University of Southern California Acceptance Rate
Los Angeles, California · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 80,808
- Admitted
- 8,094
- Yield
- 44.9%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · School-reported CDS 2024–25 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, University of Southern California's acceptance rate has fallen from 18% in 2014–15 to 10% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 51,920 to 80,808 (+56%) over that period.
Its 10% rate makes University of Southern California more selective than about 98% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 84 tracked California schools, it is more selective than about 93%.
University of Southern California has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 44.9% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Reported by University of Southern California in its Common Data Set, one year ahead of the latest federal figures. Source ↗
- Applicants
- 82,027
- Admitted
- 8,050
- Acceptance
- 9.8%
- Yield
- 43.3%
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 51,920 | 9,358 | 18% | 3,098 |
| 2015–16 | 51,924 | 9,181 | 17.7% | 2,949 |
| 2016–17 | 54,280 | 9,022 | 16.6% | 3,068 |
| 2017–18 | 56,676 | 9,042 | 16% | 3,358 |
| 2018–19 | 64,352 | 8,339 | 13% | 3,401 |
| 2019–20 | 66,198 | 7,558 | 11.4% | 3,168 |
| 2020–21 | 59,712 | 9,618 | 16.1% | 3,460 |
| 2021–22 | 71,031 | 8,884 | 12.5% | 3,668 |
| 2022–23 | 69,062 | 8,304 | 12% | 3,420 |
| 2023–24 | 80,808 | 8,094 | 10% | 3,633 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 44,057 | 4,110 | 9.3% |
| Men | 35,879 | 3,888 | 10.8% |
| Another gender | 872 | 96 | 11% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 700–760 | 32% |
| SAT Math | 740–790 | |
| ACT Composite | 32–35 | 14% |
How University of Southern compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is University of Southern California's acceptance rate?
University of Southern California's acceptance rate is 10% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (8,094 admitted of 80,808 applicants).
Is University of Southern California test optional?
University of Southern California is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to University of Southern California?
University of Southern California received 80,808 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 8,094.
What SAT score do you need for University of Southern California?
Admitted students at University of Southern California typically scored 700–760 on SAT Reading/Writing and 740–790 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is University of Southern California getting harder to get into?
University of Southern California has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 18% in 2014–15 to 10% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.usc.edu/.