USC Tuition Assistance: Opening Doors for Low-Income Families

The University of Southern California (USC) is committed to making higher education affordable and accessible to students from all backgrounds. USC Price believes that higher education should be affordable and accessible to anyone no matter their background. USC offers various funding opportunities and resources during the admissions process and throughout your program to support your academic, professional, and personal goals. Pursuing a USC Price education is a big leap towards your future, and our team is here to support you every step of the way. Recognizing that a college degree represents a significant investment, USC provides extensive financial aid options to help students and their families manage the cost of attendance.

USC's Commitment to Financial Aid

USC has one of the most high-achieving undergraduate populations in the United States. Our students are leaders and innovators, scholars and athletes, and artists and entrepreneurs, representing all 50 states and nearly 130 countries around the world. Our admission process is need-blind. About two-thirds of USC undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid, including grants, work-study programs, and student loans. In all, USC's undergraduate students each year receive more than $640 million in awards from all sources for tuition and expenses. More than half of the total is from USC grants and scholarships.

USC followed Stanford University in removing home ownership as a consideration for need-based aid, a change that reflects the skyrocketing cost of living in Southern California. High real estate prices, university officials said, can exaggerate the wealth of low- and middle-income families forced to dedicate much of their income to mortgage payments.

Free Tuition Initiative

In a significant step towards increasing accessibility, USC has implemented a policy to waive undergraduate tuition for students from families with an annual household income of $80,000 or less. This initiative, announced by USC President Carol L. Folt, aims to open the door wider to make a USC education possible for talented students from all walks of life. The changes will be phased in beginning with first-year students entering USC in the fall of 2020 and the spring of 2021, USC said.

As part of the initiative, ownership of a home will not be counted in determining a student's financial need to attend the Los Angeles private college with 20,500 undergraduates, where tuition and living expenses are above $77,000 annually. USC says that tuition waivers and increased aid will benefit approximately one-third of incoming students.

With this new initiative, USC will be even better positioned to recruit students from all backgrounds and strengthen the USC experience for everyone," said USC Provost Charles F. Zukoski. USC followed Stanford University in removing home ownership as a consideration for need-based aid, a change that reflects the skyrocketing cost of living in Southern California. High real estate prices, university officials said, can exaggerate the wealth of low- and middle-income families forced to dedicate much of their income to mortgage payments.

Increased Financial Aid

To further support students, USC is increasing undergraduate financial aid by more than $30 million annually. Expanding aid for low- and middle-income families has become increasingly popular among institutions seeking to counteract high sticker prices and prevent undermatching, when students choose a school below their potential. In USC’s case, analysts say the policy will help make the institution more competitive with other institutions.

Understanding the Cost of Attendance

USC charges tuition and fees on a semester basis. For fall and spring, the university bill is due the Friday before classes begin. At the undergraduate level, full-time students can register anywhere from 12-18 units and will be charged a flat rate of tuition that covers that unit range. Undergraduate students who enroll less than full-time will be charged for each unit at the per unit rate. Please visit this page for the estimated cost of attendance for undergraduate students. The estimated cost of attendance is not what families pay; it is an estimate of costs that students may incur and helps determine your financial aid eligibility.

The estimated cost of attendance is not what families pay; it is an estimate of costs that students may incur and helps determine your financial aid eligibility. For students living with parents or relatives the total estimate is $64,715. In comparison, the estimated annual average cost for a California resident undergraduate living on campus at the nine public University of California colleges is $36,100. The cost for a student living off campus averages $33,200.

Your financial need is the difference between how much it costs to attend college (the Cost of Attendance or COA), and how much you and your family can contribute towards your education (the Expected Family Contribution or EFC).

Read also: Affording ECU

Tuition and Fees for Graduate Students

At the graduate level, tuition is based on your class level and the number of units you register for each semester. Most Price students register in less than 14 units each semester. Graduate students must enroll at least half-time to be eligible for federal financial aid. Students who enroll in business, real estate development, or engineering courses (among other schools) may see higher tuition amounts for those courses. Tuition rates are updated each fall and are applicable to the fall, spring and summer terms of that academic year. Graduate students who attend classes at the University Park Campus can also expect to come across a set of mandatory fees and other charges on their university bill.

Mandatory Fees for Graduate Students

Graduate students who attend classes at the University Park Campus can also expect to come across a set of mandatory fees and other charges on their university bill. These fees include:

New Student Fee: A one-time, non-refundable charge in the first semester that helps fund welcome week activities. ($55)
Graduate Programming Fee: Provides access to resources offered by the USC Graduate Student Government (GSG). ($40/semester)
Norman Topping Fee: Charged to all students. ($11/semester)
USC Student Health Center Fee: Provides access to primary medical care, counseling services, preventative education, and other programming. ($700/semester, $300 in summer)
USC Transportation Services Fee: Provides access to free Lyft rides around campus, USC buses, free Metro U-Pass, and other services. ($146/semester)
PPD Lab Fee: Only applicable to certain courses in certain programs. ($125-$250)
Tuition Refund Insurance: Optional medical withdrawal insurance to protect your tuition investment. (About $7/unit)

Financial Aid Opportunities at USC

USC offers a comprehensive range of financial aid options to assist students in funding their education. These opportunities include scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs. Students must apply for financial aid every year.

Scholarships

USC administers more than a dozen prestigious scholarship programs, ranging in value from a few thousand dollars up to full tuition. They are awarded based on academic excellence, leadership, service, and talent. Scholarships do not increase the total amount of your need-based financial aid. Instead, they change the composition of your financial aid eligibility. In most cases, we allow outside scholarships to replace the amounts of student loans or Federal Work-Study in your financial aid package. We make every attempt to preserve any university need-based grant you may have been awarded. USC Scholarships are administered consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination.

Many academic departments offer merit-based scholarships. The University of Southern California offers scholarships in 21 sports. Athletic scholarships can be awarded as a fixed-dollar amount or as a percentage of the Cost of Attendance. Students on athletic scholarships receive all the required and recommended textbooks for their enrolled classes. The duration of athletic scholarships is determined by USC and specified in the athletics financial aid agreement. Students are notified of their renewal status by July 1. If a scholarship is renewed at a lower amount or is not renewed, students may appeal the decision with the Financial Aid Office.

Read also: Withdrawals for College: A Guide

Need-Based Scholarships

Need-based financial aid can help cover the difference between the school’s cost of attendance and what students and families can afford to pay out of pocket.

Merit-Based Scholarships

Among the 2024 entering first-year class, approximately 18 percent received a USC merit-based scholarship.

Grants

Grant amounts vary each year, depending on financial need and whether your student has other awards to cover your tuition and fees.

Cal Grants

Funded by the state of California and administered by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), the California Dream Act program gives AB540-eligible students the opportunity to apply for Cal Grant A and Cal Grant B. Need-based.

Federal Work-Study

Offered by the Department of Education, Federal Work-Study provides part-time jobs for students with exceptional financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay their education expenses. The program encourages community-service work and work related to a student’s course of study. Varies according to class level. Please note that students will not be able to use their work-study awards to pay their university bill.

Loans

Loans are sums of money borrowed from federal or private agencies to help finance the expected family contribution. Low, fixed-interest rate federal student loans and federal work study are just the beginning.

Additional Financial Strategies

Knowing which short and long-term financial strategies are available can play a vital role in your academic journey.

USC Payment Plan

A five-month payment plan with zero interest but a $50 sign-up fee is a great short-term solution to get additional time to settle your bill and avoid late fees.

Tuition Pre-payment Plan

Secure today’s tuition rates by pre-paying at least two years of tuition. With annual tuition increases of 3-5%, this long-term strategy offers stability.

Employer and Sponsor Support

If you receive tuition assistance, employer reimbursement, or are sponsored by a government agency or organization, explore options to defer tuition payments or have invoices sent directly to your employer through Agency Billing.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Public service loan forgiveness offers the chance to have federal loans canceled after 120 qualifying monthly payments. Qualifying organizations include 501c(3) nonprofits, government entities (local, state, federal, tribal), or organizations dedicated to public service.

Federal Loan Repayment

Discover income-driven repayment plans like the new SAVE plan, designed to make monthly payments manageable and affordable.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

To be considered for financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (for eligible students). It is crucial to meet all published deadlines and submit any additional requested information in a timely manner. Students must apply for financial aid every year.

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