USC Average GPA (3.85) & Acceptance Rate (9.8%)

Q: What GPA did USC's first-year students have?

94.5% of University of Southern California's first-year students who submitted a high school GPA had 3.50 or higher, and the largest group (52%) had 3.75–3.99, as the college reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether these GPAs are weighted or unweighted.

Q: What is USC's acceptance rate?

University of Southern California's acceptance rate was 9.8% for fall 2024: it admitted 8,050 of 82,027 first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Acceptance rate: 9.8% for fall 2024

Average high school GPA: 3.85, as reported by the college for 2025–26

SAT, middle 50%: 710–760 reading and writing, 740–790 math

ACT, middle 50%: 32–35 composite

Average net price: $41,496 a year (2022–23)

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A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. University of Southern California reviews each application.

University of Southern California average GPA

University of Southern California reported an average high school GPA of 3.85 for its first-year students, in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether it's weighted or unweighted.

How their high school GPAs were spread:

High school GPA	Share of first-year students
4.0	28.2%
3.75–3.99	52%
3.50–3.74	14.3%
3.25–3.49	3.5%
3.00–3.24	1.1%
2.50–2.99	0.7%
2.00–2.49	0.2%

First-year students who submitted a high school GPA, as University of Southern California reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. None had a GPA below 2.00. The college doesn't say whether these GPAs are weighted or unweighted.

An average, not a cutoffColleges calculate GPA in different ways, so these figures can't be compared directly with your own GPA.

University of Southern California acceptance rate

University of Southern California admitted 8,050 of 82,027 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 9.8%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

University of Southern California is a private nonprofit 4-year university in Los Angeles, California, with 20,630 undergraduates.

SAT and ACT scores

Scores of the first-year students who entered University of Southern California in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:

Test	25th percentile	Median	75th percentile
SAT Reading and Writing	710	730	760
SAT Math	740	770	790
ACT Composite	32	33	35
ACT English	33	35	35
ACT Math	29	33	35

34% submitted SAT scores and 12% submitted ACT scores, as University of Southern California reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1495 for admitted students.

Admission requirements

What University of Southern California looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:

Admission factor	Status
High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average.	Required
High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned.	Required
College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school.	Required
RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors.	Required
Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application.	Required
Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations.	Required
High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class.	Considered if submitted
Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores.	Considered if submitted
Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work.	Considered if submitted
Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college.	Considered if submitted
Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III.	Not considered

Requirements can differ by program and applicant type, so check with University of Southern California's admissions office before you apply.

AP credit

University of Southern California awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.

It doesn't award credit for life experience.

Average net price

First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $41,496 a year at University of Southern California in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.

Frequently asked questions

Is USC hard to get into?

Yes. Fewer than 1 in 10 applicants got in, which makes it one of the hardest colleges to get into. University of Southern California admitted 9.8% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.

Is there a minimum GPA for USC?

University of Southern California doesn't set a minimum GPA we could verify. Its first-year students averaged 3.85, as reported by the college in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether that average is weighted or unweighted.

What GPA did USC's first-year students have?

94.5% of University of Southern California's first-year students who submitted a high school GPA had 3.50 or higher, and the largest group (52%) had 3.75–3.99, as the college reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether these GPAs are weighted or unweighted.

What is USC's acceptance rate?

University of Southern California's acceptance rate was 9.8% for fall 2024: it admitted 8,050 of 82,027 first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

What SAT and ACT scores do USC students have?

The middle 50% of University of Southern California's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 710–760 in reading and writing and 740–790 in math; ACT composite 32–35, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.

Do I have a chance at USC with a 3.5 GPA?

It would be on the low side there: 5.5% of University of Southern California's first-year students who submitted a GPA had one below 3.5, as the college reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set, and it admitted 9.8% of applicants for fall 2024. Colleges calculate GPA in different ways, so compare on the same scale and look at your courses and test scores too.

How important is GPA for getting into USC?

A lot: University of Southern California requires high school GPA, high school record, college preparatory program, recommendations, essay or personal statement and demonstration of competencies. It considers high school class rank, test scores, work experience and legacy status if you send them. It doesn't consider other tests. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.

Do you need SAT or ACT scores to apply to USC?

Check University of Southern California's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. University of Southern California was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 34% sent SAT scores and 12% sent ACT scores.

Does USC give credit for AP exams?

Yes. University of Southern California awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.

What do students pay at USC after grants?

First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $41,496 a year at University of Southern California in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.

Before you apply, check USC's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.

Sources

College Navigator: University of Southern CaliforniaU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
University of Southern California Common Data Set 2025–26University of Southern California: average high school GPA of first-year students and how their GPAs were spread.
College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).

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