The University of Southern California, USC, is known for its high standards and academic excellence, but it’s also one of the most competitive schools in the country.
As such, students who wish to attend USC should research how they can best prepare themselves for admission. One way to gauge your chances of getting accepted into USC is to look at their acceptance rate by major.
If you want to know more about USC’s acceptance rate by major, here are some key statistics on how students get accepted into different majors.
About USC
The University of Southern California, or USC as it is popularly known, is a prestigious private research institution in Los Angeles, California.
Founded in 1880, it is the oldest research university in California and occupies approximately 226 acres in an urban setting.
The university consists of one liberal arts school, the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences.
The institution offers a range of 22 undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools that meet the requirements of thousands of applicants each year.
The University of Southern California enrolls about 21,000 undergraduates and 28,500 graduate students across the US and over 100 countries.
USC Acceptance Rate By Major
Admission to the University of Southern California is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of 16%.
This compares the tens of thousands of applications each year and the acceptance rate. USC’s acceptance rate has been declining in recent years with;
- 16.6% in 2016–2017,
- 16.0% in 2017–2018,
- 13% in 2018–2019, and
- a record low of 11.4 in 2019–2020.
USC’s acceptance rate is also projected to increase to 12.4% in 2023-2024. As of Fall 2020, USC received applications from over 66,000 in-state and out-of-state applicants, and the overall acceptance rate was reported as 11.4%.
Half of the applicants admitted to the University of Southern California had SAT scores in the range of 1340 to 1530 or ACT scores of 30 to 34.
One-quarter of the admitted applicants scored above these ranges, and the other quarter scored below these ranges. This acceptance rate can be subdivided into the various programs at USC.
USC Acceptance Rate For Business Administration — 33%.
The business administration major at USC is one of the most popular majors in the university.
Business administration is a broad major that covers many different areas, such as accounting, finance, and management.
Students who choose this major will have their choice of classes from many different departments at USC:
- Economics,
- Law and political science;
- Finance;
- Marketing;
- Operations management;
- Organizational behavior;
- International business affairs & development management.
USC Acceptance Rate For Cinematic Arts — 8.7%.
If you are considering a major in cinematic arts, you should know that the acceptance rate for this major is 8.7%.
Not many people are applying, and only 8.7% of applicants are accepted. As such, it’s important to have a strong application before applying to USC to increase your chances of getting into this major.
You should also check out our article on how to get into USC if you are not accepted into any other programs at their school.
USC Acceptance Rate For Computer Science — 17.3%.
The Average SAT score is 1370, and the average ACT score is 33.
GPA isn’t as important as you might think, as students with a computer science major are likely to have higher SAT and ACT scores than those who do not go into computer science.
USC Acceptance Rate For Engineering — 19.1%.
Engineering is the most popular major at USC, with a 19.1% acceptance rate and over 2,500 students applying for admission each year. Engineering is a popular major worldwide, especially in California and the US.
The College of Engineering has more than 40 research centers and programs that support over 200 faculty members conducting cutting-edge research on topics ranging from energy to space exploration.
Read More: What Are The Best Engineering Universities in The UK?
USC Acceptance Rate For English — 26.6%.
The acceptance rate for English majors at USC is 26.6%. This is a good number, but it’s not the best rate in the country, and it’s not even close to being one of the lowest rates at other schools.
For example, if you’re an English major at a school with a 50% acceptance rate, your chances of getting into USC would be about one-in-three instead of one-in-two or less.
The average acceptance rate among all colleges and universities offering Bachelor’s degrees in English Language and Literature is 25%.
USC Acceptance Rate For Kinesiology/Exercise Science — 31.2%.
The USC acceptance rate for Kinesiology/Exercise Science is 31.2%, making it the highest of all majors at USC. It’s also lower than the average acceptance rate for all other majors at USC, which is 17%.
Every major on this list has a higher acceptance rate than the average 17%.
If you’re interested in studying kinesiology or exercise science at USC, don’t let that discourage you, it’s still an exciting field to pursue and one that could lead to many rewarding opportunities after graduation.
USC Acceptance Rate For Political Science/Public Administration — 32.3%.
Political science is a popular major at USC. It’s the most popular major on campus. The acceptance rate for political science majors is 32.3%. That’s a higher acceptance rate than others, such as economics, which had an acceptance rate of 25.5%.
This means that there are many more students who want to go into public administration and politics than those who want to go into other fields like business or engineering, with about 26% acceptance rates.
Well, you could say that there are many good reasons why people would choose this major: they like learning about how our government works.
Most people enjoy helping others; they have strong feelings about what’s right or wrong, and the list goes on and on.
If you’ve ever thought about becoming an elected official yourself someday, then maybe now would be a good time to start thinking about what kind of job opportunities might open.
This isn’t just any old profession anymore since politics has become such an important part of society today.”
USC Acceptance Rate For Psychology — 37.5%.
Psychology is one of the most popular majors at USC. This major is an excellent choice for students who are interested in a career in mental health.
The acceptance rate for psychology is 37.5%. The psychology major at USC is one of the most popular majors on campus. Students interested in pursuing a career in mental health should consider this major. The acceptance rate for this major is 37.5%.
When applying to USC, the more information you have about their admissions process and how they evaluate applicants, the better. The first step is understanding what makes a good fit for you—and what doesn’t.
If your major isn’t in demand or there are not enough jobs available for graduates, then choosing a profitable major might be the best.
Make sure that whatever degree program interests you will lead directly into something meaningful after graduation.
You should know exactly how valuable such a degree would be for finding employment in the said field.
USC Requirements
SAT/ACT
USC requires all intending applicants to submit their SAT or ACT scores. USC’s more competitive acceptance rate requires you to be in the top 10% of their class as well as in the top 75 in the test scores.
As an applicant, your ACT score should be above 33, 1540 SAT score, to stand a chance of being accepted to USC.
GPA
Each educational institution has a standard minimum GPA requirement that only allows an applicant to apply without immediate rejection.
Your high school GPA gives you a better chance of attending any university of your choice.
You must have a 3.79 average GPA from high school at the University of Southern California. This means getting more A’s or B’s as the minimum grade.
If your GPA is below 3.79, your SAT or ACT score should be high in order to compensate for your low GPA. This will help you compete effectively with applicants that have higher GPAs.
FAQ
Does USC Admit By Major?
USC requires prospective students to submit a Common Application for Admission. When signing up, you choose your first and second choice fields.
If slots for your first major are competitive or fill up quickly, you may still be admitted to USC through your second major.
What Are The Top 3 Majors At USC?
USC’s most popular majors include Marketing and Related Support Services, Business Management, and Social Sciences.
Is USC Requiring SAT 2023?
When students apply to USC, they will be required to indicate whether they plan to submit their scores; if so, we will wait until we receive them. Applicants will not be penalized or disadvantaged if they choose otherwise.
Is It Harder To Get Into UCLA Or USC?
Both schools rank fairly evenly. UCLA has an acceptance rate of 8.6 percent, and USC’s acceptance rate is 11.8 percent.
What Is The Lowest GPA USC Will Accept?
You should have a 3.79 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower, you must compensate with an equally higher SAT/ACT.
What Is USC Famous For Academically?
USC’s top-rated undergraduate programs include Game Development/Simulation (1), Real Estate (7), Accounting (9), International Business (12), and Engineering (31).
Is USC More Popular Than UCLA?
While both schools have a total student population of around 46,000, USC enrolls 19,500 undergraduates compared to UCLA’s undergraduate enrollment of 31,543.
What Is USC’s Biggest Rival?
The rivalry between USC and the University of Notre Dame has been on since 1926. Notre Dame leads 48-36-5 in the battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh, the ornamented Irish club.
Is USC Better Than UCLA?
In terms of rankings, the ranking rankings suggest that UCLA is the better university in the UCLA vs. USC race.
Is Berkeley Or USC More Prestigious?
Both USC and the University of California Berkeley have excellent reputations; both are ranked in the nation’s top 25 universities by U.S. News. Most high schoolers would be ecstatic to be accepted into one of them.
Conclusion
The University of Southern California is an incredible place to study, with a wide variety of majors and programs.
If you’re interested in applying to USC, this article on USC acceptance rate by major should give you a head start on what you will require.