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USC Majors Overview: Salary, Courses & Career Outcomes

Every major at USC with graduate salary, course catalog depth, and career preparation data.

#	Major	US Rank	USC Salary	National Median	Premium	Degrees/Year	Courses
1	Computer Science	—	$108,750	$75,000	+45%	353	119
Featured Courses: ACAD 422: Cybersecurity, Privacy and Trust in Connective Healthcare ACAD 431: Devices and Systems for Body Computing ACAD 535: Ambient Computing for Fashion ACAD 572: Embedded Computing for Human Performance ARCH 588: Physical Computing: Linking Architectural Computing with the Physical World
2	Engineering	—	$104,400	$72,000	+45%	453	361
Featured Courses: ACAD 190: Making with Materials ACAD 204: Mechanics of Materials and Structures ACAD 308: Computer-Aided Design for Bio-Mechanical Systems ACAD 312L: Materials Behavior and Processing AME 208: Computational Methods in Engineering
3	Mathematics & Statistics	—	$89,900	$62,000	+45%	136	143
Featured Courses: AAN 505: Statistics for Applied Data Analytics COH 705: Research and Biostatistics in Healthcare CHE 520: Mathematical Methods for Deep Learning CHEM 538: Mathematical Techniques of Physical Chemistry CHEM 546: Mathematics in Physical Chemistry
4	Engineering Technologies	—	$84,100	$58,000	+45%	29	—
5	Business	—	$79,750	$55,000	+45%	1,221	577
Featured Courses: AAN 520: Applied Data Management and Database Systems AAN 525: Applied Machine Learning for Business Applications AAN 535: Analytics Business Strategy and Communication AAN 540: Applications of Deep Learning and AI in Business AAN 545: Project Management for Analytics Professionals
6	Health Professions	—	$75,400	$52,000	+45%	125	409
Featured Courses: ACAD 261: Human Health and Technology ACAD 362: Analytics for Health Innovators ACAD 432: Collaborative Prototyping in Health Innovation ACAD 463: Evidence Based Medicine for Health Innovators ACAD 464: Mining Health Data Through Machine Learning
7	Architecture	—	$69,600	$48,000	+45%	174	94
Featured Courses: AME 549: Systems Architecting AMST 570: Readings on Los Angeles and Urban Culture ARCH 114: Architecture: Culture and Community ARCH 207: Computer Applications in Architecture ARCH 220: The Architect’s Sketchbook
8	Physical Sciences	—	$69,600	$48,000	+45%	34	117
Featured Courses: AME 508: Machine Learning and Computational Physics AME 573: Aerosol Physics and Chemistry ARCH 215: Design for the Thermal and Atmospheric Environment ASTR 110: The Universe for Astronomy Majors ASTR 350: Astrophysics I
9	Social Sciences	—	$65,250	$45,000	+45%	539	331
Featured Courses: ACAD 350: International Experience ACCT 442: The Ethics of Financial and Political Accountability ACCT 568T: International Taxation ALI 200: Elementary English as a Second Language for International Students ALI 211: Low Intermediate ESL (II) for International Students
10	Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies	—	$60,900	$42,000	+45%	352	17
Featured Courses: AMST 610: Interdisciplinary Research Seminar in Chicano/Latino Studies AMST 670: Interdisciplinary Research Seminar on Los Angeles BISC 321: Multidisciplinary Seminar: Science, Technology and Society CSCI 616: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Data-Driven Decision-Making EASC 591: Interdisciplinary Seminar
11	Biological Sciences	—	$60,900	$42,000	+45%	217	286
Featured Courses: AME 412: Molecular Theory of Gases AME 416: Mechanics and Transport in Medicine and Biology AME 515: Thermal and Biological Transport Phenomena I AME 516: Thermal and Biological Transport Phenomena II ANTH 300: Evolution, Ecology, and Culture
12	Homeland Security & Law Enforcement	—	$60,900	$42,000	+45%	21	—
13	Communication & Journalism	—	$58,000	$40,000	+45%	424	225
Featured Courses: ACAD 206: Communication and Culture ALI 246: Intermediate Oral Communication for ITAs ALI 256: High Intermediate Oral Communication for ITAs ALI 270: Advanced Oral Communication for ITAs ARCH 584: Communicating for the Built Environment
14	History	—	$58,000	$40,000	+45%	72	176
Featured Courses: AHIS 415: Object-Worlds: Histories and Theories of Things AHIS 449: History of Prints and Drawings AHIS 479: History in the Museum: The Past in Objects AHIS 489: History of the Book AHIS 501: Problems in the History and Theory of Collecting and Display
15	Natural Resources & Conservation	—	$58,000	$40,000	+45%	44	127
Featured Courses: AME 577: Survey of Energy and Power for a Sustainable Future ANST 601: Professional Integration to the Clinical Environment ANTH 302: Humans and Ancient Environments ANTH 401: Environment and Politics in the Middle East ANTH 607: Infrastructure and the Environment
16	Philosophy & Religious Studies	—	$55,100	$38,000	+45%	70	76
Featured Courses: AHIS 326: Archaeology of Religion in the Greco-Roman World AMST 333: Religion in the Borderlands AMST 336: Re-Viewing Religion in Asian America AMST 469: Black Religion in America AMST 483: Religion and Popular Culture in the United States
17	Foreign Languages & Linguistics	—	$55,100	$38,000	+45%	56	203
Featured Courses: AHIS 482: Japanese Photography ARAB 122: Arabic I ARAB 152: Arabic II ARAB 222: Arabic III ARAB 252: Arabic IV
18	Public Administration & Social Services	—	$55,100	$38,000	+45%	41	81
Featured Courses: GPPD 510: Economic Foundations for Public Policy GPPD 550: Quantitative Methods for Public Policy IR 374: Model Europe: Comparative Public Policy in France and the European Union JOUR 448: Government and Public Affairs Reporting JOUR 477: Web Analytics for News and Nonprofit Organizations
19	Area/Ethnic/Cultural Studies	—	$55,100	$38,000	+45%	19	89
Featured Courses: AMST 328: Asian American Politics AMST 350: Junior Seminar in American Studies and Ethnicity: Theories and Methods AMST 385: African American Culture and Society AMST 492: Research Methods in American Studies and Ethnicity AMST 493: Senior Capstone Experience in American Studies and Ethnicity
20	Psychology	—	$52,200	$36,000	+45%	173	61
Featured Courses: CMGT 530: Technoclash: Social Psychology and New Media Industries ECON 617: The Economics and Psychology of Decision-Making EDUC 544: Psychological Assessment EDUC 601: Seminar in Social Psychology GERO 437: Social and Psychological Aspects of Death and Dying
21	English Language & Literature	—	$52,200	$36,000	+45%	54	240
Featured Courses: ACMD 593: Foundations of Academic Writing ALI 135: Intermediate Writing Skills ALI 145: High Intermediate Writing Skills ALI 225: Academic and Professional Writing Skills I ALI 235: Academic and Professional Writing Skills II
22	Visual & Performing Arts	—	$49,300	$34,000	+45%	631	1145
Featured Courses: AAN 500: Applied Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence AAN 510: Visualization and Storytelling With Data AAN 550: Applications in Artificial Intelligence AAN 555: Applied Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Capstone ACAD 176: Rapid Visualization

Career Path Match at USC 🎖️ DeepColleges Exclusive

How many courses at USC align with each career direction. More relevant courses mean better preparation for your target career.

Pre-Med / Clinical Medicine 401

ACMD 503: Leading Change in Academic Medical Centers AHIS 336: Bodies of Knowledge: Art and Anatomy in Renaissance Europe ANAT 321: Head and Neck Anatomy ANAT 501: Functional Neuroanatomy-Neurophysiology ANAT 521: Head and Neck Anatomy

Film & Video Production 288

ANTH 305: Childhood, Birth and Reproduction ANTH 475: Anthropological Film Analysis ANTH 476: Ethnographic Film Theory from an Historical Perspective ANTH 575: Seminar in Ethnographic Film ANTH 595: Ethnographic Postproduction

Management Consulting & Strategy 194

AAN 500: Applied Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence AAN 535: Analytics Business Strategy and Communication ACAD 184: Operations Management and Finance for Challenge-Based Innova ACAD 360: Design Strategy: Problem Solving for Organizations ACCT 533: Mergers and Acquisitions: Tax Planning and Strategy

Music Industry & Production 166

ACAD 352: Digital Audio Recording and Processing ACAD 354: Synthesis and Sound Design ACAD 572: Embedded Computing for Human Performance ACCT 476: Performance Measurement Issues ACCT 537: Performance Measurement, Evaluation, and Incentives

Entrepreneurship & Startups 135

ACAD 182: Case Studies in Innovation ACAD 183: Product Management for Challenge-Based Innovation ACAD 185: Analytics and Marketing for Challenge-Based Innovation ACAD 220: Introduction to Data Innovation and Analytics ACAD 260: Introduction to Healthcare Innovation

Public Policy & Government 123

ACCT 574: Accounting and Corporate Governance in Global Business ADSC 521: Emerging Issues in Tobacco Control and Regulatory Science COMM 553: Global Internet Governance COMM 576: Civic Media and Participatory Politics ECON 379: Economic Policy Analysis

Marketing & Brand Strategy 116

ACAD 185: Analytics and Marketing for Challenge-Based Innovation ACAD 476: Technologies for Interactive Marketing BPMK 500: Biopharmaceutical Marketing Management BPMK 502: Biopharmaceutical Product Development and Marketing BPMK 503: Biopharmaceutical Advertising and Communication

Public Health & Epidemiology 115

ANTH 587: Qualitative Research Methods in Public Health COH 701: Community Health Sciences COH 703: Community Health Program Planning and Implementation COH 704: Environmental Health Sciences COH 705: Research and Biostatistics in Healthcare

Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering 112

ACMD 501: Introduction to Academic Medicine Worldwide ACMD 502: Becoming a Leader in Academic Medicine ACMD 503: Leading Change in Academic Medical Centers ACMD 511: Instructional Design in Academic Medicine and Health ACMD 512: Competencies in Academic Medicine and Health

Data Science & Analytics 110

AAN 505: Statistics for Applied Data Analytics AAN 515: Regression Modeling for Applied Predictive Analytics AAN 520: Applied Data Management and Database Systems ACCT 451: Tax Analysis with Data Analytics ACCT 456: Auditing with Data Analytics

Nonprofit & Social Impact 110

ANST 604: Healthcare Policy for Advocacy in Health Care CMGT 578: Non-profit Advocacy COMM 322: Argumentation and Advocacy COMM 575: Advocacy and Social Change in Entertainment and the Media COMM 613: Grant Writing in Communication

Linguistics & Translation 109

ANTH 372: Interpretation of Myth and Narrative ANTH 650: Seminar in Ethnography and Interpretation ARAB 300: Introduction to Translation ARCG 377: Archaeological Interpretation of Complex Societies COLT 510: Introduction to Translation Studies

Sociology & Anthropology 108

ACMD 598: Fieldwork: Designing Innovations for the Health Professions AMST 445: African American Anthropology AMST 509: Key Topics in Linguistic Anthropology AMST 560: Readings on Race and Ethnicity AMST 562: The Practice of Ethnography

Education & Teaching 106

ACMD 511: Instructional Design in Academic Medicine and Health ANST 603: Anatomy and Advanced Health Assessment ANST 607: Advanced Health Assessment ANST 609: Advanced Health Assessment ART 525: Making and Curating Art: Pedagogy and Praxis

AI / Machine Learning 103

AAN 500: Applied Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence AAN 525: Applied Machine Learning for Business Applications AAN 540: Applications of Deep Learning and AI in Business AAN 550: Applications in Artificial Intelligence AAN 555: Applied Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Capstone

Journalism & Media 103

ACAD 255: Advancing Journalism with Human-Centered Design ACAD 256: Designing for News and Information AME 511: Compressible Gas Dynamics AMST 326: Latinx Media Studies ARCH 420: Visual Communication and Graphic Expression

Mental Health & Clinical Psychology 101

ANST 603: Anatomy and Advanced Health Assessment ANST 607: Advanced Health Assessment ANST 609: Advanced Health Assessment BKN 610L: Technology in Sport: Field Assessment of Athlete Performance BKN 611L: Technology in Sport: Physiological Assessments

International Relations & Diplomacy 101

COMM 417: Global Engagement: Designing Public Diplomacy Strategies COMM 418: International Exchanges and Public Diplomacy COMM 419: Public Diplomacy in Los Angeles COMM 420: Regional Studies in Public Diplomacy ECON 450: International Trade

Architecture & Spatial Design 99

AMST 320: Social Construction of Race and Citizenship ARCH 211: Materials and Methods of Building Construction ARCH 439: Landscape Architecture Foundations Workshop ARCH 511L: Building Systems: Materials and Construction ARCH 530: Landscape Architecture Practice

Biotechnology & Genetics 95

BIOC 561: Molecular Biology BIOC 581: Toolbox for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology BISC 313L: Evolution and Population Genetics BISC 325: Genetics BISC 365: Phylogenetics and Evolution

Neuroscience & Brain Research 93

ANAT 501: Functional Neuroanatomy-Neurophysiology BISC 199: Neuroscience Colloquium BISC 407: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience BISC 408: Systems Neuroscience: From Synapses to Perception BISC 421: Neurobiology

Investment Banking & Finance 88

ACCT 377: Valuation for Financial Statement Purposes ACCT 532: Financial Accounting for Mergers and Acquisitions ACCT 533: Mergers and Acquisitions: Tax Planning and Strategy ACCT 537: Performance Measurement, Evaluation, and Incentives ACCT 558: Advanced Accounting Valuation

Pharmacy & Drug Development 84

ANST 501: Advanced Pharmacology of Anesthesia Practice I ANST 503: Advanced Pharmacology of Anesthesia Practice II BPMK 500: Biopharmaceutical Marketing Management BPMK 502: Biopharmaceutical Product Development and Marketing BPMK 503: Biopharmaceutical Advertising and Communication

Real Estate & Development 76

ARCH 520: Housing and Community Design for an Aging Population ARCH 527: Case Studies: The Development of Urban Housing ARCH 528: Urban Housing: Types and Typologies ARCH 529: Urban Housing: Programs, Precedents, and Recent Case Studies BUAD 113: Real Estate Finance and Development Freshman Seminar

Accounting & Audit 71

ACCT 370: External Financial Reporting Issues ACCT 371: Introduction to Accounting Systems ACCT 430: Accounting Ethics ACCT 456: Auditing with Data Analytics ACCT 462: Detecting Fraudulent Financial Reporting

Environmental Engineering 67

ACCT 405: Introduction to Sustainability Reporting ACCT 505: Business Sustainability Reporting and Analysis ARCH 419: Architectural Sustainability Tools and Methods ARCH 519: Sustainability in the Environment: Infrastructures, Urban Landscapes, and Buildings CE 110: Introduction to Environmental Engineering

Software Engineering 66

AME 430: Thermal Systems Design AME 527: Elements of Vehicle and Energy Systems Design ARCH 417: Computer Programming in Architecture ASTE 404: Computational Programming and Numerical Methods CE 108: Programming for Civil and Environmental Engineers

Game Development & Design 64

AAN 530: Applied Optimization and Simulation ACAD 382: Mobile Game Development AME 464L: Modeling and Simulation of Subsurface Flow Systems ART 260: Introduction to Video: Projection and Virtual Worlds in Art BME 210: Biomedical Computer Simulation Methods

Pre-Law / Legal Studies 50

BAEP 474: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Intellectual Property CLAS 307: Law and Society in Classical Greece EALC 377: Law and Society in Premodern China and Japan EE 682: Law, AI and Intellectual Property for Engineers HIST 377: Law and Society in Premodern China and Japan

Supply Chain & Logistics 47

CE 430: Sustainable Transportation CE 471: Principles of Transportation Engineering CE 519: Transportation Engineering CE 521: Transportation Systems Analysis CE 524: Digital Tools for Transportation

Chemical & Materials Engineering 46

ART 130: Ceramics I ART 330: Ceramics II ART 430: Topics in Advanced Ceramics BME 489: Biochemical Engineering BME 551: Introduction to Bio-MEMS and Nanotechnology

Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation 41

BKN 551: Musculoskeletal and Biomechanical Basis of Movement BKN 559: Readings in Biokinesiology BKN 563: Biomechanics BKN 567: Advanced Topics in Biomechanics BKN 575: Principles of Musculoskeletal Imaging

Psychology Research (Non-Clinical) 39

ANTH 321: Space, Place, Perception and Power ARCG 334: Space, Place, Perception and Power BISC 408: Systems Neuroscience: From Synapses to Perception COH 702: Social and Behavioral Sciences CMGT 530: Technoclash: Social Psychology and New Media Industries

Bioinformatics & Computational Biology 38

BISC 401: Introduction to Computational Analysis of Biological Data BISC 434: Introduction to Genome Science BISC 444: Practical Analysis of Biological Data in R BISC 461: Seminar in Molecular and Computational Biology BISC 479L: Computational Genome Analysis Laboratory

Climate & Earth Science 38

ASTE 553: Systems for Remote Sensing from Space BISC 474L: Ecosystem Function and Earth Systems BISC 533: Advanced Seminar in Remote Sensing and Modeling CE 527: Climate Change and Atmospheric Aerosols ENE 440: Machine Learning for Climate Change and Sustainability

Economics & Economic Research 38

ACCT 601: Applied Econometrics and Research Design CE 513: Game Theory for Interactive Autonomy ECON 304: Mathematical Microeconomics ECON 318: Introduction to Econometrics ECON 319: Advanced Introduction to Econometrics

Actuarial Science & Insurance 37

AME 540: Probability and Statistics in Engineering Science BPMK 501: Healthcare Payers, Insurance and Coverage Policy CE 425: Construction Enterprise Risk Management CHE 405: Applications of Probability and Statistics for Chemical Engineers DSCI 564: Probability and Statistics for Data Science

Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Research 37

ACAD 354: Synthesis and Sound Design ANST 631: Clinical Synthesis I ANST 632: Clinical Synthesis II ANST 633: Clinical Synthesis III ANST 634: Clinical Synthesis IV

Biomedical Engineering 31

BKN 563: Biomechanics BKN 567: Advanced Topics in Biomechanics BKN 588: Physiology and Biomechanics of Resistance Exercise BME 101: Introduction to Biomedical Engineering BME 201: Biomedical Engineering Practice

Civil Engineering & Infrastructure 31

AME 534: Nuclear Thermal-Hydraulics ANTH 607: Infrastructure and the Environment ARCH 464: The Politics of Architectures and Infrastructures ARCH 519: Sustainability in the Environment: Infrastructures, Urban Landscapes, and Buildings CE 464: Geotechnical Engineering

Aerospace Engineering 30

AME 105: Introduction to Aerospace Engineering AME 436: Automotive and Flight Propulsion AME 481: Aircraft Design AME 485: Aerospace Structures I AME 502: Modern Topics in Aerospace Design

Physics & Astrophysics 30

ASTR 350: Astrophysics I ASTR 424: Cosmology ASTR 450: Stellar Astrophysics ASTR 540: Advanced Cosmology ASTR 740: Selected Topics in Astrophysics

Mathematics & Pure Research 30

AME 526: Partial Differential Equations for Engineering Applications ARCH 564: Descriptive and Computational Architectural Geometry CSCI 533: Algebraic Combinatorics CSCI 621: Digital Geometry Processing EE 575: Computational Differential Geometry for Engineers

Robotics & Autonomous Systems 29

ACCT 604: Management Accounting and Control Systems Research AME 443: Control Systems Laboratory AME 451: Linear Control Systems I AME 456: Bio-inspired Robotics AME 504: Mechatronics Systems Engineering

Cybersecurity 27

ACAD 422: Cybersecurity, Privacy and Trust in Connective Healthcare COMM 567: The Political Economy of Privacy and Cybersecurity CSCI 430: Computer and Network Security CSCI 476: Cryptography: Secure Communication and Computation CSCI 531: Applied Cryptography

Graphic & Visual Design 26

ACAD 178: Digital Toolbox: Motion Graphics ARCH 420: Visual Communication and Graphic Expression ARCH 534: Landscape Construction: Topographic Design ART 314: Illustration for Art and Design ART 414: Advanced Illustration for Art and Design

Electrical & Hardware Engineering 23

BME 582: CMOS:Nano Neuromorphic Circuits CSCI 589: Software Engineering for Embedded Systems EE 105: Introduction to Electrical Engineering EE 109L: Introduction to Embedded Systems EE 202L: Linear Circuits

Food Science & AgTech 23

BISC 438: Nutritional Biochemistry GDEN 725: Epidemiology, Nutrition and Aging for Dental Residents GERO 411L: Physiology, Nutrition, and Aging GERO 498: Nutrition, Genes, Longevity and Diseases GERO 511: Fundamentals of Clinical Nutrition Screening and Assessment

Marine & Ocean Science 21

BISC 457L: Methods in Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography BISC 469L: Marine Biology BISC 473L: Biological Oceanography BISC 491L: Practical Aquaculture BISC 529: Seminar in Marine Biology

Cloud Computing & DevOps 20

ANTH 607: Infrastructure and the Environment ARCH 464: The Politics of Architectures and Infrastructures ARCH 519: Sustainability in the Environment: Infrastructures, Urban Landscapes, and Buildings CE 554: Risk and Reliability Analysis for Civil Infrastructure Systems CE 560: Simulation of Civil Infrastructure Systems Performance

UX / Product Design 19

ACAD 311: Design for User Experience ACAD 325: Human Technology Interaction and the User Experience ACAD 432: Collaborative Prototyping in Health Innovation BME 204: Biomedical Prototyping and Fabrication CSCI 426: Game Prototyping

Sports Analytics & Management 19

BKN 510: Sports Science Statistics - Introduction to Statistical Analysis BKN 600: Sports Science Internship EDUE 600: History and Philosophy of Coaching in Sports EDUE 602: Current and Emerging Issues in Coaching GERO 479: Health Coaching Intervention for Successful Aging

AR / VR / Spatial Computing 18

ACAD 217: Extended Reality Design ACAD 537: Extended Reality for Fashion ACAD 539: Extended Reality Development ACAD 574: Extended Reality in Medicine CSCI 420: Computer Graphics

Digital Health & Telemedicine 17

ACAD 464: Mining Health Data Through Machine Learning BME 425: Basics of Biomedical Imaging BME 426: Basics of Biomedical Imaging: Ionizing Radiation BME 427: Basics of Biomedical Imaging: Non-Ionizing Radiation BME 525: Advanced Biomedical Imaging

FinTech & Blockchain 12

DSO 429: Digital Transformation of Business: AI and Smart Contracts ECON 569: Cryptoeconomics and Blockchain Mechanisms EE 512: Stochastic Processes for Financial Engineering EE 518: Mathematics and Tools for Financial Engineering FBE 430: Introduction to Decentralized Finance - DeFi

Quantum Computing 12

CHEM 431: Physical Chemistry: Quantum Mechanics CSCI 575: Quantum Computing and Quantum Cryptography EE 471: Applied Quantum Mechanics for Engineers EE 514: Quantum Error Correction EE 520: Introduction to Quantum Information Processing

Space Industry & NewSpace 10

ASTE 528: Reliability of Space Systems ASTE 529: Safety of Space Systems and Space Missions ASTE 553: Systems for Remote Sensing from Space ASTE 566: Ground Communications for Satellite Operations ASTE 574: Space Launch Vehicle Design

ESG & Impact Investing 10

ACCT 405: Introduction to Sustainability Reporting ACCT 505: Business Sustainability Reporting and Analysis CMGT 577: Communicating Corporate Social Responsibility COMM 464: Social Responsibility of the News Media JOUR 460: Social Responsibility of the News Media

Clean Energy & Sustainability Engineering 8

ASTE 584: Spacecraft Power Systems CE 518: Carbon Capture and Sequestration EE 443: Introduction to Power Systems EE 444: Power Systems Technology EE 521: Power Systems Analysis and Design

Fashion & Luxury Industry 1

THTR 331: Costume Design I

Highest & Lowest ROI Majors at USC

Highest-Earning Majors

Computer Science

$108,750/yr

Engineering

$104,400/yr

Mathematics & Statistics

$89,900/yr

Lowest-Earning Majors

Visual & Performing Arts

$49,300/yr

English Language & Literature

$52,200/yr

Psychology

$52,200/yr

Popular Majors at USC

The most popular fields of study, ranked by the number of degrees awarded.

Business/Marketing

22.4%

Visual/Performing Arts

12.1%

Social Sciences

10.8%

Engineering

8.3%

Communication

8.2%

Best Majors at USC →

USC Majors FAQs

What are the most popular majors at USC?

USC's most popular majors by share of degrees awarded are: Business/Marketing (22.4%), Visual/Performing Arts (12.1%), Social Sciences (10.8%). The full ranking by graduate salary is in the table above.

Which major at USC pays the most?

The highest-earning major at USC is Computer Science, with a median 4-year-out salary of $108,750 — well above the school-wide median of $92,498.

Are some majors at USC harder to get into than others?

Yes. USC's overall acceptance rate is 10.0%, but selective programs (computer science, business, engineering, nursing) often admit at lower rates than the school-wide average. Check program-specific admission stats where available.

Should I pick my major based on salary at USC?

Salary should be one factor, not the only one. Major choice impacts earnings (engineering and CS typically lead) but career fit, course interest, and graduation-rate within the major also matter. The salary table above shows the median pay by program at USC.