CAMPUS · LOS ANGELES, CA · PRIVATE

USC

University of Southern California

10.0%

01Acceptance 02Tuition 03Transfer 04ROI 05AP Credit 06Majors 07Housing 08International

Sticker Price vs What You Actually Pay

22% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating USC enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Full Cost Breakdown

Room & Board	$19,198
Total Cost of Attendance	$90,300

What You'll Actually Pay (Net Price by Income)

After financial aid, the real cost depends on your family's income. These are average net prices for students receiving aid.

Family Income	Annual Net Price	4-Year Total
$0-30k	$13,516	$54,064
$30-48k	$14,394	$57,576
$48-75k	$19,539	$78,156
$75-110k	$24,976	$99,904
$110k+	$56,116	$224,464

Financial Aid & Student Debt at USC

22.0%

Pell Grant Recipients

$18,000

Median Debt at Graduation

Is USC Worth the Cost? (ROI Analysis)

$92,498

Median Earnings (10yr)

$18,000

Median Debt

5.1x

Earnings-to-Debt Ratio

A ratio above 2x generally means the investment pays off. USC — 5.1x ratio is excellent — graduates earn well relative to their debt burden.

USC True Cost by Family Income

22% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating USC enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Family Income	Annual Net Price	4-Year Total
$0-30k	$13,516	$54,064
$30-48k	$14,394	$57,576
$48-75k	$19,539	$78,156
$75-110k	$24,976	$99,904
$110k+	$56,116	$224,464

Cost Breakdown

Room & Board	$19,198
Total Cost of Attendance	$90,300

Financial Aid & Student Debt

22.0%

Pell Grant Recipients

Students from low-income families

$18,000

Median Debt at Graduation

Federal loans only

$74,461

Median Earnings (6yr)

6 years after enrollment

USC Tuition & Cost FAQs

How much does USC actually cost per year?

USC's sticker price (cost of attendance) is $90,300/yr — that includes tuition, room and board, and fees. After financial aid, the average family pays just $25,708/yr, a 72% discount off sticker price.

Does USC offer good financial aid?

22% of USC students receive Pell Grants (federal need-based aid). Most US colleges including USC also award institutional grants on top of federal aid — apply via FAFSA, plus the CSS Profile if USC requires it.

What income bracket pays the least at USC?

Families earning under $30,000/yr typically pay around $13,516/yr at USC after financial aid, while families earning over $110,000/yr pay closer to $56,116/yr. The full breakdown by income bracket is in the True Cost table above.

Is USC worth the cost?

USC graduates earn a median of $92,498 10 years post-graduation. Against a 4-year sticker cost of about $361,200 (less for most families with aid), grads typically recoup the investment within several years of work.