​University of Southern California

Founded in 1880, University of Southern California (USC) is a private research institution located in Los Angeles, California. USC is highly regarded for its programs in communication, journalism, and film. Notable alumni include filmmaker and Star Wars creator George Lucas, NASA astronaut and legendary Apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong, and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff.

Ranked 23 in the nation, USC is a very selective school. Its acceptance rate is 16%, and its graduation rate is 92%. Undergraduate tuition is $60,446 per year, plus fees. A total of 46,287 students are enrolled, and its student to faculty ratio is 9:1. USC offers 95 undergraduate programs and over 400 graduate programs. The university follows a semester-based academic calendar.

USC sits in the heart of Los Angeles, and it is part of L.A.’s Downtown Arts and Education Corridor. Its campus sprawls across 229 acres. Despite its urban location, the campus still boasts ample green spaces, as well as top-tier facilities. Students can participate in more than 1,000 clubs and organizations, which focus on a range of interests, such as anime, social justice, peer-to-peer mentorship, and sports. USC’s Greek Life is large, with more than 50 chapters that involve 20% of the student body. Students are not required to live on campus. To welcome first-year students, USC hosts an annual freshmen welcome week, organizing activities and dorm challenges to help new students build friendships and feel at home. The USC Trojans compete in the NCAA Division I Pac-12 Conference. The Trojan football team is well known. Off campus, USC students can take advantage of the many recreational and career opportunities available in Los Angeles. Students also enjoy venturing to Santa Monica or soaking in the sun at one of SoCal’s many popular beaches.