University of Southern California (USC) Admissions 2026: Requirements, Intakes, Application Deadline, Eligibility & Fees

• Roughly 30-40 students in a batch of 600 students secure TA and RA positions.
• Teaching assistants are paid $25 an hour and can work up to a maximum of 20 hours a week based on the professor's requirement. RA and DAs get paid slightly less depending on the nature of their work.
• Front desk workers, support staff in labs, some technical jobs like data analysts, etc. Minimum pay is $17 an hour and can go to $20 an hour; 20 hours are allowed per week max.
• It takes a lot of time to secure one. You need to have good contacts with seniors to get jobs. Almost everyone wants to get an on-campus job but the availability of positions doesn't match the demand. So you need to apply early and seek referrals.
• The range is $17 to $25 an hour based on the nature of the job. It is quite difficult to get an on-campus job. Most students get it only in the second semester. USC has an online portal for jobs. Students have to submit their resumes whenever a job opens up. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed and selected based on the interview. Some jobs are known by word of mouth and it is best to get referrals for such.

• No I didn't receive any scholarship nor do I know much about it. 

• No i didn't receive any scholarship during the course.
  USC Viterbi offers several competitive scholarships for graduate students, though availability is limited due to high demand. 

• Challenges
  Competitiveness: Merit-based scholarships are rare for on-campus graduate students due to USC’s focus on undergraduate financial aid (20% of undergraduates receive aid vs. <1% of International graduates).

• External Funding: Many students rely on external scholarships (Domestic)
  International just on On campus jobs

• No scholarship is provided by USC to international students. USC never provides scholarships for international students; it's a written rule and they will not go against it no matter how good a candidate you are.
• If you are a person who is already a citizen, residing in the United states of America then you have a good chance to get a scholarship, where a scholarship can go till fully funding your tuition fees through the 2 years of masters too.

I chose the University of Southern California (USC) for my MS in Computer Science due to its outstanding reputation and the comprehensive, cutting-edge curriculum it offers. USC is renowned for its strong emphasis on research and innovation, providing access to world-class faculty and state-of-the-art facilities. The factors that drove me to accept the offer include the university's robust industry connections and the vibrant tech community in Los Angeles, which offers excellent internship and job opportunities. Additionally, USC's diverse and inclusive environment, along with its extensive alumni network, ensures a supportive and enriching experience. My overall experience at USC has been exceptional. The collaborative atmosphere, coupled with ample resources and extracurricular opportunities, has significantly enhanced my academic and personal growth. Choosing USC for my MS in Computer Science has proven to be a pivotal decision, aligning perfectly with my career aspirations and providing a solid foundation for my future endeavors.

I liked the program of ms in computer science and I thought that it would be a better career option that I had decided to step into. Our university also helps in making connections which is a skill that I needed to develop. Overall my college experience was great. Faculty members are helpful and always ready to support us. I'm quite disappointed about the placement but overall a great learning experience.

I enjoyed my time at USC. I felt it was academically enriching and that I learned a lot, as well as made many long term friends. The administration very often made it apparent that they cared more about money and profit than the well-being of their students, however. This is not new for USC, which has been involved with many, many scandals. Scholarship, a top film school in the world, location, extremely low acceptance rate, the greater university it was a part of, and its school spirit and prestige.

Yes, Presidential Scholarship: 50% tuition, about 60k a year

I love the unique program of Intelligence and Cyber Operations that USC offers and I thought that it would be a better career path that I had originally decided to step into. Instead of majoring in data science, I would just minor in it to apply it to a different field I was interested in -- cybersecurity. Another reason I took this offer is that USC is close to home and was a cheaper option than the other option I was deciding on. I loved that USC is a social school, built on making connections which is a skill that I needed to develop, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall my college experience at USC has been phenomenal and I definitely wouldn't change a thing. It truly is a great place and I want to make sure I can make use of it for the next three years. I know this is cliche but it is the people that make USC what USC truly is. I would love to continue meeting new people and enjoying my time at USC!

Received the Director's Scholarship which is $4,000/year. After the interview process, USC awarded me the scholarship.

For admission I required SOP, LOR’s, CV. I mostly focused on demonstrating my past experiences and how did it align with my future program aspirations. One of the top colleges for MEM, Engineering department ranked amongst one of the top in the nation, program structure and flexibility for ex. I can take courses from Business School. It’s great overall. Good campus life with reasonable chances of getting part time job, good infrastructure facilities for recreational activities and enough libraries to make sure we study right before the exams

Nope, its extremely limited.

"I think the key in general is to ask the professors under whom you have worked to write a recommendation letter so that they can relate and write exactly what you did for LORs. For SOPs I think dictating your like and showcasing the skills required and core values of the universities to your profile makes a lot of difference. I had made it to the final round of Dartmouth just based on making my profile align with the uni values. CV: should be professional one with college and professional work properly filled. " "USC, the main reason was the tag of MEMPC for my program and it's reputation, and the second reason was the flexibility of the course to go through marshall school of business to pick and choose my course. Other factors included the location and weather as well. " I like the overall experience of the university. There's so much to learn, live and experience. It's thrill for sure can be stressful but at the same exciting to learn how to make your own path.

Nope I didn't get any scholarships. I think I had a superb gpa but that's the case with private universities