Should I choose USC, UIUC, or Syracuse University for my undergraduate study of architecture?

The University of Southern California (USC) is a private university located in Los Angeles, California. The University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign (UIUC) is a public university located in the twin cities of Urbana and Champaign. The QS World University Rankings by subject 2020 – Architecture/Build Environment is given below – University of Southern California (USC) - #51 - 100 University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign (UIUC) - #50 Syracuse University - #101 – 150 The rankings tell you one thing and the experience of the students another. The reputation and the number of graduates from the USC School of Architecture and Syracuse University School of Architecture are far more than the graduates from the Illinois School of Architecture – UIUC. All these programs are quite close in terms of rankings as well. So academically you cannot go wrong with any of these three schools. Yet USC and Syracuse University still hold a little edge. Your choice should also depend upon the area you want to settle down after graduating. USC is located on the west coast, UIUC in the midwest and Syracuse University on the east coast. If you want to work in New York, choose Syracuse University. If you want to work in California or Los Angeles, choose USC. It is not that they are not known nationally, but most of the hiring managers, some of whom may be alumni, are located in companies closer to the university itself, thus a better chance of getting employed in that region. Also some may prefer the quiet regions of upstate New York or Illinois while some may marvel at the architectural designs in and around the city of Los Angeles. This is strictly a personal choice. Also factor in the huge and ever growing alumni network of USC, which makes it a compelling choice. If you combine all these factors, then University of Southern California (USC) emerges as a clear winner among the three for studying architecture.

University of Southern California (USC) Placements: Job Opportunities and Salaries

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Antara Kundu

Study Abroad Content Writer | Updated 3+ months ago

Highlights:

Average Salary: The students of the University of Southern California can get job opportunities that range between $70,000 and $100,000 (5840432.50 INR - 8343475 INR)
Top Recruiters: The top recruiters are Google, Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Inc., EY, Oracle Corporation, and PwC which offer job opportunities to the students of the University of Southern California
Job Sectors: The students of the University of Southern California can get placement opportunities in various job sectors including IT and Software Development, Financial Services, and Healthcare and Alternative Medicine

The University of Southern California placement opportunities are catered to the students who pursued their degrees from this university. The career services of this university are crucial for encouraging students to shape their careers through different job openings. Career advising services and online networking or targeted job search resources help the students to connect with potential employers. The average salary of the students of the University of Southern California ranges between $70,000 and $100,000 (5840432.50 INR - 8343475 INR). Apart from that, the students who pursue Computer Science programs at the University of Southern California can end up with 2 to 3 job opportunities.

The Indian students are habituated with campus placement facilities from different universities. However, while abroad, they have to network efficiently and work continuously to secure their job opportunities. The top recruiters who offer suitable opportunities to the Indian students of this university are:

Facebook
Apple
Google
NetApp
Symantec

The salaries of the students of the University of Southern California are based on the location, industry, experience of the individuals, and negotiation skills of the students. If you pursue an MS program from the University of Southern California, then you can gain a salary range of $1,20,000 to $1,50,000 (10012170 INR - 12515212.50 INR).

Table of Content

USC Placement Reports
USC Placement
USC Placement by Degree
USC Placement by Job Sector
USC Top Recruiters

University of Southern California Placement Reports

If you are interested in studying at the University of Southern California programs, the on-campus jobs can be extremely helpful for you. The students can find on-campus job openings with the help of the University of Southern California placements for both work-study and non-work-study as well. This can be achieved by the students through the online job portal Handshake. The majority of job openings are commencing in the fall semester and these are posted by the 1st or 2nd week of August. Along with that, the University of Southern California is mostly reputed for its Engineering courses. The internships and networking opportunities are helpful for the students to be recruited in the management positions of different organizations as well. In this regard, the University of Southern California job placement rate is increasing since this university has recruiting offices in:

Mumbai
Shanghai
Seoul
Taipei
Mexico City

The Alumni Association of the University of Southern California tends to prefer to recruit USC graduates. The students do not need to think that they can get a job right after they complete their studies. You can get the offer of internships in SpaceX, and Google. Apart from that, you can get a chance to do your PhD at MIT, Cornell, and Stanford.

University of Southern California Placement

The career centres of the University of Southern California collect information about the university graduates’ postgraduate career outcomes. The students of the University of Southern California prefer entrepreneurship, continued education, and volunteering or employment after they complete the degree programs. The employment industry and the percentage of employment of students after finishing the University of Southern California degree programs are mentioned below:

USC_Placement

Employment Industry	Percentage of Employment
Finance	15.9%
Marketing and Sales	10.9%
Engineering	8.3%
Consulting	7.6%
Accounting (Audit and Tax)	5.3%
Information Technology	4.9%
Administrative	2.7%

University of Southern California Placement by Degree

The University of Southern California's job outcomes depend upon the level of performance of the students rather than the degree that the students have achieved. Many alumni, or Indian students who have graduated from the top universities and colleges in USA, have held positions in the personnel department of various organisations. Fully employed undergraduate students working in the United States get an average salary of $68,791 (5742225.54 INR). By degree, the University of Southern California placements are:

USC_Placement_by_Degree

Degree	Salary
Bachelor	$121,000 (10100293.50 INR)
Master	$116,000 (9682926 INR)
Doctorate	$145,000 (12103657.50 INR)
MBA	$142,000 (11853237 INR)
PhD	$101,000 (8430823.50 INR)

University of Southern California Placement by Job Sector

In different locations, the University of Southern California students can gain job opportunities. In this regard, a vast majority of graduates of the University of South California prefer to remain in the United States after their graduation to explore better opportunities in different job sectors.

The students of this university maintain their job locations such as:

United States: 96.61%
United Kingdom: 0.39%
China Mainland: 0.62%
South Korea: 0.17%
Japan: 0.18%
Canada: 0.14%

The University of Southern California's job openings are maintained in a wide range of job sectors. The job sectors and the average salary that the employees can get are:

Activity	Salary
Financial Services	$133,000 (11101975.50 INR)
Consulting, Accounting, and Professional Services	$109,000 (9098611.50 INR)
IT and Software Development	$104,000 (8681244 INR)
Finance Control and Strategy	$95,000 (7929982.50 INR)
Healthcare and Alternative Medicine	$132,000 (11018502 INR)

University of Southern California Top Recruiters

The undergraduates and postgraduate students can get part-time jobs in USA with the help of different work-study programs. Along with that, numerous reputed companies are there to recruit candidates passed out from the University of Southern California. Around 5000 organisations have started collaborating with this university to hire students of this university. Indian students can also gain better opportunities at different recognised companies including

Accenture
Deloitte
EY
PwC
Oracle Corporation
Microsoft
Google
Wells Fargo
Meta Platforms, Inc.

USC_Top_Recruiters

The University of Southern California in Los Angeles offers placement opportunities for the students. Along with that, several renowned companies are making partnerships with this educational institution to recruit the students of this university as soon as possible. Different job sectors are providing better opportunities to the students of this university in different locations across the world.

FAQs

Ques: What could be the average salary of the graduates and postgraduates of the University of Southern California?

Ans: The students of the University of Southern California can avail themselves of job opportunities with a wide range of salaries across the world. The average salary revolves between $70,000 and $100,000 (5840432.50 INR - 8343475 INR).

Ques: Which companies are the top recruiters of the students of this university?

Ans: Innumerable recognised companies collaborate with the University of Southern California to hire candidates after the completion of their studies. Various companies such as Google, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, Deloitte, EY, and Oracle Corporation offer placement opportunities to students of this university.

Ques: In what kind of industries the students of the University of Southern California can attain their job opportunities?

Ans: The students of the University of Southern California can avail of placement opportunities in different job sectors. 15.9% of the students are availed of the job sectors in the finance industry. Along with that, engineering, marketing, sales, accounting as well as information technology sectors are offering jobs to the students of the University of Southern California.

Ques: What range of salary can a graduate and postgraduate student get after passing out from the University of Southern California?

Ans: The graduate students passing out from the University of Southern California can get a salary range of $121,000 (10100293.50 INR). The students who have completed their Master’s degree course from this university can avail of the salary range of $116,000 (9682926 INR).

University of Southern California Placements: Students' Opinion

AI-Generated Summary based on 37 Reviews

The University of Southern California (USC) provides substantial placement opportunities, especially through career fairs held twice or thrice a semester. These fairs are attended by notable companies such as Amazon, Google, Facebook, NVIDIA, Intel, and Apple. Graduates, particularly from the MS in Computer Engineering program, boast a 95% job placement rate with typical starting salaries ranging from $100,000 to $150,000. The career center actively supports students through weekly job listings and networking events, contributing to a strong alumni network.

The placement success is linked to the university's location in California, its competitive admission process, and its reputable name. While the median salary for graduates is approximately $100,000 annually, it can vary based on the student's discipline and the job market. Internships are essential, with many students converting these into full-time roles; however, securing internships can require extensive applications. Research opportunities are plentiful, with many students engaging in them over the summer.

Despite positive outcomes, students must be proactive in networking and job applications to secure positions.

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My Masters in University of Southern California

Likes

Only 2 courses per semester
Many subjects and specializations to choose from
Engaging campus events and food

Dislikes

Some courses were not engaging enough
Career Fairs were not fruitful
Extremely limited Scholarships

Placement

Given the current job market, 60-70% may secure a job within 6 months. I know about 10% that have struggled to get a job even after a year.
$70,000 to $140,000 base salary can be expected for new grad roles.
Usually through internships, Linkedin, Glassdoor, Indeed and websites of popular companies like Amazon, Google, etc.
Almost all the students placed have formerly interned in that company to have it converted to full-time. Some prominent Roles and Companies of my batchmates - Data Scientist at Apple, Data Scientist at Discover, ML Engineer at Meta, Data Scientist at Amazon, AI Engineer at Nvidia
Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Deloitte, and EY are the major companies that hire.

I searched using Whatsapp groups, Telegram groups and through seniors for initial accommodation. Then looked through websites like Apartments.com and Zillow.com
$850 for a shared room in a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom unit. Apartment had a swimming pool and a coin-operated laundry-dryer machine.
I didn't have as many challenges, as I was able to contact the right friends to get my housing sorted out.
Make sure to ask about roach issues. Try to share apartments with known people or at least have phone calls with them before moving in with them. Leases are usually for one-year terms, so make sure you find good roommates. Consider going for a private room if your budget allows. If sharing, go with known people or try to see compatibility with strangers.
Less than 0.5 miles from campus. Most Indian students live off campus in a 1-mile radius.

+5 more

academic: 8/10

faculty: 6/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 6/10

placement: 8/10

extracurricular: 8/10

0 0

Pallavi

University of Southern California( Enrolled 2024 )MS Computer ScienceApril 10, 2025

9.0 /10

University of Southern California : Campus Buzz!

Likes

Great array of courses: There are lots of interesting computer science as well as data science courses to choose from. The courses are extremely in depth with lots of projects to get your hands dirty with.
Professors are extremely knowledgeable: Victor Adamchik, Mohammad Reza Rajati.
Campus is beautiful, with a great mix of historic buildings as well as modern architecture. A regular trip to Trader Joe's, is an absolute must when taking a walk through the USC Village.

Dislikes

The cohort size for certain classes is large making a one-on-one interaction with certain professors a little less common
Being a CS student i couldn't explore more than 1 course outside my domain
Limited on-campus jobs making it much more competitive

Placement

The pay range as well as the employment rates completely depend on the kind of job role you're applying to. For an SDE the market has been a little on the dull side this year, however much better than the previous year.
While I don't have the numbers with me, a good chunk of students were able to land an internship this time with an average pay of 30USD per hour which goes upto 55 USD for big techs. The pay range is similar for Full time opportunities.

I chose an off-campus housing. There were several whatsapp groups that are shared with us well before time as soon as we get our offer letters. Through those groups I connected with some people and got a flat together.
I was lucky enough to connect with someone from the Spring intake, so i was able to join them as soon as I landed in the states. So the house was very well set-up for me beforehand because they were already living in it.
The rent is 1000USD for a private room. My house is a 15 min walk from campus and 5 min walk from the grocery store as well as the indian store. You don't have to worry about housing, you will be provided with resources to get in touch with the right people for everything from a house to even the furniture!

academic: 8/10

faculty: 10/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 8/10

extracurricular: 10/10

0 0

Akash Bidarera Nagesh

University of Southern California( Enrolled 2023 )M.S Computer EngineeringMarch 5, 2025

10.0 /10

University Vibes : University of Southern California

Likes

Strong alumni network (Trojan Family)
Good computer architecture program with in depth Courses and labs on CPU and GPUs and expert faculty in hardware design. Research centers like ISI, Labs as sportlab, scip-lab
Lot of Campus events and activities, min 3 events per week

Dislikes

The surrounding area faces issues with homelessness and crime.
Tuition, housing, and living expenses in Los Angeles are high, Even USC is a expensive Private college
No RA and TA for Graduate students in Viterbi, Only PhD students.

Placement

Graduates of the University of Southern California’s Master’s in Computer Engineering program benefit from strong employment outcomes, with 95% job placement rates.

$100,000–$150,000 is the typical starting salary for USC computer engineering graduates.

Since the job market is down. Hard to find job.
Recent graduates report placements at leading companies in diverse roles:
Apple: Digital Design Engineer
NVIDIA: GPU Architecture Engineer
Intel: Design Verification Engineer, CPU engineer

Found my accommodation via WhatsApp groups.
Monthly rents vary from 700-1600 based on no. of sharing in a room
Challenge was to find a good roommates, since we are moving to new country
Search for accommodation with friends on university WhatsApp groups
Accommodation is 10 min walk from campus. 0.5 miles. Most of the students stay in the same area as I'm

academic: 10/10

faculty: 10/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 10/10

placement: 10/10

extracurricular: 10/10

0 0

Naman

University of Southern California( Enrolled 2024 )MS Computer ScienceFebruary 20, 2025

8.7 /10

CAMPUS BUZZ : University of Southern California

Likes

Alumni Connections
The manner in which professors teach
The structure of the assignments to learn efficiently

Dislikes

The traveling one has to do till the campus to go there is usually a good amount
The competition for each of the positions that are open is a lot
Connecting with other people is a little bit difficult, it's not as easy as other colleges

Placement

The market is pretty bad, full time job roles are really difficult to obtain, you have to do a lot of networking and create a lot of connection in able to get a good job and despite the 4 gpa you cannot guarantee that you are going to get an internship secured also, so you cannot just bet on the job.
It is better if you have experience in the field from your home country before having come here because the companies here look for experienced individuals.

Off campus is the best type of accommodation you can go for, cause not only is it cheaper than on campus but you also get to meet a lot of students in your vicinity and you can connect based on the location you are at.
Moreover if you are on campus you are automatically enrolled within the food program which only mainly consists of non-vegetarian food so if you want flexibility it would be better if you chose off-campus housing. Average rent is $650-$800.

academic: 10/10

faculty: 10/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 10/10

placement: 2/10

extracurricular: 10/10

0 0

Radhika M Bhat

University of Southern California( Enrolled 2020 )MS Computer ScienceJuly 8, 2024

9.0 /10

University of Southern California MSCS Spring

Likes

Great opportunity for research
Strong alumni base which is helpful while finding jobs
Good campus

Dislikes

Nothing as such because I was there during covid

Placement

The post-study placement and research opportunities for the MS in Computer Science program at USC are excellent. The university boasts strong industry connections, attracting top tech companies for recruitment. Companies such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, and Apple regularly visit the campus, offering roles in software development, data science, AI, cybersecurity, and more. The placement process is well-organized, with career fairs, on-campus interviews, and networking events facilitating student-employer interactions. Career services provide extensive support, including resume workshops, interview preparation, and job search strategies.

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.

academic: 9/10

faculty: 9/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 8/10

extracurricular: 10/10

0 0

Saloni Parag dagli

University of Southern California( Enrolled 2022 )MS Computer ScienceJuly 4, 2024

8.8 /10

My college journey

Likes

I liked the facilities at the university. They are very helpful and always appreciate us for everything.
The environment of the university was also nice for Indian students.

Dislikes

I didn't like the placement of the university.
If you really need a job you have to search for it yourself.
Every student can relate that placements promised to us during the admission time are not really fulfilled.

Placement

It is not really good. It is just below average. They show us different internship opportunities they have and urge us to apply! Not sure about the specifics of the placement process or number of students placed as that information isn't just publicly shared like that but I know a few friends that secured well-paying jobs at these companies.

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.

academic: 9/10

faculty: 10/10

infrastructure: 9/10

accomodation: 9/10

placement: 8/10

extracurricular: 8/10

0 0

Michelle Pugh

University of Southern California( Enrolled 2020 )B.A Cinematic Arts, Film and Television ProductionJune 29, 2024

8.8 /10

Four Years at USC’s Film School

Likes

The community I was able to find in the film school, the friends I made, and the connections.
I was fortunate enough to establish that will set me up for a strong career.

Dislikes

The administration’s clear prioritization of profit— ignoring Greek life’s rampant sexual exploitation, arresting and detaining students for peacefully protesting against USC’s investment in Israel, etc

Placement

They have a program called First Jobs, where they help you find a job. I have been unsuccessful so far but have seen many students successfully landing jobs.

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.

academic: 9/10

faculty: 10/10

infrastructure: 9/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 9/10

extracurricular: 8/10

0 0

Daniel Han

University of Southern California( Enrolled 2023 )BA in Intelligence and Cyber OperationsJune 14, 2024

7.8 /10

USC Review

Placement

Because Intelligence and Cyber Operations is a very unique major, there are definitely a lot of connections that students in this program have over others. This club called Cyborg hosts weekly events with big companies such as Crowdstrike, Microsoft, FBI, etc. They show us different internship opportunities they have and urge us to apply! Not sure about the specifics of the placement process or number of students placed as that information isn't just publicly shared like that but I know a few friends that secured well-paying jobs (around 70k/year) at these companies.

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!

academic: 7/10

faculty: 8/10

infrastructure: 8/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 8/10

extracurricular: 8/10

0 0

Atharva

University of Southern California( Enrolled 2023 )MS Engineering ManagementApril 26, 2024

7.3 /10

USC a comprehensive experience

Likes

To be honest as I have mentioned the overall experience is something which makes things great. Good faculties with great ratio where students can have one on one interactions with students, taking courses from other school allows to understand more about different schools, their teaching styles.

Dislikes

Fees could be a bit on a lower side, the amount of credits which I take from the other schools are restricted like for ex. I need to take 16 units from Viterbi then I can take rest of them from other.

Placement

Multiple career fairs take place during the year. Some of the companies that recently visited were HP, AMD, NVIDIA, etc. lots of labs and professors giving opportunities to student to work over the summer as well.

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

academic: 9/10

faculty: 9/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 8/10

0 0

Hrishank Chhatbar

University of Southern California( Enrolled 2024 )MS Engineering ManagementApril 24, 2024

7.2 /10

Experience at USC

Likes

The environment, experience, coursework, people. The best things are the events that keep on happening in the campus to make sure students don't feel alone and have the feeling of fun by having free food, games etc.

Dislikes

I think the university is in a not so good area. There are regular petty crimes but that's the in general state of the USA. Other things include lesser meal options for vegetarian but that's again the in general state of the USA

Placement

There are regular career fairs in the campus and all the main companies regarding analytics,management, defense have come during the last 3 months of me being here. Average package depends on the semester and market situation. You can expect anywhere from 100k-180k placement depending on the course and position.

"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.

academic: 8/10

faculty: 9/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 8/10

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