University of Southern California
Region: Northern America
Country/Region: United States
Found Year: 1880
Address: University Park
Introduction

Located in Los Angeles, a global centre for arts, technology and international trade, the University of Southern California is one of the world’s leading private research universities. USC offers extensive opportunities for internships and study abroad programs. With a strong tradition of integrating liberal and professional education, USC fosters a vibrant culture of public service and encourages students to cross academic as well as geographic boundaries in their pursuit of knowledge. Los Angeles was little more than a frontier town in 1880 when USC first opened its doors to 53 students and 10 teachers. Today it is a world-class research university, the oldest private research university in the West.

Academic Ranking of World Universities
58
Academic Ranking of World Universities
The Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) is recognized as the precursor of global university rankings and the most trustworthy one. ARWU presents the world's top 1000 research universities annually based on transparent methodology and objective third-party data.
61
2021
53
2022
58
2023
Global Ranking of Academic Subjects
All Subjects
Subject
Rank
Best Ranked Subjects
Subject Rank
Education
11
Finance
11
Management
17
Communication
20
Law
23
Economics
28
Medical Technology
30
Library & Information Science
30
Key Statistics
40417
Total Enrollment
8835(21.9%)
International Students
18880
Undergraduate Enrollment
2276(12.1%)
International Students
21537
Graduate Enrollment
6559(30.5%)
International Students
Programs
Undergraduate Programs
Accounting (B.S.)
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Aerospace Engineering (B.S.)
American Studies and Ethnicity
American Studies and Ethnicity (African American Studies) (B.A.)
American Studies and Ethnicity (Asian American Studies) (B.A.)
American Studies and Ethnicity (B.A.)
American Studies and Ethnicity (Chicano/Latino Studies) (B.A.)
Animation and Digital Arts (B.A.*)
Anthropology
Anthropology (B.A.)
Anthropology (Visual Anthropology) (B.A.)
Applied and Computational Mathematics (B.A., B.S.)
Applied Mechanics (B.S.)
Architectural Studies (B.S.)
Architecture (B.Arch.)
Art (B.A.*)
Art History (B.A.)
Astronautical Engineering (B.S.)
Astronautics and Space Technology
Astronomy (B.A., B.S.)
Biochemistry (B.S.**)
Biological Sciences (B.A., B.S.)
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering (B.S.)
Biomedical Engineering (Biochemical Engineering) (B.S.)
Biomedical Engineering (Electrical Engineering) (B.S.)
Biomedical Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) (B.S.)
Biophysics (B.S.)
Broadcast and Digital Journalism (B.A.*)
Business Administration (B.S.)
Business Administration (Cinematic Arts) (B.S.)
Business Administration (East Asian Studies) (B.S.)
Business Administration (International Relations) (B.S.)
Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering (B.S.)
Chemical Engineering (Biochemical Engineering) (B.S.)
Chemical Engineering (Environmental Engineering) (B.S.)
Chemical Engineering (Nanotechnology) (B.S.)
Chemical Engineering (Petroleum Engineering) (B.S.)
Chemical Engineering (Polymer/Materials Science) (B.S.)
Chemistry
Chemistry (B.A., B.S.)
Chemistry (Chemical Biology) (B.S.)
Chemistry (Chemical Nanoscience) (B.S.)
Chemistry (Research) (B.S.)
Cinematic Arts, Critical Studies (B.A.*)
Cinematic Arts, Film and Television Production (B.A.*)
Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering (B.S.)
Civil Engineering (Building Science) (B.S.)
Civil Engineering (Environmental Engineering) (B.S.)
Civil Engineering (Structural Engineering) (B.S.)
Classics (B.A.)
Communication (B.A.*)
Comparative Literature (B.A.)
Composition (B.M.)
Computer Engineering and Computer Science (B.S.)
Computer Science
Computer Science (B.S.*)
Computer Science (Games) (B.S.*)
Computer Science/Business Administration (B.S.)
Computer Science/Business Administration (B.S.)
Dental Hygiene (B.S.)
Earth Sciences
Earth Sciences (B.A.)
East Asian Area Studies (B.A.)
East Asian Languages and Cultures
East Asian Languages and Cultures (B.A.)
Economics
Economics (B.A.)
Economics/Mathematics (B.S.)
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering (B.S.)
English
English (B.A.)
English (Creative Writing) (B.A.)
Environmental Engineering (B.S.)
Environmental Studies
Environmental Studies (B.A.)
Environmental Studies (B.S.)
Fine Arts (B.F.A.)
French (B.A.)
French and Italian
Gender Studies (B.A.)
Geological Sciences (B.S.)
Global Health (B.S.)
Health and Humanity (B.A.)
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Studies (B.S.)
History
History (B.A.)
History and Social Science Education (B.A.)
Human Development and Aging (B.S.)
Human Performance (B.A.)
Industrial and Systems Engineering
Industrial and Systems Engineering (B.S.)
Industrial and Systems Engineering (Information Systems Engineering) (B.S.)
Interactive Entertainment (B.A.*)
Interdisciplinary Archaeology (B.A.)
Interdisciplinary Studies (B.A.)
International Relations
International Relations (B.A.)
International Relations (Global Business) (B.A.)
Italian (B.A.)
Jazz Studies (B.M.)
Kinesiology
Kinesiology (B.S.)
Landscape Architecture (B.L.Arch.)
Lifespan Health (B.S.)
Linguistics
Linguistics (B.A.)
Linguistics/East Asian Languages and Cultures (B.A.)
Linguistics/East Asian Languages and Cultures (B.A.)
Linguistics/Philosophy (B.A.)
Linguistics/Philosophy (B.A.)
Linguistics/Psychology (B.A.)
Linguistics/Psychology (B.A.)
Mathematics
Mathematics (B.A., B.S.)
Mechanical Engineering (B.S.)
Mechanical Engineering (Petroleum Engineering) (B.S.)
Middle East Studies (B.A.)
Music (B.A.*)
Music Industry (B.M., B.S.)
Narrative Studies (B.A.)
Neuroscience (B.A., B.S.)
Occupational Therapy (B.S.*)
Performance (Bassoon) (B.M.)
Performance (Clarinet) (B.M.)
Performance (Classical Guitar) (B.M.)
Performance (Double Bass) (B.M.)
Performance (Flute) (B.M.)
Performance (French Horn) (B.M.)
Performance (Harp) (B.M.)
Performance (Oboe) (B.M.)
Performance (Organ) (B.M.)
Performance (Percussion) (B.M.)
Performance (Piano) (B.M.)
Performance (Popular Music) (B.M.)
Performance (Saxophone) (B.M.)
Performance (Studio Guitar) (B.M.)
Performance (Trombone) (B.M.)
Performance (Trumpet) (B.M.)
Performance (Tuba) (B.M.)
Performance (Viola) (B.M.)
Performance (Violin) (B.M.)
Performance (Violoncello) (B.M.)
Performance (Vocal Arts) (B.M.)
Philosophy
Philosophy (B.A.)
Philosophy, Politcs and Law (B.A.)
Physical Sciences (B.S.)
Physics (B.A., B.S.)
Physics and Astronomy
Physics/Computer Science (B.S.)
Physics/Computer Science (B.S.*)
Policy, Planning and Development (B.S.)
Political Science (B.A.)
Print and Digital Journalism (B.A.*)
Psychology
Psychology (B.A.)
Public Relations (B.A.*)
Religion
Religion (B.A.)
Religion (Judaic Studies) (B.A.)
Russian (B.A.)
Slavic Languages and Literatures
Social Sciences
Social Sciences (Economics) (B.A.)
Social Sciences (Psychology) (B.A.)
Sociology (B.A.)
Spanish (B.A.)
Spanish and Portuguese
Theatre (Acting) (B.F.A.)
Theatre (B.A.*)
Theatre (Design) (B.F.A.)
Theatre (Sound Design) (B.F.A.)
Theatre (Stage Management) (B.F.A.)
Theatre (Technical Direction) (B.F.A.)
Visual and Performing Arts Studies (B.A.)
Writing for Screen and Television (B.F.A.)
Graduate Programs
Academic Medicine (M.A.M.)
Accounting (M.Acc.)
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (Computational Fluid and Solid Mechanics) (M.S.)
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (Dynamics and Control) (M.S.)
Aerospace Engineering (M.S., Engineer, Ph.D.*)
Aging Services Management (M.A.S.M.)
American Studies and Ethnicity (Ph.D.)
Anesthesia
Animation and Digital Arts (M.F.A.)
Anthropology (M.A., Ph.D.)
Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiology (M.S.*)
Applied Mathematics (M.A., M.S., Ph.D.)
Applied Theatre Arts (M.A.)
Architecture (M.Arch., Ph.D.*)
Art and Curatorial Practices in the Public Sphere (M.A.)
Art History (M.A., Ph.D.)
Astronautical Engineering (M.S., Engineer, Ph.D.*)
Astronautics and Space Technology
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (M.S.*, Ph.D.*)
Biokinesiology (M.S.*, Ph.D.*)
Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy (Ph.D.*)
Biological Sciences
Biology (M.S.)
Biology (Neurobiology) (Ph.D.)
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering (M.S., Ph.D.*)
Biomedical Engineering (Medical Imaging and Imaging Informatics) (M.S.)
Biostatistics (M.S.*, Ph.D.*)
Building Science (M.B.S.)
Business Administration (M.B.A., M.S., Ph.D.*)
Business Research (M.S.)
Business Taxation (M.B.T.)
Cell and Neurobiology (M.S.*, Ph.D.*)
Chemical Engineering (M.S., Engineer, Ph.D.*)
Chemistry
Chemistry (Chemical Physics) (Ph.D.)
Chemistry (M.A., M.S., Ph.D.)
Choral Music (M.M., D.M.A.)
Cinematic Arts (Critical Studies) (Ph.D.*)
Cinematic Arts (Film and Television Production) (M.F.A)
Cinematic Arts (M.A.*)
Cinematic Arts (Media Arts and Practice) (Ph.D.*)
Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering (Construction Engineering) (M.S.)
Civil Engineering (M.S., Engineer, Ph.D.*)
Civil Engineering (Structural Engineering) (M.S.)
Civil Engineering (Transportation Systems) (M.S.)
Civil Engineering (Water and Waste Management) (M.S.)
Classics (M.A., Ph.D.)
Clinical and Biomedical Investigations (M.S.*)
Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics (Ph.D)
Communication (M.A.*, Ph.D.*)
Communication Management (M.C.M.*)
Comparative Law (M.C.L.)
Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture
Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture (Comparative Literature) (M.A., Ph.D.)
Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture (Comparative Media and Culture) (M.A., Ph.D.)
Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture (French and Francophone Studies) (M.A., Ph.D.)
Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture (Slavic Languages and Literature) (M.A., Ph.D.)
Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture (Spanish and Latin American Studies) (M.A., Ph.D.)
Composition (M.M., D.M.A.)
Computational Biology and Bioinformatics (Ph.D.)
Computational Molecular Biology (M.S.)
Computer Engineering (M.S., Ph.D.*)
Computer Science
Computer Science (Computer Networks) (M.S.)
Computer Science (Computer Security) (M.S.)
Computer Science (Game Development) (M.S.)
Computer Science (High Performance Computing and Simulations) (M.S.)
Computer Science (Human Language Technology) (M.S.)
Computer Science (Intelligent Robotics) (M.S.)
Computer Science (M.S., Ph.D.*)
Computer Science (Multimedia and Creative Technologies) (M.S.)
Computer Science (Software Engineering) (M.S.)
Conducting (M.M.)
Construction Management (M.C.M.)
Construction Management (M.C.M.)
Craniofacial Biology (M.S.*, Ph.D.*)
Dental Surgery (D.D.S.)
Digital Supply Chain Management (M.D.S.C.M.)
Early Music Performance (D.M.A.)
Earth Sciences
East Asian Area Studies (M.A.)
East Asian Languages and Cultures (M.A., Ph.D.)
Economic Developmental Programming (M.A.)
Economics
Economics (M.A., Ph.D.)
Education (M.E., Ed.D., Ph.D.*)
Education Counseling (M.E.)
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering (Computer Networks) (M.S.)
Electrical Engineering (Electric Power) (M.S.)
Electrical Engineering (M.S., Engineer, Ph.D.*)
Electrical Engineering (Multimedia and Creative Technologies) (M.S.)
Electrical Engineering (Telecommunications) (M.S.)
Electrical Engineering (VLSI Design) (M.S.)
Engineering (Environmental Engineering) (Ph.D.*)
Engineering Management (M.S.)
English
English (M.A., Ph.D.)
Environmental Engineering (M.S.)
Environmental Risk Analysis (M.S.)
Environmental Studies
Environmental Studies (M.A.)
Epidemiology (Ph.D.*)
Executive Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.)
Executive Master of Leadership (M.L.)
Experimental and Molecular Pathology (M.S.*)
Family Medicine
Financial Engineering (M.S.)
Fine Arts (M.F.A.*)
Genetic, Molecular and Cellular Biology (Ph.D.*)
Geographic Information Science and Technology (M.S.)
Geological Sciences (M.S., Ph.D.)
Gerontology (M.A.*, M.S., Ph.D.*)
Global Communication (M.A.*)
Global Medicine (M.S.)
Green Technologies
Green Technologies (M.S.)
Health Administration (M.H.A.)
Health Systems Management Engineering (M.S.)
Historic Preservation (M.H.P.)
History (M.A., Ph.D.)
Human Behavior (M.S.)
Industrial and Systems Engineering
Industrial and Systems Engineering (M.S., Engineer, Ph.D.*)
Integrative and Evolutionary Biology (Ph.D.)
Interactive Media (M.F.A.)
International Relations (M.A.)
Jazz Studies (M.M., D.M.A.)
Journalism (M.A.*)
Kinesiology (M.A., M.S., Ph.D.)
Landscape Architecture (M.L.Arch.)
Law (J.D.)
Laws (LL.M.)
Liberal Studies (M.L.S.)
Linguistics
Linguistics (East Asian Linguistics) (Ph.D.)
Linguistics (Hispanic Linguistics) (M.A., Ph.D.)
Linguistics (M.A., Ph.D.)
Literature and Creative Writing (Ph.D.)
Long Term Care Administration (M.L.T.C.A.)
Manufacturing Engineering (M.S.)
Marine and Environmental Biology (M.S.)
Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography (Ph.D.)
Marriage and Family Therapy (M.M.F.T.)
Materials Engineering (M.S.)
Materials Science
Materials Science (M.S., Engineer, Ph.D.*)
Mathematical Finance (M.S.)
Mathematics
Mathematics (M.A., Ph.D.)
Mechanical Engineering (Energy Conversion) (M.S.)
Mechanical Engineering (M.S., Engineer, Ph.D.*)
Medical Device and Diagnostic Engineering (M.S.)
Medical Management (M.M.M.)
Medicine (M.D.)
Molecular and Computational Biology (M.S.)
Molecular Biology (Ph.D.)
Molecular Epidemiology (M.S.*, Ph.D.*)
Molecular Epidemiology (M.S.*, Ph.D.**)
Molecular Microbiology and Immunology (M.S.*, Ph.D.*)
Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology (M.S.*, Ph.D.*)
Motion Picture Producing (M.F.A.)
Multiple Subject Teaching (M.A.T.)
Music (Early Music Performance) (M.A.*)
Music (Historical Musicology) (Ph.D.*)
Music (History and Literature) (M.A.*)
Music Education (M.M., D.M.A.)
Neuroscience (M.S*, Ph.D.*)
Nurse Anesthesia (M.S.*)
Occupational Science (Ph.D.*)
Occupational Therapy (M.A.*, O.T.D.*)
Ocean Sciences (M.S., Ph.D.)
Operations Research Engineering (M.S.)
Pathobiology (M.S.*)
Pathology
Performance (Bassoon) (M.M., D.M.A.)
Performance (Clarinet) (M.M., D.M.A.)
Performance (Classical Guitar) (M.M., D.M.A.)
Performance (Double Bass) (M.M., D.M.A.)
Performance (Flute) (M.M., D.M.A)
Performance (French Horn) (M.M., D.M.A.)
Performance (Harp) (M.M., D.M.A.)
Performance (Keyboard Collaborative Arts) (M.M., D.M.A.)
Performance (Oboe) (M.M., D.M.A.)
Performance (Organ) (M.M., D.M.A.)
Performance (Percussion) (M.M., D.M.A.)
Performance (Piano) (M.M., D.M.A.)
Performance (Saxophone) (M.M., D.M.A.)
Performance (Studio Guitar) (M.M., D.M.A.)
Performance (Trombone) (M.M., D.M.A.)
Performance (Trumpet) (M.M., D.M.A.)
Performance (Tuba) (M.M., D.M.A.)
Performance (Viola) (M.M., D.M.A.)
Performance (Violin) (M.M., D.M.A.)
Performance (Violoncello) (M.M., D.M.A.)
Performance (Vocal Arts) (M.M., D.M.A.)
Petroleum Engineering
Petroleum Engineering (M.S., Engineer, Ph.D.*)
Petroleum Engineering (Smart Oilfield Technologies) (M.S.)
Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy (M.S.*, Ph.D.*)
Pharmaceutical Sciences (M.S.*, Ph.D.*)
Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)
Philosophy
Philosophy (M.A., Ph.D.)
Philosophy and Law (M.A.)
Physical Therapy (D.P.T.*)
Physician Assistant Practice (M.P.A.P.)
Physics (M.A., M.S., Ph.D.)
Physics and Astronomy
Physics for Business Applications (M.S.)
Physiology and Biophysics (M.S.*, Ph.D.*)
Planning (M.Pl., Ph.D.*)
Planning and Development Studies (M.P.D.S.)
Policy, Planning and Development (D.P.P.D.)
Political Economy and Public Policy (M.A., Ph.D.)
Political Science and International Relations (M.A., Ph.D.)
Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs (M.E.)
Preventive Medicine
Preventive Medicine (Health Behavior Research) (Ph.D.*)
Product Development Engineering (M.S.)
Professional Writing (M.P.W.)
Psychological Science (M.A.)
Psychology
Psychology (M.A., Ph.D.)
Public Administration (M.P.A.)
Public Diplomacy (M.P.D.)
Public Diplomacy (M.P.D.)
Public Diplomacy (Practitioner and Mid-Career Professional) (M.P.D.P.)
Public Health (M.P.H.)
Public Policy (M.P.P.)
Public Policy and Management (Ph.D., M.P.P.M.)
Real Estate Development (M.R.E.D.)
Regulatory Science (M.S.*, D.R.Sc.)
Religion and Social Ethics (M.A., Ph.D.)
School Counseling (M.E.)
Single Subject Teaching (M.A.T.)
Single Subject Teaching (Music Education) (M.A.T.)
Social Work (M.S.W., Ph.D.*)
Sociology (M.A., Ph.D.)
Specialized Journalism (M.A.*)
Specialized Journalism (The Arts) (M.A.*)
Statistical Genetics and Genetic Epidemiology (Ph.D.*)
Statistics (M.S.)
Strategic Public Relations (M.A.*)
Systems Architecting and Engineering (M.S.)
Systems Biology and Disease (Ph.D.*)
Taxation Law (LL.M.)
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (M.A.T., M.S.)
Theatre (Acting) (M.F.A.)
Theatre (Directing) (M.F.A.)
Theatre (Dramatic Writing) (M.F.A.)
Theatre (Theatrical Design) (M.F.A.)
Urban Education Policy (Ph.D.*)
Urban Planning and Development (Ph.D.)
Visual Anthropology (M.V.A.)
Writing for Screen and Television (M.F.A.)