collageDid you know that USC’s engineering program has one of the highest acceptance rates in the country? It’s true!
USC has been ranked as one of the best universities in the world, and they have a reputation for accepting only students who are truly ready to succeed. This is why choosing a major with one of the lowest rates of admission requirements is such an effective strategy. By showing prospective schools that you’re self-motivated and able to complete your studies successfully, you’re putting yourself in a position to get into the school of your choice.
Collegelearners affords you a litany of relevant information on Viterbi acceptance rate, USC MS CS acceptance rate, USC astronautical engineering acceptance rate, USC engineering majors, and so much more. Be sure to visit our catalog for more information on similar topics.
University of Southern California’s acceptance rate for the recent 2019 admissions was down to 11.4%. This is even lower than the previous year, making the university even harder to get into. University of Southern California (USC) ranks #22 among national universities in the US. USC has an international student body of 12,265 students.
Out of over 66,000 applicants, only 7,558 candidates were admitted to the Freshman class of 2019. It’s low rate of acceptance shows that USC has been highly selective in offering admissions to students.
University of Southern California has around 19 graduate schools, offering a number of options to international students seeking higher education options in the US. USC provides a variety of options to choose from- including online graduate programs, part-time programs, and limited-status study options.
- Applications for both international UG students begin around the last week of November.
- The decision notification is released within 3 – 4 weeks, post-application submission.
- UG students can apply through the Common Application Portal. While PG students can apply through the respective schools.
- Deadlines, application procedure, fees, academic requirements vary for Graduate programs at USC.
- The admission session usually begins during the Fall season for most of the courses.
Highlights
| Application Portal | UG: Common Application PG: Varies with every school |
| Application Fee | UG: 85 USD PG: 90 USD – 155 USD |
| Acceptance Rate | 12.9% |
| Mode of Payment | Visa/MasterCard Credit Card |
| SAT Score (middle 50%) | 1360 – 1510 |
| ACT Score (middle 50%) | 30 – 34 |
| International Application Deadlines | UG: January 15, 2018 PG: Varies with every course |
| Academic Calendar | Semester |
| Intake Seasons | Fall |
| Interview Requirements | Required for MBA/Transfer students |
| Work Experience | Recommended– 5 years of experience |
| Financial Aid | Merit-based scholarships, grants available for International students |
| International Admissions | Ask USC |
USC Admission Deadlines
The admission process at USC begins during the Fall season. The following table shows the deadlines for international students to adhere for application submission:
| Course | Deadlines |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | January 15 |
| Postgraduate | |
| LLM Applications | March 1; May 1 |
| MS Electrical Engineering Applications | Fall: January 15; Spring: September 15 |
| MBA Applications | Round 1: October 15 Round 2: January 5 Round 3: March 1 Round 4: May 15 |
| Transfer Students | December 1 February 1 |
Application deadlines vary for many graduate programs. International applicants are suggested to check their respective departmental deadlines.
USC Engineering Acceptance Rate
USC Viterbi is fairly competitive for a private research institution. The USC Viterbi acceptance rate at the masters level is just 23.6%, so you’ll need to ensure your application is as strong as possible.
While it may be easiest to focus on GRE scores (while already having a strong undergraduate GPA), that’s usually not the deciding point for admission.
You will absolutely need to have a strong Statement of Purpose (SoP essay) and recommendations from professors or work supervisors. That said, work experience isn’t critical for most programmes, but there are a few that do require it (and it’s just a matter of double checking with each department). If you have a low GPA, it may be to your benefit to have some additional work or research experience.
University of Southern California International Admissions
While a major chunk of the international application process is similar to that of the domestic candidates, there are some needs to be kept in mind before applying at USC.
Admission checklist for international students:
- Academic records
- Official copies from all secondary schools/colleges/ universities attended
- To be sent directly from the institute
- Different standardized test scores
- ACT/SAT for UG
- GMAT/GRE/LSAT etc for graduate courses
- TOEFL/IELTS/PTE for either
- English Proficiency criteria
- Documentation of Financial support
USC English Language Requirements
International students must demonstrate English language proficiency by submitting scores of any one of the following tests given below, to be eligible for admissions at USC:
| English Test | Minimum Scores Required |
|---|---|
| TOEFL (IBT) | 100 (20 minimum in each section) |
| IELTS Academic | 7.0 |
| PTE | 68 |
USC Visa Requirements
Non-US citizens must obtain an appropriate visa if they wish to study in the US. Students who have been offered admission at the University of Southern California will need their respective visa documents( I-20/ DS-2019) to obtain their respective F-1 or J-1 student visas.
- Evidence of adequate financial support is required
- SEVIS fee receipt
- Copy of your passport
Upon receiving the visa document and payment of the SEVIS fee, candidates must schedule their visa interview.
Country-specific requirements
University of Southern California has some requirements depending upon the candidate’s country of education. For Indian applicants-
- 4 years bachelor degree or Master’s degree for a 3-years Bachelor degree earned at a University Grants Commission (UGC) institution.
- Semester-by-semester mark sheets/ consolidated mark sheets from all post-secondary institutions attended
- Official diplomas/ degree certificates
- ELP
USC Transfer Students Admission
At USC, only those all-around students are selected for admissions who show overall excellence in academics. USC reviews the application holistically, the students are hence judged upon every attribute rather than just one.
How to apply: Common Application
Application Fee: 85 USD
Academic Requirements for International Students: International students must submit SAT/ACT and TOEFL/IELTS/PTE scores.
Supporting Documents: College transcripts (translated if not in English), official high school transcripts, resume/CV, professional experience, essays, SOP, additional writing samples and, LORs.
USC International Undergraduate Admission
More than 20,000 students are enrolled in a number of undergraduate programs offered by the University of Southern California. There are around 150 majors at the undergraduate level. The students must submit the required test scores, documents, and application fee within the given time limit to be considered for admissions.
Application Portal: Apply through the Common Application
Academic Requirements for International Students: Applicants must submit either ACT or SAT scores along with the application. These scores are valid for a period of 5 years. The average scores required are:
- Average ACT Reading/Writing Score: 35
- Average SAT Reasoning Score: 750
Supporting Documents: Transcripts, academic records sent directly from school and translated if, in a language other than English, external exam results/predicted results, essays, SOP and LORs.
Additional Documents: personal/family support financial statement, proof of scholarship/fellowship received/expected to be received.
USC International Graduate Admissions
At USC, there are 19 graduate schools that offer more than 400 graduate courses. Each course has different requirements and application processes.
How to apply: There are different portals to apply for the desired course. The applications are filed through the respective school’s website.
When to apply: Deadlines vary with each course and school. Students are admitted during the Fall season only.
Application Fee:
| Most USC graduate programs | 90 USD |
| Marshall School of Business | 155 USD |
| Programs through USC International Academy | 175 USD |
Academic Requirements for International Students: GRE/GMAT (valid for 3 to 5 years) and English language test scores like TOEFL/IELTS are required.
Supporting Documents: Degrees, transcripts, translated transcripts if not in English, grading system, LORs, SOP, or objectives, etc. are basic requirements for each course.
Interviews: May be conducted, depending upon the course requirements.
University of Southern California Popular courses
USC MBA Admissions
- Application Portal: USC Graduate Application Portal
- Application Fee: 155 USD
- Academic Requirements for International Students: GMAT/GRE
Supporting Documents: Completed online application, 4 year UG degree or equivalent, transcripts, 2 essays, professional resume. Other requirements include:
- It is also recommended to have 5 years of professional experience.
- There is also an interview on an invitation basis for applicants.
USC MS Electrical Engineering Admission
- Application Portal: USC Graduate Application Portal
- Application Fee: 90 USD
- Academic Requirements for International Students: GRE, TOEFL/IELTS are required.
- Supporting Documents: UG degree in Math/Engineering/Hard Sciences, LORs, resume/CV, SOP, and transcripts.
USC LLM Admissions
- Application Portal: LSAC
- Application Fee: 75 USD
- Academic Requirements for International Students: GRE, TOEFL/IELTS are required.
Supporting Documents: UG Law degree (outside the US), 2 LORs, transcripts and degree verification. A 2-3 page professional statement/academic/professional background, reasons for applying, CV/resume, etc.
USC Application Status and Admission Decisions
Applicants will be notified via email when their decision has been posted.
For First-Year applicants, admission decisions are available on the USC Applicant Portal in late March.
Transfer Applicants usually get updates by May 31.
USC sees its peak admission period from November to May. Graduate program applicants must allow at least 15 business days for their application review after their application package has been received by USC.
Time required to make these decisions vary with programs as well as the size of the applicant pool. Usually, Fall term applicants get a decision by June while those who have applied for the Spring term receive it by December.
USC Viterbi school of engineering ranking
Annual rankings by U.S. News & World Report also keep USC Viterbi among the top five private engineering schools. The USC Viterbi School of Engineering remains among the nation’s top 10 graduate engineering programs for 2020, per U.S. News & World Report (USNWR).
The annual U.S. News & World Report rankings, released today, surveys U.S. online computer science and engineering graduate programs and is based on quantitative data as well as reputation surveys by academics and professionals. The USC Viterbi School ranked No. 5 in overall engineering.
collage