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University Of Southern California Admissions

Extremely selective with limited predictability

At this level of selectivity, academic qualifications alone rarely determine outcomes. Holistic factors and institutional priorities play significant roles.

9.8%

Acceptance Rate

Peer average: 78%

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Most Selective (<10%)

What Are My Chances?

A directional estimate — not a prediction

SAT Total Score Distribution

Enrolled students

1,450

25th Percentile

1,495

Median

1,550

75th Percentile

Peer average SAT: 1,190(+305 vs peers)

ACT Composite Score Distribution

Enrolled students

25th Percentile

Median

75th Percentile

Important: Test scores are just one factor. Admissions decisions reflect institutional priorities, essays, recommendations, and factors we cannot measure. Use this as directional guidance, not a prediction.

Who Attends — and Succeeds

Understanding institutional priorities and student support

Student Demographics

First-Generation Students

Parents without bachelor's degree

25%

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Pell Grant Recipients

Lower-income students (federal aid)

22%

Transfer Students

Alternative pathway to enrollment

28%

These metrics reflect institutional priorities around access and economic diversity, which inform admissions decisions beyond academic qualifications.