Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $90,300. College Scorecard.
Net price by family income
Average after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year
Sticker price, line by line
| Per year, living on campus | All students |
|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $72,097 |
| Housing & meals | $19,198 |
| Books & supplies | $1,200 |
| Personal & travel | $1,818 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$4,013 |
| Total cost of attendance | $90,300 |
Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two.
Debt after graduation
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
Who gets aid
State aid: California residents who meet income, asset and GPA standards may receive a Cal Grant (California Student Aid Commission); apply with the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application. Not included in the prices above. California Student Aid Commission
College Scorecard
USC net price compared with other California colleges
USC has the 91st-lowest average net price of 115 California colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87 | Menlo College | $31,100 | 54% | $76,419 |
| 88 | Biola University | $31,495 | 68% | $56,778 |
| 89 | The Master's University and Seminary | $32,647 | 68% | $57,106 |
| 90 | University of Massachusetts Global | $32,654 | 43% | $65,703 |
| 91 | University of Southern California | $32,740 | 92% | $92,498 |
| 92 | Woodbury University | $33,692 | 60% | $65,668 |
| 93 | Pitzer College | $34,191 | 83% | $69,512 |
| 94 | John Paul the Great Catholic University | $34,666 | 64% | $56,930 |
| 95 | Dominican University of California | $35,333 | 78% | $84,713 |
College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All California colleges →
Why USC costs more or less than similar schools
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern California | 10% | $32,740 | 92% | $92,498 | This school |
| Stanford University | 4% | $13,807 | 92% | $124,080 | |
| Claremont McKenna College | 10% | $28,849 | 91% | $104,736 | |
| Pomona College | 7% | $19,285 | 93% | $77,779 | |
| Harvey Mudd College | 13% | $35,924 | 92% | $138,687 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
University of Southern California would cost you $18,933 more per year than Stanford University, on average.
- Higher sticker price at University of Southern California, mostly from higher tuition & fees (+$6,187).
- Stanford University gives aided families $16,466 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, California resident | USC | Stanford University | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $72,097 | $65,910 | +$6,187 |
| Books & supplies | $1,200 | $825 | +$375 |
| Housing & meals | $19,198 | $19,922 | −$724 |
| Personal & travel | $1,818 | $4,602 | −$2,784 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$4,013 | −$3,426 | −$587 |
| Sticker price | $90,300 | $87,833 | +$2,467 |
| Average grants | −$57,560 | −$74,026 | +$16,466 |
| You pay | $32,740 | $13,807 | +$18,933 |
“+” means USC costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
USC cost questions
How much is tuition at USC?
Tuition and fees are $72,097 a year.
What is the total cost of attending USC?
The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $90,300 a year.
What do families actually pay at USC?
After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $32,740 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $13,516; $48–75k pay $19,539; $110k+ pay $56,116.
How much debt do USC graduates have?
The median federal loan debt at graduation is $16,112, and 1.3% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to University of Southern California overview