Application Checklist
Application Deadlines
The Common Application
NOVEMBER 1, 2026 • First-Year Early Decision (ED) deadline. • First-Year Early Action (EA) deadline. • USC Merit Scholarship deadline.
Personal essay Short answers Activities list
admission.usc.edu/deadlines
ED: Binding and restrictive. Not available for certain majors (see below). Designed for students committed to enrolling at USC. Decisions or deferrals to Regular Decision released in mid-December 2026.
Quick takes
EA: Non-binding. Not available for certain majors (see below). Decisions or deferrals to Regular Decision released in mid-January 2027.
Secondary school report
DECEMBER 1, 2026 • Regular Decision for all majors in the schools of Dance, Dramatic Arts and Music. • USC Merit Scholarship deadline for these programs.
Letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor Additional materials if required by major Official high school/secondary school transcripts
JANUARY 10, 2027 • Regular Decision for all other majors. Admission decisions for Regular Decision released by April 1, 2027.
Official SAT or ACT scores (optional)
Merit Scholarships
Mid-Year Report/fall grades
admission.usc.edu/scholarships
Official English proficiency exam and proof of financial support (international students) Find more details at admission.usc.edu/first-year. Apply at admission.usc.edu/commonapp. The University of Southern California admits students of any race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical disability or mental disability and does not discriminate on any such basis. The University’s full non-discrimination policy can be found online at ocrc.usc.edu.
FIGHT ON!
2027 First-Year Application Overview
USC offers merit scholarships to top candidates. Apply for admission by the appropriate deadline listed above. Financial Aid Deadlines * Early Decision: November 1, 2026 | Early Action: November 15, 2026 Regular Decision: February 3, 2027 Cal Grant: March 2, 2027 (California residents only) USC requires both the FAFSA and the CSS Profile. financialaid.usc.edu
* Dates accurate as of July 2026.
USC Scholarships are administered consistent with the University’s Notice of NonDiscrimination. Recipients are chosen without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited characteristic.