University of Southern California

Colleges University of Southern California

USC

USC

www.usc.edu

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location students adm. int’l. fresh grad GPA ACT SAT TOEFL
Los Angeles, CA 20,699 12% 13% 95% 79% 3.8 33 1500 111

University of Southern California is a private institution that was founded in 1880. USC’s central campus, referred to as the University Park campus, is set on 226-acres located in Los Angeles’s Downtown Arts and Education Corridor. USC has other campuses in L.A. in addition to sites around Southern California and Washington, D.C. Students can participate in more than 1,000 on-campus organizations, ranging from religious groups to club sports. USC students are not required to live on campus, but the university offers housing in its 40 or so residence halls and apartment buildings. USC is a world-renowned private research institution enrolling more international students than any other U.S. university. It also operates an integrated academic medical center that serves more than a million patients each year. USC encourages all students to cross traditional boundaries in their pursuit of knowledge.

Academics

USC is comprised of the Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, and 22 graduate and professional schools. The number of graduate students exceeds the number of undergraduates at USC, with students enrolled in such programs at Marshall School of Business, Rossier School of Education, Andrew and Erna Viterbi School of Engineering, Gould School of Law, Keck School of Medicine, and School of Social Work. USC is also well known for its Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and School of Cinematic Arts. The University offers bachelor’s degrees in nearly 200 majors and offers nearly 200 different academic and professional minors, among the broadest selection of any US university. The student-faculty ratio at USC is 9:1, and more than 62% of classes have fewer than 20 students. Popular majors include Business, Communications, and Biology.

Special Highlights

SOAR. The SOAR program provides funding to Dornsife undergraduates for participation as a research assistant in a faculty member’s project during the academic year. SOAR connects students with faculty members and their research. It allows all students to be mentored one-on-one, introduces students early in their academic careers to the process of serious scholarly inquiry, and fosters valuable relationships between students and faculty.

Fisher Museum of Art. USC has an accredited museum right on its campus—the Fisher Museum of Art. Stroll in and browse the various exhibits and samplings from 17th, 18th, and 19th century European, British, and American collections. Make a point of visiting contemporary exhibits of artists from Los Angeles and Latin America. Enjoy the museum, the cafe, and surrounding spaces for study, socializing, and contemplative moments. Entry is always free.

School Mission & Unique Qualities

The University Park campus is within walking distance to Los Angeles landmarks such as the Shrine Auditorium and Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which is operated and managed by the university. Most buildings are in the Romanesque Revival style, although some dormitories, engineering buildings, and physical sciences labs are of various Modernist styles that sharply contrast with the predominantly red-brick campus. Widney Alumni House, built in 1880, is the oldest university building in Southern California. The University Park campus is adjacent to the museums and recreational facilities of historic Exposition Park. Its park-like atmosphere and rich architectural history creates a stimulating academic environment and vibrant cultural community. USC’s Health Sciences campus offers world-class patient care, classroom and laboratory facilities, forming a dynamic environment to help shape the future of health care.

Student Reviews…

“USC is an amazing school in terms of academics. There’s definitely a higher standard. Because it’s a private school in Los Angeles, there are some ignorant, privileged people. However, you can definitely find genuine people. I recommend getting involved in sports or clubs.”