Transparency on USC's acceptance rate for out-of-state students

Hey there! I'm from Michigan and USC has always been a dream school for me. But I'm a little bit concerned about the acceptance rates. I was wondering if anyone had any information about USC's acceptance rate specifically for out-of-state students. I understand the competition is highly fierce, and I just want to manage my expectations. Thanks in advance!

USC is a private university, meaning they don't explicitly favor in-state students versus out-of-state students in their admissions process as some public universities might. Therefore, the acceptance rates don't necessarily vary greatly based on the applicant's state of residence.

That said, USC is indeed competitive. As of 2024, it had an overall acceptance rate hovering around 11%. It's crucial to remember that these acceptance rates don't provide a full picture. Your suitability as a candidate depends on a mix of factors including your GPA, SAT or ACT scores (which USC is now requiring for the 2024-2025 application cycle once again), essays, extracurricular involvement, recommendation letters, and more.

The location also plays a role in shaping a student body. USC might be attractive to students preferring city settings, mild climates, and locations offering many off-campus opportunities. These factors influence the type of students who apply, making certain geographical groups more represented in the applicant pool than others. So while there's not a fixed acceptance rate for out-of-state students, it could be marginally more competitive if many high-performing students outside California also picture USC as their dream school. However, this should not deter you -- if USC is your dream, by all means, give it your best shot!

You may find it helpful to run your profile through the USC chancing calculator on CollegeVine. This tool offers an estimate of your chances based on a range of factors, including your academic profile and extracurriculars.