University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California · Private Nonprofit · 9.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 91/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
USC scores 91 (Exceptional Value) - a result that reflects a 4.7-year payback period, $61,400 average 6-year earnings, 91.8% completion rate, and debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.293. Median debt is only $18,000 despite $72,097 sticker tuition - a result of USC's substantial financial aid program that concentrates grant aid heavily at lower income levels. The 83.9% three-year repayment rate reflects graduates who are earning well relative to their debt. USC is highly selective at 9.8% admission with SAT mid-ranges of 740-790 Math and 710-760 Reading, ACT 32-35. At 20,443 students, it is a large research university in Los Angeles with extensive industry connections. The program-level data is exceptional at the top: Computer Science (305 graduates, A-grade, $137,284 year-one), Computer Engineering (A-grade, $166,369 year-four), Industrial Engineering (A-grade, $87,807 year-one), and Economics (178 graduates, A-grade, $57,060 year-one rising to $94,435 year-four). Even communication, journalism, and humanities programs show strong outcomes driven by the USC network and LA industry access. Music (71 graduates, F-grade, DTR 1.62) is the one outlier where year-one earnings ($12,947) reflect the career path, not USC's institutional strength.
The median graduate earns $92,498 ten years after entry - well above the roughly $53,600 median across the schools we score.
University of Southern California
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $72,097/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $72,097/yr |
| Average net price | $32,740/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $130,960 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $92,498 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $61,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $191 |
| Estimated payback period | 4.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 91.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 20,443 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $72,097/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $32,740/year, or roughly $130,960 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $13,516/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $56,116/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $18,000, which works out to about $191 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($61,400) and comes to 0.29, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $13,516 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,394 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,539 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,976 |
| $110,001+ | $56,116 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $13,516 per year at USC. The $30,001-48,000 bracket pays $14,394. Over four years, roughly $54,000-$58,000. Against $61,400 average earnings and a 4.7-year payback, the financial case for lower-income admitted students is strong. USC's financial aid commitment to lower-income students is a genuine institutional differentiator.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $19,539; the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $24,976. The jump from $19k to $25k is moderate. Both prices are competitive for USC's outcomes.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families over $110,000 pay $56,116 per year - a dramatic jump from the middle-income bracket, and roughly $224,000 over four years. At this price, program selection determines the ROI case. CS, engineering, finance, and economics graduates at USC justify $56k per year. Film, theatre, and arts management graduates at $56k per year face a harder financial argument even with strong USC network effects.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Southern California with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $192,897 | A |
| Communication and Media Studies | $75,864 | B |
| Human Biology | $69,751 | C |
| Psychology | $70,461 | B |
| Economics | $94,435 | A |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $58,623 | C |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $40,415 | C |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $84,866 | B+ |
| International Relations | $75,090 | B+ |
| Applied Mathematics | $101,094 | A |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science (305 graduates) earns $137,284 year-one and $192,897 at year four. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.147 (ROI grade A) with median debt of $20,178. USC CS benefits from direct ties to LA and Silicon Valley tech employers. The year-one median of $137k reflects FAANG and major tech placement.
Economics
Economics (178 graduates) earns $57,060 year-one and $94,435 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.245 (ROI grade A). Median debt of $14,000 is very low. Economics at USC benefits from the LA financial services, consulting, and entertainment industries. The A grade reflects both the strong year-four trajectory and the remarkably low debt load. USC economics graduates who pursue finance or consulting reach six-figure compensation on a compressed timeline.
Communication and Media Studies
Communication and Media Studies (269 graduates) earns $47,651 year-one and $75,864 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.371 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $17,702 is low. The B grade reflects year-one earnings that are moderate relative to the high debt that would be typical at full price - but most USC students carry far less debt than sticker suggests.
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering (52 graduates) earns $80,508 year-one and $105,415 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.180 (ROI grade A). Median debt of $14,500 is extremely low. USC Biomedical Engineering benefits from ties to LA's healthcare and medical device sector. A-grade is well-supported by both the earnings trajectory and the low debt load - reflecting strong financial aid to Viterbi School students.
Music
Music (71 graduates) earns $12,947 year-one and $34,124 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 1.620 (ROI grade F). Median debt of $20,976 against $12,947 starting salary is deeply negative in pure financial terms. This is the one program where the USC premium does not overcome the career path's earnings structure. Music graduates pursuing performance or composition face an early career with debt-to-earnings fundamentals that would be challenging at any institution. The F grade reflects the career economics of music performance, not institutional failure.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 80.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 84.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 87.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Southern California’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 9.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 740-790 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 710-760 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 32-35 |
| Enrollment | 20,443 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 22.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $17,924 |
USC's 9.8% admission rate reflects intense selectivity. SAT 740-790 Math, 710-760 Reading, ACT 32-35 describes the competitive range. The financial profile is nuanced: sticker at $72,097, while the net price for the lowest income bracket is $13,516 per year. Aid packages for families under $75,000 are substantial. Families above $110,000 face $56,116 per year - where the ROI case depends entirely on program selection.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern California (this school) | 91 | $32,740 | $92,498 |
| Cornell University | 96 | $28,690 | $104,043 |
| Northeastern University | 91 | $30,915 | $92,538 |
| Boston University | 90 | $24,402 | $83,238 |
| Azusa Pacific University | 71 | $22,212 | $66,677 |
| Art Center College of Design | 56 | $48,661 | $71,958 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of Southern California side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
USC admits 9.8% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 740-790 Math and 710-760 Reading, ACT 32-35. The 22.2% Pell rate reflects a moderately diverse student body for a highly selective private, though the $72,097 sticker limits access. The 20,443-student campus offers broad program depth and exceptional LA industry connections across entertainment, technology, healthcare, finance, and real estate.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether University of Southern California is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $130,960 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $92,498 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 4.7 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 91.8% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. Median debt of $18,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $61,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
University of Southern California: Common Questions
Is University of Southern California worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Southern California pays off. It scores 91/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $32,740 a year after aid ($130,960 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $92,498 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 4.7 years to earn back.
How much does University of Southern California cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $32,740 a year, or roughly $130,960 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Southern California graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $92,498 ten years after enrolling, roughly $50,698 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Southern California?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 4.7 years for University of Southern California. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Southern California graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $18,000, against average earnings of $61,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29. In our view that is very manageable: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
What is the graduation rate at University of Southern California?
The six-year graduation rate is 91.8%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.