provides a second chance.
Financial aid and scholarships. USC offers need-based aid and merit scholarships. This allows families earning $80,000 or less (with typical assets) to qualify for free tuition. Merit scholarship consideration requires applying through Early Action by November 1.
Expert Tip
“For competitive USC programs like Marshall or Cinematic Arts, the headline 10.4% acceptance rate means nothing. You’re competing within a pre-screened pool of applicants who specifically want that program. Your preparation for the intended major needs to be visible and specific – not listed, but demonstrated through what you’ve already done.”
– Maya Robinson, College Prep Advisor at Legacy Online School
Preparing for USC or other competitive US universities while living abroad? Legacy Online School offers 19 AP courses, WASC-accredited transcripts, and college counseling designed for children applying to US universities from anywhere in the world. Learn more about our College Guidance programs →
