University of Southern California
Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at University of Southern California, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 19% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 87th percentile among similar colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (CA wage index 1.21). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at University of Southern California
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $137,284 | $192,897 | +80% | #15 of 349 | #18 | $19,625 |
| Computer Engineering | — | $166,369 | +53% | #8 of 189 | #10 | $6,625 |
| Real Estate | $98,763 | $143,977 | +70% | #1 of 25 | #2 | $19,500 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $89,684 | $131,532 | +31% | #9 of 258 | #13 | $18,497 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $78,980 | $125,514 | +28% | #1 of 59 | #3 | $20,030 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $73,903 | $121,101 | +59% | #6 of 796 | #10 | $16,491 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $103,071 | $115,839 | +97% | #4 of 54 | #4 | — |
| Industrial Engineering | $87,807 | $112,150 | +14% | #7 of 94 | #39 | $17,704 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $71,668 | $109,128 | +60% | #16 of 1176 | #28 | $15,750 |
| Real Estate Development | $49,353 | $107,292 | +1% | — | — | $17,375 |
| Civil Engineering | $85,262 | $106,308 | +23% | #4 of 233 | #17 | $8,125 |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | — | $106,094 | +59% | #1 of 17 | #1 | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $80,508 | $105,415 | +13% | #17 of 118 | #48 | $13,750 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $83,356 | $104,649 | +14% | #20 of 318 | #115 | $14,250 |
| Applied Mathematics | $71,622 | $101,094 | +10% | #18 of 45 | #23 | $12,251 |
| Chemical Engineering | $68,234 | $100,646 | +3% | #50 of 158 | #112 | $13,000 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | $73,234 | $96,120 | +7% | #9 of 33 | #22 | $19,250 |
| Economics | $57,060 | $94,435 | +14% | #85 of 368 | #113 | $13,850 |
| Cognitive Science | $34,295 | $93,440 | +15% | #7 of 19 | #7 | $18,250 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $69,479 | $91,726 | +35% | #2 of 76 | #3 | $30,556 |
| Public Health | $36,300 | $89,522 | +52% | #3 of 215 | #8 | $15,000 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $38,063 | $89,203 | +43% | #3 of 67 | #4 | $14,000 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $64,846 | $89,022 | +73% | #5 of 299 | #7 | $18,000 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $50,041 | $87,946 | +38% | #3 of 178 | #11 | $19,500 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $52,262 | $84,866 | +27% | #12 of 118 | #22 | $13,247 |
| History | $36,876 | $79,940 | +58% | #12 of 459 | #13 | $12,138 |
| Journalism | $44,651 | $79,776 | +42% | #4 of 187 | #8 | $15,000 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | $47,874 | $78,741 | +12% | #4 of 22 | #7 | $30,500 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | — | $78,731 | +43% | #3 of 265 | #8 | $9,125 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $47,651 | $75,864 | +35% | #20 of 660 | #45 | $15,875 |
| Political Science and Government | $38,063 | $75,090 | +19% | #66 of 565 | #137 | $12,000 |
| Public Policy Analysis | $52,403 | $74,511 | +1% | #12 of 34 | #15 | $17,750 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $50,161 | $72,428 | +75% | #1 of 423 | #2 | $19,750 |
| Sociology | $35,580 | $70,555 | +34% | #13 of 462 | #28 | $9,625 |
| Psychology | $34,139 | $70,461 | +39% | #23 of 1027 | #40 | $14,000 |
| Human Biology | $23,405 | $69,751 | +8% | #5 of 9 | #5 | $14,481 |
| Mathematics | — | $69,377 | +-0% | #162 of 309 | #214 | $2,750 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | $64,421 | +25% | #2 of 24 | #2 | — |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | $26,975 | $63,353 | +31% | #3 of 43 | #10 | $20,353 |
| Biology | $20,210 | $63,125 | +10% | #241 of 841 | #449 | $4,618 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | — | $59,455 | +7% | #57 of 207 | #116 | $18,500 |
| English Language and Literature | — | $59,345 | +22% | #63 of 576 | #109 | $3,500 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | $59,088 | +7% | #82 of 225 | #141 | $20,000 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $34,187 | $58,623 | +34% | #10 of 144 | #14 | $19,500 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | — | $58,462 | +10% | #115 of 476 | #236 | $3,000 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $34,468 | $57,246 | -13% | #93 of 110 | #103 | $3,000 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | — | $55,208 | +7% | #35 of 103 | #51 | $17,750 |
| Chemistry | — | $54,966 | -16% | #189 of 209 | #203 | — |
| Philosophy | $38,380 | $51,831 | -5% | #58 of 86 | #67 | $7,500 |
| Social Sciences | $33,789 | $42,038 | -21% | #79 of 87 | #84 | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The University of Southern California Town Property Report
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 90014 (4.0% cap, Los Angeles)
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🏆 Where University of Southern California Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $66,640 | $66,640 |
| Room | $11,908 | |
| Board | $7,290 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $90,453 | $90,453 |
Financial Aid
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from University of Southern California's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at University of Southern California?
How much does it cost to attend University of Southern California?
What is the graduation rate at University of Southern California?
Is University of Southern California a good school?
- Outcomes (A+): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (A+): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (A): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (A+): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend University of Southern California?
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for University of Southern California — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
🎓 Similar Colleges to University of Southern California
Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology