What is USC's definition of an international student? (2024)

FAQs

What is USC's definition of an international student? ›

At USC, an international student is defined as an individual who will enter or has already entered the United States with an F1 visa. Students who are already in the U.S., or who plan to enter the U.S., on non-immigrant visas such as the E2, H2 or L2 are also considered international students.

International students are defined as "non-immigrant" visitors who come to the United States temporarily to take classes or take online courses virtually from anywhere in the world. A non-immigrant is someone who meets one or more of the following criteria: intends to stay in the US temporarily.

Complete either the USC Application or the Common App if you're an international student entering college for the first time or if you attempted college credit before high school graduation. Choose the application that you are most comfortable submitting.

Our admission process is need-blind.

Admission officers consider more than grades and test scores when evaluating an applicant. USC takes a holistic approach to admission decisions. In addition to your academic record, we weigh qualities such as leadership potential, talent and personal character.

This definition captures the most important group of international students: those who moved to a foreign country for educational purposes (UNESCO, n.d.).

International Students

Of these, 21,000 are undergraduate students and 28,000 are graduates and professional students. As of fall 2022, the percentage of the University of Southern California international students is 26.6%.

The USC acceptance rate can be influenced by a variety of factors. These include the total number of applicants and the available space in the freshman class. Additionally, students are applying to more colleges every year.

If you don't pass their SAT/ACT and GPA requirements, they'll likely reject you without much consideration. To have the best shot of getting in, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1520 SAT or a 34 ACT. You should also have a 3.83 GPA or higher.

What GPA do you need for USC International student? ›

The USC Acceptance rate for international students is around 10%, which means admissions are highly competitive. USC received 80,808 applications for the academic year 2023-24 and 8094 were admitted. The average unweighted GPA for entering freshman class is 3.79-4.00.

USC admission, enrollment and tuition policies are not based on your immigration or DACA status. Your admission and enrollment will not be affected if you do not have, or if you lose your immigration or DACA status. Financial assistance is available for undocumented students who meet certain criteria.

Nearly two-thirds of USC undergraduates receive some form of financial aid, including merit scholarships, need-based grants, Federal Work-Study and loans. Incoming first-year students from U.S. families with an annual income of $80,000 or less with typical assets will attend USC tuition free.

Aim for a 1520 SAT and/or 34 ACT

Test scores are “very important” in the USC admissions process. The middle 50% SAT and ACT scores for USC's Class of 2026 were 1330-1520 and 30-34. Any score in the middle 50% is good, but the higher your score is, the greater your chances of gaining admission.

The recommended GPA requirements to get into USC are between 3.75 and 4.0. You will need a very high GPA and will likely be graduating in the top quarter of your class in order to get into USC. If your GPA is lower than suggested at the time you apply, you may have to perform above average on your standardized tests.

Your essay and short-answer responses will help us get to know your personality and your voice.

International applicants are citizens or permanent residents of a country to which they intend to return other than the United States. International applicants may be in the United States on an educational, worker or visitor visa, or be residing in their home country.

If you are a US citizen applying from abroad, you are still considered a US citizen. You are compared to students in similar schools to yours in the area in which you live. You are not part of a foreign student quota and you are eligible to apply for financial aid just like any US student in the US.

International students in the United States are considered nonimmigrants because their sole purpose for being in the country is to complete a program of study at a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school.

Are permanent residents considered international students? No, permanent residents are not typically considered international students. Permanent residents, also known as green card holders, have legal permanent residency status in a country, allowing them to reside and work there indefinitely.