2026 First-Year Application Overview
Application Checklist
The Common Application
Personal essay
Academic interest short answer
Activities list
Quick takes
Secondary school report
Letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor
Additional materials if required by major
Official high school/secondary school transcripts
SAT or ACT scores (optional)
Mid-Year Report/fall grades
Find more details on our website at admission.usc.edu or apply at admission.usc.edu/commonapp.
Application Deadlines
admission.usc.edu/deadlines
NOVEMBER 1, 2025
• First-Year Early Action (EA) deadline.
• First-Year Early Decision (ED) deadline (Marshall School of Business programs).
• USC Merit Scholarship deadline.
EA: Non-binding. Not available for certain majors (see below). Admission decisions or deferrals to Regular Decision released in January 2026.
ED: Binding and restrictive. Designed for students committed to enrolling at USC. ED admission decisions released in December 2025. Not available for the World Bachelor in Business (WBB) major.
DECEMBER 1, 2025
• Regular Decision for majors requiring a portfolio or audition, and the World Bachelor in Business.
• USC Merit Scholarship deadline for these programs.
JANUARY 10, 2026
• Regular Decision for all other majors. Admission decisions sent by April 1, 2026.
Merit Scholarships
USC offers merit scholarships to top candidates. Apply by the appropriate deadline listed above.
admission.usc.edu/scholarships
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.
Financial Aid Deadlines *
Early Decision: November 1, 2025 | Early Action: December 12, 2025
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 eeotix.usc.edu
Regular Decision: February 4, 2026
Cal Grant: March 2, 2026 (California residents only)
USC requires both the FAFSA and the CSS Profile. financialaid.usc.edu
* Dates accurate as of July 2025.
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0911 Check
admission.usc.edu | www.admissionblog.usc.edu | (213) 740-1111