The University of Southern California Gould School of Law was founded in 1900 in Los Angeles, California. Students at USC Gould have a median LSAT score of 168 and a median GPA of 3.82. An LSAT or GRE score may be submitted for admission consideration. Students represent 96 undergraduate institutions, 43 countries, and 31 states.

USC Gould School of Law has an acceptance rate of 12.96%. To enter the program in fall of 2021 there were 6,839 applications, 886 students were accepted, and 203 students enrolled. 23% of the student population are first generation college students, 50% are minorities, and 62% are women. Most students are 24 years old. The school prides themselves in being one of the most diverse law programs in the country. They have enrolled women and students of color since their founding in 1900. USC Gould explains how critical it is to have people with diverse experiences and perspectives within the classroom.

USC Gould offers four concentrations. These are Alternative Dispute Resolution, Business Law, Media, Entertainment and Technology Law, and Public Interest Law. However, there are many more options for certificates. Students may pursue a certificate in Financial Compliance, Health Care Compliance, Transnational Law and Business, Privacy Law, and many more. Additionally, there are 15 joint degree programs. The law program at USC is very interdisciplinary in nature and this is reflected through every course and program offering.

Externships are an integral part of the law program at USC Gould. Students have found diverse placements in federal courts, state courts, municipal courts, military courts, nonprofit organizations, public defenders’ offices, government agencies, attorneys’ general offices, and many more. Through these experiences, students gain valuable experience in real-world settings while earning academic credit. The Los Angeles area provides vast opportunities to interact with many firms in a hot legal market.

With small class sizes and a student/faculty ratio of 12 to 1, students at USC Gould learn in a collaborative and collegial environment. There are also many student-led groups on campus which can enhance the experience for students such as the American Constitution Society, the Armenian Law Students Association, the Business Law Digest, the Association for International Students of Law, and many more.

Tuition at USC Gould is $72,798 and more than 95% of all incoming students are provided some form of scholarship. All students are automatically considered for scholarships when they apply. These awards range from $10,000 a year to full tuition coverage. The school reports that their financial aid has increased by 172% since 2011.

Most graduates work in California, New York, or Illinois. There are more than 10,000 alumni from USC Gould across the world. 90.67% of graduates are employed within ten months of graduation with their JD. USC Gould graduates earn an average salary of $162,821.

175 graduates from the class of 2021 are employed in a position where passing the bar exam is required. 9 are employed in a position where holding a JD is an advantage. 94.91% of graduates who sit for the bar exam, pass the test within two years of graduation. 45 are employed in small law firms (250 or less) and 104 are employed in large law firms (251 or more). 3 students hold a federal clerkship position and 1 holds a state, local, or territorial clerkship. 17 are employed in business or industry, 5 are employed in government, 9 are employed in public interest, and 2 are employed in academia.