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# Schools Similar to University of Southern California

Updated September 30, 2026

[Overview](/school/university-of-southern-california/)[Cost & aid](/school/university-of-southern-california/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/university-of-southern-california/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/university-of-southern-california/admissions/)[Majors](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/)Similar schools

**On this page**+

## Compare alternatives to USC

-   [Similar admissions profiles](#similar-admissions) · 5 matches
-   [Higher admission rates](#higher-admission) · 5 matches
-   [Nearby alternatives](#nearby-alternatives) · 5 matches
-   [Higher earnings at similar cost](#higher-earnings) · 3 matches
-   [Lower cost with similar earnings](#lower-cost) · 3 matches
-   [Similar overall profiles](#related-peers) · 10 matches

## Similar admissions profiles

Similar admissions profiles · matching order within this group

| School | USC · admission rate | Admission rate | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Claremont McKenna College](/school/claremont-mckenna-college/) | 9.8% | 9.6% | $110,798 4 years after completion |
| [Pomona College](/school/pomona-college/) | 9.8% | 7.1% | $77,544 4 years after completion |
| [Harvey Mudd College](/school/harvey-mudd-college/) | 9.8% | 12.7% | $137,100 4 years after completion |
| [Northeastern University](/school/northeastern-university/) | 9.8% | 5.2% | $101,903 4 years after completion |
| [Boston College](/school/boston-college/) | 9.8% | 16.4% | $96,145 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Higher admission rates

Higher admission rates · matching order within this group

| School | USC · admission rate | Admission rate | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Pepperdine University](/school/pepperdine-university/) | 9.8% | 62.9% | $84,459 4 years after completion |
| Concordia University-Irvine | 9.8% | 66.0% | $83,064 4 years after completion |
| [University of California-San Diego](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/) | 9.8% | 26.7% | $83,130 4 years after completion |
| [San Jose State University](/school/san-jose-state-university/) | 9.8% | 84.6% | $89,614 4 years after completion |
| [University of San Francisco](/school/university-of-san-francisco/) | 9.8% | 61.7% | $91,483 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Nearby alternatives

Nearby alternatives · matching order within this group

| School | State | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Pepperdine University](/school/pepperdine-university/) | CA | $84,459 4 years after completion |
| [Loyola Marymount University](/school/loyola-marymount-university/) | CA | $78,039 4 years after completion |
| Concordia University-Irvine | CA | $83,064 4 years after completion |
| [University of San Francisco](/school/university-of-san-francisco/) | CA | $91,483 4 years after completion |
| [San Jose State University](/school/san-jose-state-university/) | CA | $89,614 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Higher earnings at similar cost

Higher earnings at similar cost · matching order within this group

| School | USC · earnings | Earnings | Average annual net price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Harvey Mudd College](/school/harvey-mudd-college/) | $95,739 4 years after completion | $137,100 4 years after completion | $35,924 |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](/school/carnegie-mellon-university/) | $95,739 4 years after completion | $132,971 4 years after completion | $31,944 |
| [Duke University](/school/duke-university/) | $95,739 4 years after completion | $115,722 4 years after completion | $29,612 |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Lower cost with similar earnings

Lower cost with similar earnings · matching order within this group

| School | USC · average annual net price | Average annual net price | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [University of California-San Diego](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/) | $32,740 | $12,470 | $83,130 4 years after completion |
| [CUNY Bernard M Baruch College](/school/cuny-bernard-m-baruch-college/) | $32,740 | $3,033 | $82,748 4 years after completion |
| [San Jose State University](/school/san-jose-state-university/) | $32,740 | $13,760 | $89,614 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Similar overall profiles

Similar overall profiles · matching order within this group

| School | State | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Brigham Young University](/school/brigham-young-university/) | UT | $77,018 4 years after completion |
| [Loyola Marymount University](/school/loyola-marymount-university/) | CA | $78,039 4 years after completion |
| [Chapman University](/school/chapman-university/) | CA | $73,336 4 years after completion |
| [California Baptist University](/school/california-baptist-university/) | CA | $68,600 4 years after completion |
| [Northeastern University](/school/northeastern-university/) | MA | $101,903 4 years after completion |
| [Boston University](/school/boston-university/) | MA | $83,615 4 years after completion |
| [Drexel University](/school/drexel-university/) | PA | $91,041 4 years after completion |
| [George Washington University](/school/george-washington-university/) | DC | $95,967 4 years after completion |
| [Boston College](/school/boston-college/) | MA | $96,145 4 years after completion |
| [New York University](/school/new-york-university/) | NY | $89,427 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Matching methods and sources

[How schools are matched](/methodology/).

## Data & methodology

Sources and reporting periods: [methodology](/methodology/).

Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth.

Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.

Figure notes link to sources and limitations. [About College Azimuth](/about/).