Undergraduate Admissions​
Welcome to the USC Undergraduate Admissions website! We hope you find valuable information as you plan your college career.
Information for USC undergraduate admissions
For first-year students, the application is available online.
- Complete the online application.
- Submit all required documents (see below).
- Provide two recommendations from teachers or advisors who can speak to your academic ability and potential for success at USC.
- Have official transcripts sent directly from all colleges attended by USC Admissions (please do not send them electronically)?
For transfer students:
Complete the online application by January 1st of your intended semester at USC. however, it is recommended that you apply before this date as there may be limited space available after it has passed. If accepted, we will email you an offer letter with instructions on getting your place in our program once we receive all the necessary documents.
First-year Students
The University of Southern California (USC) is a highly selective public research university in Los Angeles, California. USC was founded in 1880, and it has a total enrollment of over 44,000 students from all 50 states and over 100 countries worldwide.
Applicants must meet the following admission requirements:
Have a minimum 3.4 GPA for high school graduates or 3.5 GPA for homeschooled students on an unweighted 4-point scale.* Complete at least 15 college courses (or be in your senior year) by May 1st of your senior year.* Submit an official copy of your high school transcript showing your graduation date or your GED scores.* Submit ACT or SAT scores.* If you are not a U.S citizen, you must have completed at least two years of secondary education in the United States before graduation from high school with an overall grade point average (GPA) on 4 point scale of 3.0 or higher
Transfer Students
Transfer students must apply at least one year before they plan to enrol. You must also submit all transcripts for all colleges attended and meet the minimum GPA requirement. If you have completed any college coursework within the last five years, please submit official transcripts from each institution attended with your application.
If you have been out of school for more than five years and are applying based on Academic Fresh Start (AFF), please complete an AFF packet and submit it along with your application materials.*
All transfer applicants must complete a minimum of 30 USC units to be eligible for admission consideration.* If you are currently enrolled as an undergraduate student at another university or college, please get in touch with Undergraduate Admissions about how this may impact your admission status into USC’s School of Cinematic Arts (SCA).
International Students
- On-campus housing
- A student visa (if needed)
Immigration and DACA Students
USC is a private university that does not accept any federal funding. As such, it is not bound by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program or sanctuary campus policies. That means that if your immigration status changes. If you leave USC early, we can’t cover the costs of transferring or completing your degree elsewhere.