Understanding USC Tuition Costs and Fees: A Comprehensive Guide
A college degree represents a significant investment in one's future, and understanding the associated costs is crucial for effective financial planning. This article provides a detailed overview of tuition, fees, and financial aid options at the University of Southern California (USC), drawing upon the most current data available.
Tuition and Fees Breakdown
USC's tuition and fees are structured on a semester basis, with different rates applying to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as specific programs. The cost of attendance can vary based on factors such as the choice of residence hall or meal plan.
Regular Session Tuition (Spring 2025, Summer 2025, Fall 2025)
The following table outlines the tuition rates for various student categories:
| Category | Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Students (12-18 units) | $34,952 | $36,630 | |
| Unit basis | $2,354 | $2,354 | $2,467 |
| Graduate Students (15-18 units) | $34,952 | $36,630 | |
| Unit basis | $2,354 | $2,354 | $2,467 |
| Business (500 level and above) (unit basis) | $2,421 | $2,421 | $2,541 |
| Graduate Cinematic Arts (unit basis) | $2,503 | $2,503 | $2,624 |
| Law, Juris Doctor (12-17 units) | $40,092 | $42,017 | |
| Unit basis | $3,101 | $3,101 | $3,250 |
| Medicine (flat-fee basis) | $36,331 | $37,240 | |
| Master of Physician Assistant Practice (flat-fee basis) | $34,952 | $36,630 | |
| Pharmacy (15-18 units) | $33,593 | $34,433 | |
| Unit basis | $2,239 | $2,239 | $2,295 |
| Master of Real Estate Development (16-18 units) | $41,776 | $43,781 | |
| Unit basis | $2,611 | $2,611 | $2,737 |
| Social Work (Advanced Standing MSW, MSW, MSN, DSW, PhD) (15-18 units) | $33,019 | $33,840 | |
| Unit basis | $2,201 | $2,256 | |
| Engineering Graduate (unit rate) | $2,543 | $2,543 | $2,665 |
Tuition for Specific Programs
Certain programs have unique tuition structures:
- Advanced Dentistry (per trimester): $40,199 (Spring 2025), $42,089 (Summer 2025)
- Dentistry (per trimester): $39,771 (Spring 2025), $41,641 (Summer 2025)
- Special Dental International Students (per trimester): $39,771 (Spring 2025), $41,641 (Summer 2025)
- Entry-Level Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (Year 1, per trimester): $32,514 (Spring 2025), $32,516 (Summer 2025)
- Entry-Level Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (Year 2, per trimester): $23,246.66
- Entry-Level Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (Year 3 per trimester): $11,646
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (Full year for Year 1 and 2 students): $84,023 (Spring 2025), $86,125 (Summer 2025)
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (Full year for Year 3 students): $50,763 (Spring 2025), $52,031 (Summer 2025)
Mandatory Fees
In addition to tuition, students are required to pay certain mandatory fees.
Read also: Understanding TCU Tuition
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application Fee, Undergraduate (non-refundable one-time fee) | $85 |
| Application Fee, Graduate (non-refundable, one-time fee) | $90 |
| Application Fee, Marshall School of Business, Graduate (non-refundable, one-time fee) | $155 |
| Application Fee, International Academy’s Pre-Master’s Program (non-refundable, one-time fee) | $175 |
| Commitment Deposit, Undergraduate (non-refundable, one-time fee but applicable to tuition and fees) | $300 |
| Orientation Fee / New Student Fee (one-time fees) Undergraduate | $450 |
| Orientation Fee / New Student Fee (one-time fees) Graduate | $55 |
| Student Health Center Fee (for students enrolled in 6 or more units) | |
| Topping Student Aid Fund (per semester, all students) | $11 |
| Transportation Fee | $117/$146 |
Special Fees
USC also levies special fees for various services and situations:
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Digital Course Material Fees. This new program allows all undergraduate students access to required textbooks and course materials. Thirty-day deferments are granted for up to $2,000 of the tuition balance. There is a non-refundable service charge of 5% of the deferred amount, due at the time the deferment is granted, in addition to the remaining billing balance. | Varies |
| Petition Processing Fee for Registration Exception | $150 |
| USCard (Student Identification Card) Replacement Fee (one-time fee) | $25 |
| Laboratory Fees (for certain laboratory courses) | $5 - $500 |
| Dissertation Fee | $150 |
| Thesis Fee | $135 |
| Special Subject Examination (one half the per-unit rate) | $1,177/$1,233.50 |
| Late Articulation Petition Fee | $150 |
| Articulation of International Undergraduate Transfer Credit | $235 |
| International Transfer Credit (Graduate) | $195 |
| International Degree Verification (Graduate) | $85 |
| Diploma Reissue Fee | $125 |
| Individual Music Instruction (1 unit; includes 7.5 hours of instruction) | $350 |
| Individual Music Instruction (2 units; includes 15 hours of instruction) | $700 |
Late Fees
To avoid late fees, students must register and ensure that tuition, fees, housing, dining, and all other charges are paid or deferred by 5:00 PM PT on the settlement deadline. Late fees are assessed each week for those who fail to meet this deadline. Students can review their monthly statements and tuition and fee information on USCe.pay.
Understanding the Total Cost of Attendance
While tuition represents a significant portion of college expenses, it's essential to consider the overall cost of attendance. This includes:
- Tuition and Fees: As detailed above.
- Books and Supplies: Estimated at $1,200 per year.
- Personal Expenses: Estimated at $1,820 per year.
- Transportation: Estimated at $464 per year.
- Food and Housing: This cost varies depending on the student's choices of residence hall and meal plan.
The total cost of attendance at USC is approximately $95,225, encompassing tuition, fees, and living expenses. However, the "net price," which factors in grants and scholarships, offers a more personalized estimate.
Financial Aid Options
USC provides various financial aid options to help students manage the cost of their education. These include grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. Financial aid packages are tailored to individual financial needs, typically determined through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Read also: Tuition at Loyola University Maryland
Types of Financial Aid
- Grants: Need-based grants do not require repayment. The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at USC was $55,261.
- Scholarships: Like grants, scholarships do not need to be repaid. They can be need-based or merit-based, awarded for academic, athletic, or other achievements.
- Loans: Loans must be repaid with interest. The typical amount of loans a student must pay back is $27,678.
- Work-Study: This program allows students to earn money through on-campus or approved off-campus employment.
Financial Aid Statistics
- Students Receiving Financial Aid: 40%
- Average Aid Package: $71,169
- Freshmen With Need and Received Financial Aid: 90%
- Average Need-Based Scholarship or Grant Award: $52,073
- Average Need-Based Loan Amount: $5,560
- Average Non-Need-Based Aid: $19,182
USC met 99% of its students’ financial aid need.
Important Financial Aid Dates
- Financial Aid Application Due: February 17
- Priority Application Due: February 17
- Notification Date: April 1
Paying for College
USCe.pay allows you to manage your student account online. You can pay your tuition and fees by transferring funds from your savings or checking account (via ACH) or by wire. You can also print e-receipts and view your billing statements or current account information. In addition, you can set up individual guest user access for parents or anyone else you choose so they can make payments on your account.
In fall and spring semesters, USC offers a monthly payment plan. Financial aid recipients will have most of their available financial aid (such as scholarships, grants, loans and graduate assistantship tuition awards) applied to their university accounts each semester as direct credits against their total charges. Federal and state aid such as Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Cal Grants, Direct Loans and Direct PLUS Loans are applied only to tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board unless the student has completed a Title IV Charges and Credit Balance Authorization to grant permission to apply these funds to other charges. Federal Work-Study awards are not reflected as credits on a student’s account. These awards are earned through employment, either on campus or with an approved off-campus employer.
Loan Debt and Management
Student loan debt is a significant concern for many college graduates. At USC, the median federal loan debt among borrowers who completed their undergraduate degree is $18,000. The median monthly federal loan payment (if repaid over 10 years at 5.05% interest) for these borrowers is $191.
Private Loans
Additionally, 5% of graduating students at University of Southern California took out private loans. Students with private loans had an average of $66,639 in private loan debt at graduation.
Read also: Affording ECU
Loan Counseling
All students who borrowed a Direct Loan or Direct Graduate PLUS Loan must complete exit loan counseling when they graduate, withdraw or are no longer enrolled at least half time. Exit loan counseling is a two-part requirement for borrowers of Direct and/or Direct Graduate PLUS loans. First, a borrower must complete exit loan counseling online at iGrad. This online process takes about 30 minutes. Second, a borrower must also participate in an in-person exit loan counseling information session or an exit loan counseling webinar. Students who have borrowed a Health Professions Student Loan, Loan for Disadvantaged Students, Primary Care Loan or any academic loan, must complete an online session at heartlandecsi.com.
Tuition Refund Insurance
Elective insurance that provides full coverage for tuition and mandatory fees (excluding health insurance) is available for you if you suffer a serious illness or accident that makes it necessary for you to leave the university before the semester is completed. Students are enrolled automatically at the time they register for classes but may opt out until the end of the third week of the fall semester.
Consequences of Non-Payment
Failure to make payments of any indebtedness to the university when due, including but not limited to tuition, deferred tuition, housing, student loans, lab fees and USCard, is considered sufficient cause, until the debt is settled with the university to (1) bar the student from classes and examinations; (2) withhold diploma or scholastic certificate; (3) bar the student from university housing; (4) suspend all university services and privileges; (5) suspend the student; (6) assign the student to a collection agency (students who have been assigned to an outside collection agency may be required to pay in advance for all future registrations and services); and (7) report the student to a credit bureau.
Military Benefits and ROTC Programs
USC is a G.I. Bill certified institution and participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, offering educational benefits to eligible veterans and dependents.
ROTC Programs
USC hosts Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) programs for the Navy, Air Force, and Army. These programs offer scholarships and stipends to eligible students who commit to military service after graduation.
- Navy ROTC: Offers scholarships covering full tuition, fees, a book stipend, and a monthly subsistence stipend.
- Air Force ROTC: Provides scholarships covering full tuition, books, and fees, along with monthly stipends for scholarship cadets and all juniors and seniors.
- Army ROTC: Offers full-tuition scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students, along with monthly stipends and a university scholarship.
Additional Considerations
Tuition Reimbursement Deferment
To participate in the program, you must have your supervisor or personnel officer write a memo on company stationery stating that you are employed by that company and will be reimbursed for tuition at the end of the term. A new letter is required for each semester.
You are required to pay a percentage of tuition plus 100 percent of all fees, including lab fees, plus a non-refundable service charge of four (4) percent of the deferment amount. The balance of your tuition will be deferred until the end of the term. Interest is not charged during the deferment period.
You will be required to sign a promissory note in order to receive the deferment. If your account is not paid when due, it will be subject to additional finance charges. If you do not pay for the deferment by the due date, collection efforts will proceed against you, not your employer. Failure to complete the class or your termination from the company from which you expect to receive tuition reimbursement in no way nullifies this agreement. You are responsible for paying the deferment regardless of your grade(s) or employment status.
Sponsored Agency Awards
Students with pre-authorization for third-party billings from entities recognized by the university will have their agency credits posted on their student accounts. They will be required to pay any amounts not covered by the agency. Approved agencies may include local, state and federal governments, private corporations, foreign governments and the United States Armed Services. Sponsored students must meet the terms and conditions agreed upon by the university and the agency. Agency billing is done as a convenience to the student and does not relieve the student of the obligation to pay should the agency fail to pay any or all of the bill.
Tuition Assistance Benefits Program
The Tuition Assistance Benefits program provides USC tuition payments for eligible faculty and staff, their eligible spouses or registered domestic partners, and their children who are admitted in a USC degree program. The amount of tuition payment varies based on who is taking the class, the type of class and the maximum number of units eligible for assistance. An employee must be eligible for tuition assistance (i.e., met any waiting period requirement, etc.) on or before the first day of classes and on or after the last day of the semester (for summer, it is the end of the semester not the end of the individual sessions) for which application is made. The academic calendar for each semester will provide the official start and end dates for all semesters. Questions regarding tax liability should be directed to the USC Payroll Office. Tuition assistance eligibility does not guarantee the student admission to the university. Only those USC classes that can be applied to the student’s degree at USC are eligible for tuition assistance benefits.
Prepayment Plan
This option offers individuals the opportunity to stabilize tuition costs by avoiding future tuition increases. Under this plan, the university will accept the prepayment of the student’s total USC tuition plus mandatory fees at the current tuition rate for up to the next four or five years. The student must be admitted to the university before establishing a prepayment account.
Payment Plan
The USC Payment Plan, administered by Student Financial Services, enables students and parents to pay tuition, fees and university housing and meal plan charges in monthly installments rather than in a single payment at the beginning of each semester. Payments are made over a five-month period for each semester, beginning August 1 for the fall semester and January 1 for the spring semester, and may be made only by electronic transfer. A trimester plan is offered for a few programs. The student must be in good financial standing at the university.
Tax Credits
USC is required to provide students and the I.R.S. with form 1098-T each year. This form reports general information about enrollment status, qualified charges and financial aid posted to a student’s account during the calendar year just ended. In addition to the 1098-T, USC provides students with supplemental information that includes a breakdown of all financial activity by category. The 1098-T assists students and families in determining their eligibility for the Hope Scholarship and Lifetime Learning tax credits.
Implications of Withdrawal from Courses
Students may only receive a refund of tuition and fees if courses are dropped before the refund deadline. (To find the specific refund deadline for any course, please locate the course on the Schedule of Classes and click on the “Calendar” icon.) It is a student’s responsibility to officially withdraw from any class that they are not attending. Informing the academic department or the course instructor does not constitute withdrawal from the course. All withdrawals must be processed by Web Registration or through the Registrar One Stop Center. Registration requests can be sent via askUSC. Students will be held financially liable for all classes that appear on the “OASIS Registered Course List,” “Web Registration Course List” or the “Enrollment & Fee Summary” after the refund deadline. There is no refund for classes withdrawn after the refund deadline. Refunds for additional charges, including but not limited to housing and meal plans, will be determined by the office assessing the charge.
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