Strong post-grad earnings
Median earnings 10 yrs out are above the graduate average.
Los Angeles, CA
University of Southern California is a private university in Los Angeles, California with 46,566 students (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). It admitted 10% of applicants (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Its published tuition is $72,097 (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25); students who received federal aid paid an average net price of $32,740 a year after grants (College Scorecard, a prior cohort). 92% of students finish within the federal tracking window (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021); 24% of students take federal loans, and borrowers leave with a median $18,000 (College Scorecard). By program, the highest graduate earnings four years after finishing are in Law, professional-degree ($203,028) and Computer Science, bachelor's ($192,897) (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates).
Tuition
$72,097
2024-25
Acceptance
10%
Fall 2024 applicants
Students
46,566
Fall 2024
Type
University
Setting
Urban
In-State Tuition
$72,097
Out-of-State Tuition
$72,097
Avg On-Campus Living
$19,931
Avg Off-Campus Living
$19,931
Financial Aid & Outcomes
College Scorecard
What will it actually cost?
Most students pay the net price after financial aid, not the sticker price.
Net price by family income
Can federal loans cover it? (2026 limits)
For families earning $110k+, the average net price here is above the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow federally from 1 July 2026, by up to $30,616. That part has to come from savings, income, work, or private loans.
The ceiling is $5,500 in the student’s own Direct Loan plus up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS, which requires that the parent has no adverse credit history. Net prices are averages for a prior cohort of aid recipients, not a quote. Source: Federal Student Aid loan limits. Where this gap is largest.
After graduation
Earnings-to-debt ratio
Strong · 5.1×Graduates earn about 5.1× their median debt every year.
Financial access
Pell Grants are federal aid for students from low-income families.
Share of students who borrowed to pay for school.
Some fields may not be reported by this institution. Verify final details with the school directly.
How does cost line up with outcomes across colleges? See our analysis of college cost vs. graduation and earnings, an association shaped by selectivity and sector, not proof a pricier college pays off.
FAFSA earnings check
: Not flaggedUniversity of Southern California does not trigger the FAFSA's "lower earnings" notice. Its graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $100,965, above the $36,565 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in California.
This is one figure for the whole institution, not for any program: earnings differ by credential and field. It covers graduates who completed in 2017-18 and 2018-19, received federal aid, and were working and not enrolled when earnings were measured in 2022 and 2023, in January 2026 dollars. The Department says the notice is informational only: it does not change aid eligibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education, FSA Data Center, March 2026 release. Which colleges are flagged, and what changed.
Student Outcomes
Graduation Rate
92%
Freshman Retention
96%
Source: IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25 (provisional release)
Final aid offers, scholarships, and net price vary per family. Always verify with the school's financial aid office.
Decision support · Cost & value
The strongest cost, aid, and value reasons to consider this school.
Median earnings 10 yrs out are above the graduate average.
Affordability snapshot
Tuition
$72.1k
Net price
$32.7k
Pell
22%
Median debt
$18k
below avg
Earnings (10y)
$92.5k
above avg
“Avg” comparisons reference national IPEDS / College Scorecard averages (~2022–23); figures are directional and vary by school and year.
Acceptance rate
10%
SAT range
1450 - 1550
ACT range
32 - 35
Source: IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024 (provisional release)
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Institution does not report this
Los Angeles, CA 90089
Studying online: a substantial share study entirely online
In Fall 2023, 5,865 of University of Southern California's 47,147 students (12%) were enrolled entirely at a distance. A further 8,450 (18%) took at least one distance course alongside in-person study.
Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.
U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023
Fields of study
University of Southern California reported conferring credentials in 151 different fields to the federal government. See which ones, and at what credential level.
Decision support
Worth a closer look if University of Southern California caught your interest.
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Graduate earnings by program
University of Southern California's master's graduates in Management Science earned a median $158,632 four years after graduating, 27% above the $124,807 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $120,846; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $60,405 in federal loans at this college (about $687 a month on a 10-year plan).
131 programs at University of Southern California have federal earnings or debt figures, largest graduating classes first. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The national median is the same measure for every program in that field and credential in the U.S.
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Management Science, Master's | $158,632 | $124,807, +27% | $60,405 | $687/mo |
| Computer Science, Master's | $188,871 | $145,571, +30% | $51,250 | $583/mo |
| Social Work, Master's | $73,829 | $65,123, +13% | $125,849 | $1,432/mo |
| Business Administration, Master's | $181,250 | $103,485, +75% | $77,686 | $884/mo |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies, Master's | $84,932 | $101,000, −16% | $66,790 | $760/mo |
| Business Administration, Bachelor's | $109,128 | $68,257, +60% | $15,750 | $167/mo |
| Legal Professions and Studies, Other, Graduate certificate | $143,205 | $138,247, +4% | $75,568 | $860/mo |
| Electrical Engineering, Master's | $180,468 | $133,654, +35% | — | — |
| Teacher Education (by subject), Master's | $69,534 | $63,707, +9% | $68,331 | $777/mo |
| Educational Administration, Doctoral | $138,552 | $100,573, +38% | $99,714 | $1,134/mo |
| Communication, Bachelor's | $75,864 | $56,359, +35% | $15,875 | $168/mo |
| Computer Science, Bachelor's | $192,897 | $107,009, +80% | $19,625 | $208/mo |
What the job pays locally
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: everyone working in the job, every experience level, not only recent graduates.
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communication, Master's | $91,873 | $71,953, +28% | $70,426 | $801/mo |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies, Graduate certificate | $98,030 | $114,740, −15% | $69,961 | $796/mo |
| Human Biology, Bachelor's | $69,751 | $64,732, +8% | $14,481 | $154/mo |
| Public Health, Master's | $95,642 | $82,751, +16% | $83,937 | $955/mo |
| Human Resources, Master's | $116,471 | $83,558, +39% | $53,261 | $606/mo |
| Law, Professional degree | $203,028 | $107,773, +88% | $138,518 | $1,576/mo |
| Pharmacy, Professional degree | $163,791 | $138,348, +18% | $234,278 | $2,665/mo |
| Economics, Bachelor's | $94,435 | $82,686, +14% | $13,850 | $147/mo |
| Student Counseling, Master's | $77,125 | $60,111, +28% | $118,051 | $1,343/mo |
| Psychology, Bachelor's | $70,461 | $50,706, +39% | $14,000 | $148/mo |
| Engineering, Other, Master's | $150,717 | $129,974, +16% | $30,125 | $343/mo |
| Film and Photography, Bachelor's | $58,623 | $43,765, +34% | $19,500 | $207/mo |
| Dentistry, Professional degree | $123,341 | $170,812, −28% | $439,325 | $4,997/mo |
| Rehabilitation and Therapy, Master's | $87,543 | $71,416, +23% | $136,289 | $1,550/mo |
| Medicine (MD), Professional degree | $105,882 | $112,460, −6% | $234,702 | $2,670/mo |
| Public Administration, Master's | $103,721 | $81,408, +27% | $75,887 | $863/mo |
| International Relations and National Security Studies, Bachelor's | $84,866 | $66,596, +27% | $13,247 | $140/mo |
| Film and Photography, Master's | $51,931 | $51,486, about the same | $167,503 | $1,905/mo |
| Public Relations and Advertising, Master's | $89,760 | $80,125, +12% | $82,426 | $938/mo |
| Health and Medical Administration, Master's | $132,258 | $89,981, +47% | $73,316 | $834/mo |
| Theatre, Bachelor's | $40,415 | $39,775, about the same | $12,000 | $127/mo |
| Applied Mathematics, Bachelor's | $101,094 | $91,532, +10% | $12,251 | $130/mo |
| Political Science, Bachelor's | $75,090 | $63,293, +19% | $12,000 | $127/mo |
| Applied Mathematics, Master's | $106,697 | $116,060, −8% | $57,179 | $650/mo |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychology, Master's | $96,014 | $65,184, +47% | $61,632 | $701/mo |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations, Master's | $107,998 | $97,366, +11% | $58,425 | $665/mo |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, Master's | $139,463 | $122,434, +14% | $55,288 | $629/mo |
| Mechanical Engineering, Master's | $139,101 | $115,974, +20% | — | — |
| Gerontology, Master's | $79,668 | $67,618, +18% | $66,250 | $754/mo |
| Business Administration, Graduate certificate | $123,330 | $94,506, +30% | $79,250 | $901/mo |
| Public Health, Bachelor's | $89,522 | $58,808, +52% | $15,000 | $159/mo |
| Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor's | $104,649 | $92,135, +14% | $14,250 | $151/mo |
| Public Policy Analysis, Master's | $94,114 | $93,020, about the same | $81,516 | $927/mo |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences, Bachelor's | $89,203 | $62,451, +43% | $14,000 | $148/mo |
| Real Estate Development, Bachelor's | $107,292 | $106,061, about the same | $17,375 | $184/mo |
| Music, Master's | $45,304 | $48,285, −6% | $64,278 | $731/mo |
| Journalism, Bachelor's | $79,776 | $56,278, +42% | $15,000 | $159/mo |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language, Master's | $55,041 | $65,767, −16% | $66,499 | $756/mo |
| Computer Software and Media Applications, Master's | $179,055 | $120,083, +49% | $63,625 | $724/mo |
| Nursing (RN), Master's | $161,128 | $120,193, +34% | $96,260 | $1,095/mo |
| Journalism, Master's | $76,630 | $69,034, +11% | $48,232 | $549/mo |
| Educational Administration, Master's | $73,693 | $71,685, +3% | $60,487 | $688/mo |
| Accounting, Bachelor's | $121,101 | $76,194, +59% | $16,491 | $175/mo |
| History, Bachelor's | $79,940 | $50,680, +58% | $12,138 | $129/mo |
| Public Relations and Advertising, Bachelor's | $87,946 | $63,560, +38% | $19,500 | $207/mo |
| Public Policy Analysis, Graduate certificate | $89,003 | $80,781, +10% | $85,385 | $971/mo |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology, Master's | $74,838 | $77,466, −3% | $118,666 | $1,350/mo |
| Music, Bachelor's | $34,124 | $42,892, −20% | $19,839 | $210/mo |
| Social Work, Doctoral | $113,125 | $98,285, +15% | $116,557 | $1,326/mo |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, Bachelor's | $63,353 | $48,240, +31% | $20,353 | $216/mo |
| Philosophy, Bachelor's | $51,831 | $54,455, −5% | $7,500 | $80/mo |
| Biology, Bachelor's | $63,125 | $57,214, +10% | $4,618 | $49/mo |
| Geography and Cartography, Master's | $83,256 | $79,784, +4% | $58,405 | $664/mo |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology, Bachelor's | $78,741 | $70,074, +12% | $30,500 | $323/mo |
| Management Science, Graduate certificate | $187,852 | $122,843, +53% | $100,338 | $1,141/mo |
| Industrial Engineering, Bachelor's | $112,150 | $98,442, +14% | $17,704 | $188/mo |
| Interdisciplinary Studies, Bachelor's | $59,455 | $55,693, +7% | $18,500 | $196/mo |
| Fine and Studio Arts, Bachelor's | $72,428 | $41,367, +75% | $19,750 | $209/mo |
| Sociology, Bachelor's | $70,555 | $52,657, +34% | $9,625 | $102/mo |
| Design and Applied Arts, Bachelor's | $89,022 | $51,490, +73% | $18,000 | $191/mo |
| Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences, Graduate certificate | $139,611 | $207,164, −33% | $252,481 | $2,872/mo |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning, Master's | $88,656 | $79,665, +11% | $57,982 | $660/mo |
| Allied Health (diagnostic and treatment), Master's | $155,219 | $127,347, +22% | $232,660 | $2,647/mo |
| Natural Resources and Conservation, Bachelor's | $78,731 | $55,012, +43% | $9,125 | $97/mo |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering, Bachelor's | $105,415 | $93,451, +13% | $13,750 | $146/mo |
| Cognitive Science, Bachelor's | $93,440 | $81,496, +15% | $18,250 | $193/mo |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, Bachelor's | $125,514 | $98,207, +28% | $20,030 | $212/mo |
| Mental Health and Social Services, Master's | $72,615 | $59,571, +22% | $130,999 | $1,490/mo |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering, Master's | $121,165 | $106,375, +14% | $65,600 | $746/mo |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Master's | — | $110,121 | $60,000 | $683/mo |
| Interdisciplinary Studies, Master's | $86,783 | $75,122, +16% | $80,255 | $913/mo |
| Public Policy Analysis, Bachelor's | $74,511 | $73,721, about the same | $17,750 | $188/mo |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Master's | — | $76,837 | $61,426 | $699/mo |
| Marketing, Master's | — | $79,106 | — | — |
| Systems Engineering, Master's | $178,619 | $144,565, +24% | — | — |
| Theatre, Master's | $53,569 | $49,978, +7% | $108,033 | $1,229/mo |
| Computer Engineering, Bachelor's | $166,369 | $109,015, +53% | $6,625 | $70/mo |
| Writing and Rhetoric, Bachelor's | $41,637 | $48,471, −14% | $19,131 | $203/mo |
| Chemical Engineering, Bachelor's | $100,646 | $98,158, +3% | $13,000 | $138/mo |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Bachelor's | $59,088 | $55,000, +7% | $20,000 | $212/mo |
| Civil Engineering, Master's | $130,675 | $98,323, +33% | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Bachelor's | $57,246 | $65,466, −13% | $3,000 | $32/mo |
| Computer Software and Media Applications, Bachelor's | $115,839 | $58,894, +97% | — | — |
| Dispute Resolution, Master's | $94,256 | $74,725, +26% | — | — |
| Civil Engineering, Bachelor's | $106,308 | $86,517, +23% | $8,125 | $86/mo |
| Marketing, Graduate certificate | $161,928 | $93,837, +73% | $95,362 | $1,085/mo |
| Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences, Master's | $142,858 | $235,700, −39% | — | — |
| Music, Doctoral | $59,885 | $59,592, about the same | — | — |
| Real Estate Development, Master's | $185,174 | $124,997, +48% | — | — |
| Special Education, Graduate certificate | $72,559 | $69,147, +5% | $98,855 | $1,124/mo |
| Engineering-Related Fields, Bachelor's | $96,120 | $89,619, +7% | $19,250 | $204/mo |
| International/Globalization Studies, Master's | — | $86,219 | $52,251 | $594/mo |
| Library Science and Administration, Master's | $70,398 | $56,301, +25% | $83,905 | $954/mo |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research, Master's | — | $66,232 | $61,579 | $700/mo |
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other, Master's | $140,115 | $70,515, +99% | $51,250 | $583/mo |
| Dance, Bachelor's | — | $39,980 | $15,875 | $168/mo |
| English, Bachelor's | $59,345 | $48,590, +22% | $3,500 | $37/mo |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other, Doctoral | — | $130,822 | — | — |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Bachelor's | $64,421 | $51,642, +25% | — | — |
| Real Estate, Bachelor's | $143,977 | $84,821, +70% | $19,500 | $207/mo |
| Taxation, Master's | $127,082 | $114,810, +11% | $50,834 | $578/mo |
| Pharmacy, Doctoral | $179,146 | $136,696, +31% | $283,763 | $3,228/mo |
| Social Sciences, Bachelor's | $42,038 | $53,366, −21% | — | — |
| Education, Other, Doctoral | — | $90,635 | — | — |
| Physics, Bachelor's | — | $76,786 | $7,500 | $80/mo |
| Chemistry, Bachelor's | $54,966 | $65,120, −16% | — | — |
| Mathematics, Bachelor's | $69,377 | $69,562, about the same | $2,750 | $29/mo |
| Health and Medical Administration, Graduate certificate | $122,019 | $99,117, +23% | $108,346 | $1,232/mo |
| Dispute Resolution, Graduate certificate | $95,860 | $73,947, +30% | $56,326 | $641/mo |
| Electrical Engineering, Bachelor's | $131,532 | $100,647, +31% | $18,497 | $196/mo |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Bachelor's | $55,208 | $51,710, +7% | $17,750 | $188/mo |
| Rehabilitation and Therapy, Doctoral | $93,753 | $82,893, +13% | $210,709 | $2,397/mo |
| Geography and Cartography, Graduate certificate | $86,247 | $72,959, +18% | $41,000 | $466/mo |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning, Bachelor's | $106,094 | $66,874, +59% | — | — |
| Dental Hygiene and Dental Support, Bachelor's | $91,726 | $68,061, +35% | $30,556 | $324/mo |
| Engineering, Bachelor's | — | $89,359 | $2,750 | $29/mo |
| Engineering, Other, Graduate certificate | $84,820 | $96,828, −12% | $137,056 | $1,559/mo |
| Liberal Arts and General Studies, Bachelor's | $58,462 | $53,072, +10% | $3,000 | $32/mo |
| Accounting, Master's | $122,697 | $95,833, +28% | $48,666 | $554/mo |
Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Monthly payment assumes a standard 10-year plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data, 10 June 2026. Download every program (CSV). Same degree, different paycheck: what the national data show. Over the Cap: graduate programs where typical debt exceeds the federal loan limits in force since July 2026. Nursing graduates vs RN pay by state: the early-career benchmark.
Frequently asked questions
Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.
Fields this college awarded credentials in
The 14 largest of 151 fields University of Southern California reported, by credentials conferred in 2024-25, using the federal classification of each field. The level is the highest credential actually awarded, which is not always the one a field is best known for.
| Field | Awarded | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 2,131 | Graduate (887 graduate · 1,244 bachelor's) |
| Computer Science | 1,551 | Graduate (1,173 graduate · 378 bachelor's) |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | 707 | Graduate (681 graduate · 26 bachelor's) |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 535 | Graduate |
| Social Work | 490 | Graduate |
| Economics | 463 | Graduate (186 graduate · 277 bachelor's) |
| Communication and Media Studies | 444 | Graduate (202 graduate · 242 bachelor's) |
| Public Health | 400 | Graduate (289 graduate · 111 bachelor's) |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 398 | Graduate (349 graduate · 49 bachelor's) |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 362 | Graduate (167 graduate · 195 bachelor's) |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 331 | Graduate |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | 330 | Graduate (316 graduate · 14 bachelor's) |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 302 | Graduate |
| Human Biology | 296 | Bachelor's |
Fields are as classified in the federal IPEDS completions collection, which records credentials already conferred. A field listed here was awarded in the reporting year; it does not confirm the program is currently admitting students, and a field CampusPin has no guide for is still shown under its official federal title. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Explore more
Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with University of Southern California before applying.
Data sources & methodology
Facts on this profile of University of Southern California are compiled from federal datasets and the institution's own published information.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (2024). University of Southern California, college profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/university-of-southern-california
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