If your family's income and/or resources have changed since you applied for financial aid, and you would like the family contribution to be re-evaluated, see Special Circumstances.
The family contribution is determined by subtracting the financial aid total from the student's cost of attendance. You can pay in several ways:
- From savings or current income. (Pay the USC Cashier's Office directly.)
- With the USC Tuition Payment Plan, which enables students to establish a line of credit for tuition, fees, university housing and other student expenses. The plan is billed in 10 monthly installments per year. For more information, visit the Student Financial Services Website.
- With loans for all or part of this amount. If you do apply for loans, you should apply for the entire academic year.
FEDERAL LOANS
- If you choose to take out loans for all or part of the family contribution, start with the Federal Parent PLUS Loan. It has a low fixed interest rate, requires no collateral and does not impose an early repayment penalty.
- If (and only if) the parents were declined for the Parent PLUS Loan, the student may take out an additional unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan to cover part of the family contribution.
STUDENT PRIVATE FINANCING
In most cases, students who choose to use private financing to cover all, or part, of the family contribution will need a credit-worthy co-borrower. For more informatioin, see the Loans section of this website.