The student-faculty ratio at University of Southern California is 9:1, and the school has 58.8 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of Southern California include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Social Sciences; Visual and Performing Arts; Engineering; and Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 96 percent.
Faculty & classes
Faculty
Total faculty
2,151 full time
1,477 part time
Minority
34% full time
43% part time
Full-time faculty with Ph.D or terminal degree
92%
Classes taught by graduate assistants
-
Full-time faculty gender distribution
Part-time faculty gender distribution
Class Size
Class sizes
Classes with fewer than 20 students58.8%
20-4928.7%
50 or more12.5%
Requirements
General education/core curriculum required
Yes
Coursework required for graduation
Humanities
English (including composition)
Foreign languages
Sciences (biological or physical)
History
Social science
Graduation & retention
Freshmen Retention
Average first-year student retention rate
96%
International Student Retention
International student retention rate
96%
Graduation Rates
6-year graduation rate of students who received a Pell grant
91%
6-year graduation rate of students who received a subsidized Stafford loan
91%
6-year graduation rate of students who did not receive a Pell grant or subsidized Stafford loan
93%
6-year graduation rate of international students
89%
Degrees Awarded (July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018)
Post-bachelor's certificates
32
Post-master's certificates
1,166
Doctoral degrees - research/scholarship
762
Doctoral degrees - professional practice
1,055
Doctoral degrees - other
15
2017-2018 Graduates Employed Full-time
Employed as entrepreneur
-
Employed in temporary/contract work
-
Postgraduate internship/fellowship
-
Graduates reporting salaries
-
Graduates reporting bonuses
-
2017-2018 Graduates Employed Part-time
Employed as entrepreneur
-
Employed in temporary/contract work
-
Postgraduate internship/fellowship
-
Graduates reporting salaries
-
Graduates reporting bonuses
-
2017-2018 Graduates Other
Enrolled in a volunteer service program
-
Enlisted in the military
-
Enrolled in continuing education
-
Attended a graduate education program
-
Attended a graduate engineering program
-
Attended a graduate nursing program
-
Graduate schools most often attended by recent graduates
-
Seeking continuing education
-
No information provided by graduate
-
Prominent Alumni
School's most prominent alumni
George Lucas, film producer, Frank Gehry, architect, Warren Christopher, former U.S. Secretary of State
Majors
General Information
Credits apply to multiple majors
-
Five Most Popular Majors
Five most popular majors for 2018 graduates
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services 24%
Social Sciences 12%
Visual and Performing Arts 12%
Engineering 10%
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs 9%
Alumni Starting Salaries by Major
Architecture and Related Services
Architecture$51,900
Urban and Regional Planning$51,700
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology.$53,200
Neurobiology and Neurosciences$52,000
Biology$50,900
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Finance$68,000
Accounting$65,700
Marketing$65,400
Real Estate$64,800
Business Administration, Management and Operations$64,600
International Business$62,000
Entrepreneurial Studies$61,700
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Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Public Relations & Advertising$55,600
Communication and Media Studies$53,000
Journalism$52,400
Engineering
Computer Engineering (CE)$90,400
Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering$79,900
Chemical Engineering$75,400
Electrical Engineering (EE)$74,800
Mechanical Engineering (ME)$73,100
English Language and Literature/Letters
English Language and Literature$51,400
Rhetoric and English Composition$48,700
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Mathematics and Statistics
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies
Health and Physical Education/Fitness$52,400
Philosophy and Religious Studies
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
Social Sciences
Economics$63,900
International Relations$57,000
Political Science and Government$53,200
Sociology$50,100
Visual and Performing Arts
Film, Video and Photographic Arts$51,200
Design and Applied Arts$50,700
Fine and Studio Arts$49,500
Drama and Theater Arts$46,100
Music$42,700
Majors Offered at This School
Architecture and Related Services
Architecture
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies
African-American/Black Studies
American/United States Studies/Civilization
Asian-American Studies
East Asian Studies
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other
Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies
Near and Middle Eastern Studies
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Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biochemistry
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Biophysics
Neurobiology and Neurosciences, Other
Neuroscience
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Accounting
Business Administration and Management, General
International Business/Trade/Commerce
Real Estate
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Broadcast Journalism
Journalism
Public Relations/Image Management
Speech Communication and Rhetoric
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer Science
Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation
Engineering
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical/Space Engineering
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering, General
Civil Engineering, Other
English Language and Literature/Letters
Creative Writing
English Language and Literature, General
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Comparative Literature
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
French Language and Literature
Italian Language and Literature
Health Professions and Related Programs
Behavioral Aspects of Health
Dental Hygiene/Hygienist
Health Professions and Related Programs
International Public Health/International Health
Occupational Therapy/Therapist
History
History, General
History, Other
Mathematics and Statistics
Computational and Applied Mathematics
Financial Mathematics
Mathematics, General
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
Cognitive Science
Gerontology
Human Biology
International/Global Studies
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Natural Resources and Conservation
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Philosophy and Religious Studies
Jewish/Judaic Studies
Philosophy
Philosophy, Other
Religion/Religious Studies
Physical Sciences
Astronomy
Chemistry, General
Geology/Earth Science, General
Physical Sciences
Physics, General
Social Sciences
Anthropology
Archeology
Economics, General
Geography
International Relations and Affairs
Visual and Performing Arts
Acting
Art History, Criticism and Conservation
Art/Art Studies, General
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, Other
Brass Instruments
Minors
Architecture and Related Services
Architecture
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
Landscape Architecture
Real Estate Development
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies
American/United States Studies/Civilization
East Asian Studies
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other
Folklore Studies
Korean Studies
Latin American Studies
Near and Middle Eastern Studies
Southeast Asian Studies
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Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Advertising
Communication and Media Studies, Other
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
Health Communication
Mass Communication/Media Studies
Sports Communication
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Comparative Literature
Linguistics
Natural Resources and Conservation
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Business Administration and Management, General
Engineering
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical/Space Engineering
Computer Engineering, Other
Engineering, Other
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
Petroleum Engineering
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer Programming/Programmer, General
Computer Science
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other
Computer and Information Systems Security/Information Assurance
Information Technology
Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design
Education
Educational Leadership and Administration, General
Academic programs
Academic Programs
Degrees offered
Bachelor's, Post-bachelor's certificate, Master's, Post-master's certificate, Doctorate - professional practice, Doctorate - other, Doctorate - research/scholarship
Combined-degree programs
Public Administration/Jewish Nonprofit Management
Gerontology/Planning
Law/International Relations
Electrical Engineering/Engineering Management
Pharmacy and Global Medicine
Student participation in special study options
Honors program
Study abroad
Cooperative (work-study plan) program
Student-designed major
Liberal arts/career combination
Student participation in special academic programs
Learning communities
Undergraduate research/creative projects
Writing in the disciplines
Senior capstone or culminating academic experience
Service learning
First-year experiences
Qualified undergraduate students may take graduate-level classes
Yes
Pre-professional programs
Pre-law, pre-dentistry, pre-medicine, pre-pharmacy
Cooperative education programs
Engineering
Teacher certification is offered in
-
Subject areas offering education certification
-
Counseling services offered
academic
birth control
career
minority student
military
personal
psychological
religious
veteran student
international students
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Honors college 2018 enrollment
-
Honors program 2018 enrollment
-
Online bachelor's degree program offered
No
Percentage of bachelor's degree programs that are available online
-
Individual online courses offered for bachelor's degree credit
-
Domestic Study Away
Semester/term-away programs
Washington Semester (American University)
Student exchange programs offered with
George Washington University
Howard University
Percent of 2018 graduates participating in domestic student exchange programs
-
Study Abroad
Countries where study abroad opportunities are available
Argentina
Australia
Botswana
Brazil
Chile
China
Czech Republic
Egypt
France
Germany
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2018 graduates participating in study abroad programs
-
Consortia
Consortia
Association of American Universities Data Exchange (AAUDE)
Veterans
Institution is G.I. Bill certified
Yes
Institution participates in Yellow Ribbon Program
Yes
