Acceptance Rate History
University of Southern California Acceptance Rate (2013–2025)
CA · Current rate: 11.2%
University of Southern California admits the SAT 1450–1550 range — you might be closer than you think.
We hold no Early Decision breakdown for this school. The call names which school on your list to spend it on, from what each one published.
What is University of Southern California's acceptance rate in 2025?
University of Southern California's acceptance rate in 2025 is 11.2%, up from 9.8% in 2024.
Common Data Set 2025-2026
How many applicants does University of Southern California admit, and what is its acceptance rate?
In its 2025 admissions cycle, University of Southern California admitted 9,339 of 83,455 applicants — an overall acceptance rate of 11.2%.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
Does University of Southern California's 2025 acceptance rate include early-round applicants?
Yes. The 11.2% rate is one whole-cycle figure covering all 83,455 applicants University of Southern California received for 2025, early and regular rounds counted together; it is not the rate of any single round.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
Year-by-Year Data
| Year | Acceptance Rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11.2% | 83,455 | 9,339 |
| 2024 | 9.8% | 82,027 | 8,050 |
| 2023 | 10.0% | 80,808 | 8,094 |
| 2022 | 12.0% | 69,062 | 8,304 |
| 2021 | 12.5% | 71,031 | 8,884 |
| 2020 | 16.1% | 59,712 | 9,618 |
| 2019 | 11.4% | 66,198 | 7,558 |
| 2018 | 13.0% | 64,352 | 8,339 |
| 2017 | 16.0% | 56,676 | 9,042 |
| 2016 | 16.6% | 54,280 | 9,022 |
| 2015 | 17.7% | 51,924 | 9,181 |
| 2014 | 18.0% | 51,920 | 9,358 |
| 2013 | 19.8% | 47,358 | 9,395 |
Source: IPEDS Admissions Survey (NCES) · College Scorecard
Cost
The same school, two different prices
Family income under $30k: $13,516/yr · Family income over $110k: $56,116/yr (AY 2023–24)
Average paid by students receiving federal aid, by family income (College Scorecard). International students are not eligible for U.S. federal aid, so they are not in this cohort and typically pay closer to the sticker price.
High-income families typically pay closer to sticker.
Aid for international students
University of Southern California awards no institutional financial aid to nonresident (international) undergraduates — for international students, the sticker price is the real cost.
Source: official Common Data Set filing
Admitted Student Profile
SAT Range · Middle 50% (25th–75th)
1450–1550
Admitted students at University of Southern California scored between 1450 and 1550 on the SAT (middle 50%).
Source: College Scorecard · U.S. Dept of Education
What this school weighs — University of Southern California
Course rigor and GPA are not in this table. Nearly every school rates both at the top, so they tell you nothing about this one. These six are where schools differ.
| Class rank | Not considered |
|---|---|
| Standardized test scores | Considered |
| Application essay | Very important |
| Recommendations | Very important |
| Extracurricular activities | Important |
| Character / personal qualities | Very important |
University of Southern California Common Data Set 2025–26, section C7
How to read these numbers
- The 2025 rate covers University of Southern California's whole applicant pool — early and regular applications counted together in one figure. It is not the rate of any single round.
- 1450–1550 is the middle half of admitted scores, not a cutoff: a quarter of admitted students scored below 1450, and a quarter scored above 1550.
- The table above holds 13 reported years, 2013 through 2025. Across them University of Southern California's rate ranged from 9.8% to 19.8%, so any single year is one point inside that range.
Each figure above describes a class a school already admitted in a completed cycle. It is a record of who was admitted, not a measurement of any one application.
Source: College Scorecard · IPEDS Admissions Survey (NCES) · U.S. Dept. of Education
Where do you stand?
School
University of Southern California
University of Southern California
SAT
Middle 50% of admitted students scored 1450–1550.
This is SAT only. Your free full score also weighs your GPA, activities, and awards.
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Trend Analysis
University of Southern California's acceptance rate has decreased from 19.8% in 2013 to 11.2% in 2025, reflecting increased selectivity. The most notable shift occurred in 2020.
Analysis compiled from official data trends.
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Data sourced from IPEDS and College Scorecard. Does not represent endorsements or guarantee admission outcomes.