University guides · United States
University of Southern California
USC admissions for Canadian and international students: Early Decision and Early Action, earlier arts deadlines, test-optional policy and documents.
- Location
- Los Angeles, California
- Type
- Private
- Founded
- 1880
- Teaching languages
- English
- Apply through
- Common Application
- Official website
- usc.edu
In short
- USC is a private research university in Los Angeles, just south of downtown.
- Apply through the Common App. Early Decision (binding) and Early Action (non-binding) are both due November 1.
- Regular Decision is due January 10 for most majors and December 1 for dance, dramatic arts and music.
- USC is test-optional, and it accepts only official scores, not self-reported ones.
Overview
USC's University Park campus is a few kilometres south of downtown Los Angeles. It has a large set of professional schools alongside the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, including film, music, dance, engineering, business and communication. Applicants choose a first-choice major, and arts programs add portfolios or auditions with their own timelines.
How to apply for 2026-27
USC uses the Common Application. It offers both a binding and a non-binding early plan, which is less common:
| Plan | Application due | Financial aid due | Binding? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision | November 1 | November 1, 2026 | Yes |
| Early Action | November 1 | November 15, 2026 | No, and non-restrictive |
| Regular Decision (most majors) | January 10 | February 3, 2027 | No |
| Regular Decision (performing arts) | December 1 | February 3, 2027 | No |
Regular Decision results are expected by April 1. If you apply to a performing arts major, the December 1 date is the one that counts, and audition materials have their own requirements.
Testing policy
USC is test-optional. If you decide to submit SAT or ACT scores, they must be official; USC states that it does not accept self-reported scores. That means ordering score reports early enough to arrive by your deadline, which is a different habit from schools that let you self-report.
International documents and costs
International applicants, including Canadians, submit a Financial Statement of Personal or Family Support at the time of application, plus English proficiency results if they apply to you. USC's international and financial aid pages explain what aid, if any, is available to international students. We could not confirm that wording for this update, so read those pages before choosing Early Decision.
Supplemental questions and portfolios
USC's writing supplement, posted on the Common App each August, combines essay questions with short answers. Treat the short answers as a chance to show personality as well as plans. Some majors require extra materials. Film and cinematic arts, architecture, music, dance and theatre programs ask for portfolios, auditions or writing samples, often through SlideRoom, and their timing can be tighter than the main Common App date.
- September: check your major's page for portfolio or audition rules.
- October: finish the Common App essay and the USC writing supplement.
- November 1: Early Decision or Early Action deadline; send official test scores now if you are submitting them.
- December 1 or January 10: Regular Decision, depending on your major.
If you are admitted, plan for the cost of living in Los Angeles as well as tuition, and compare your USC offer with Canadian options before the May 1 reply date.
Preparing with StudyBrix
Most USC programs ask for short supplemental answers alongside the main Common App essay. Practise concise writing with our academic English bridge deck. The StudyBrix United States guide explains Early Decision, Early Action and Regular Decision side by side, and our UCLA profile covers a public option in the same city.
How applications work everywhere in United States: Studying at university in the United States.
More universities in United States
- Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Stanford University Stanford, California
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Yale University New Haven, Connecticut
- Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey
- Columbia University New York, New York
Sources
Checked on the official pages above (last update October 26, 2026). Admission rules, deadlines and fees change every year: always confirm on the official pages before you apply. This guide is independent and not affiliated with any university or application service. Found a mistake? Tell us.