Pay close attention to deadlines. We recommend you submit all forms and other documents two (2) weeks before the deadline, and respond to any additional requests from USC within 10 days. To monitor your status, log on to My Financial Aid & Documents.
To receive financial aid, students must: Be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, be admitted to USC, maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (pg. 84), and not be in default on prior loans.
For more information regarding Certificate programs, including those eligible for financial aid funding, click here.

APPLYING FOR NEED-BASED FINANCIAL AID

Graduate students must meet the May 4th deadline and all eligibility requirements to be considered for all forms of financial aid.  Applications received after this date are considered for Federal Direct Stafford and Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loans only.

Students must also be registered at USC at least half-time each semester to be eligible for Federal Direct Loans:

  • Graduate students must register for four (4) or more units.
  • Doctoral students must register for three (3) or more units or be enrolled in a course considered full-time by the registrar (thesis/dissertation).

For information about graduate fellowships, assistantships, and scholarships see the Grants and Fellowships.

May 4, 2012

  • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
    Complete the FAFSA Application online. 
    • Use your best estimate of 2011 student income.
    • USC’s Federal School Code is 001328.
    • Apply as early as January 1, 2012,  but before May 4, 2012.

    Online students: Apply as early as six (6) weeks before the start of your earliest class or as soon as possible thereafter.

  • Enrollment and Housing (Supplemental) Form
    Complete the Enrollment and Housing (Supplemental) Form online by logging into My Financial Aid and Documents. You will find the Enrollment and Housing (Supplemental) Form in the "Document Library".
    • Apply before the deadline of May 4, 2012 or as soon as possible thereafter.
    • This form requires you to enter the range of academic units for which you will enroll each semester. If you are unsure how many units you will take, please contact your academic department for help prior to submitting this form. The enrollment units you select in this form MUST match your actual enrolled units in order for your financial aid to be properly disbursed.
    Online students: Apply as early as six (6) weeks before the start of your earliest class or as soon as possible thereafter.

  • Federal Work-Study*
    To be considered for Federal Work-Study, students must:
    • Submit the FAFSA and Enrollment and Housing (Supplemental) form by May 4, 2012;
    • Enroll in 8 or more units per semester; and
    • Meet a financial need requirement.
    *Federal Work-Study is not available for students participating in online master's degree programs.

Important note: Documents submitted to the USC Financial Aid Office become the property of the university and cannot be returned to the student or duplicated for any purpose.

©2012 University of Southern California