Admission & test scores

University of Southern California SAT scores and acceptance rate

Admitted students scored 1450–1550 on the SAT, with an ACT midpoint of 34. University of Southern California admits 10% of applicants — highly selective. 96% of first-year students return for a second year.

SAT range1450–1550middle half of admits
ACT midpoint34admitted students
Acceptance rate10%highly selective
First-year retention96%return for year two

Reading the score band These are the scores admitted students had — not a cut-off.

25th percentile
1450
Average
1495
75th percentile
1550

A quarter of admitted students scored below 1450 and a quarter above 1550. Being under the lower figure does not rule you out — it means the rest of the application has to carry more weight — and being above the upper one does not secure a place at a selective university. This intake sits inside a student body of about 20,443.

Universities with similar scores Useful for building a realistic application list.

UniversityAvg SATACTAcceptanceIn-state tuition
Vassar College Poughkeepsie, New York 1494 33 19% $71,030
University of Richmond University of Richmond, Virginia 1497 — 22% $65,230
Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 1497 34 5% $66,162
Washington & Lee University Lexington, Virginia 1498 34 14% $68,045
Smith College Northampton, Massachusetts 1500 33 21% $65,178
Colby College Waterville, Maine 1501 33 7% $69,600

Getting in is the first question, not the last

Admission data says nothing about what the degree costs or returns. Before accepting an offer, read the net price for your family's income and the earnings of previous graduates — a place at a selective university financed with heavy borrowing can be a worse outcome than a place at a less selective one that costs little.

University of Southern California admission: common questions

What SAT score do you need for University of Southern California?
The middle half of admitted students scored between 1450 and 1550 on the SAT, with an average of 1495. A score inside that band is competitive; below it you would be relying on the rest of the application.
What ACT score does University of Southern California require?
The ACT midpoint of admitted students is 34.
How hard is it to get into University of Southern California?
University of Southern California admits 10% of applicants, which is highly selective. Of those who enrol, 96% return for a second year.
Does University of Southern California require SAT or ACT scores?
This page reports what admitted students scored, not what the university requires. Many US universities went test-optional and have not returned to a requirement — always check the admissions page before deciding to skip a test.
What it costs Student loan record Debt vs graduate salary Highest SAT universities Highest acceptance rates SAT & ACT preparation

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard — SAT/ACT scores of admitted students, acceptance rate and first-year retention as most recently published. Scores describe past intakes and are not an entry requirement.