To ensure that you receive notification of your financial aid eligibility before the May 1 National Candidates' Reply Date, apply as early as possible. To be considered for USC merit scholarships, apply for admission by December 10. Respond to any additional requests from USC within 30 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, and not be in default on prior loans.
Families occasionally experience changes in income and/or resources during the application period (e.g., job loss, death of a parent). If this applies to you, submit a letter to the Financial Aid Office outlining the facts, along with supporting documentation. You will be contacted if additional documentation is required. For additional information, see Appealing Your Financial Aid Award.

APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID

  • Register for and complete the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Financial Aid PROFILE® online. This application determines your eligibility for USC student aid funds.
    • Use your best estimates of 2007 parent and student income.
    • USC’s CSS School Code is 4852.
    • USC does not participate in the CSS IDOC program.
    • USC does not require the CSS Non-Custodial Parent form or the CSS Business Supplemental Form.
  • (California residents only) Apply for a Cal Grant, worth about $9,700 annually at USC. Deadline: March 3, 2008.
    • Many California schools automatically submit the form for their students, so check with your school before completing the following steps.
    • Download the 2008 Cal Grant GPA Verification Form by visiting www.csac.ca.gov and clicking on the name of the form. Fill out the student portion of the form and sign it. Ask the registrar at the school you currently attend or most recently attended to verify your GPA (grade point average).
    • Make a copy of the form for your records and mail the original to the California Student Aid Commission as soon as possible.
    • Transfer Students: If you received a Cal Grant at your previous college, you will need to transfer the grant to USC. Complete the form online at https://mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov and follow the instructions.
  • Fax student’s and parents’ federal tax returns to the Financial Aid Office. For faxing instructions, visit www.usc.edu/contactfao.
    • Fax complete copies of signed student and parent 2007 federal income tax returns—including all schedules and W–2 forms as soon as possible. Copy W-2 forms on a separate page (not covering page 1 of the return).
    • Write your name and USC ID number on your parents' federal income tax return.
    • If you are not legally required to file a federal income tax return for 2007, fax a completed 2008–2009 Student Non-Filing Statement Form.
    • USC does not require state tax returns.
If your parents . . .
  • are married and filed separately: Submit both tax returns.
  • are divorced or separated: Attach only your custodial parent's 2007 federal tax return or if your parents filed jointly for 2007 submit that return. If your custodial parent has remarried, submit tax returns for this parent and your stepparent.
  • are not legally required to file a federal income tax return for 2007: Fax a completed 2008–2009 Parent Non-Filing Statement Form.
  • do not live in the United States and do not file a U.S. tax return: Submit a 2008-2009 Parent Non-Filing Statement Form and attach translated documentation of their income, such as a foreign tax return, employer statement, etc. Convert all amounts to U.S. dollars.
  • (If applicable) Fax the 2008-2009 USC Custodial Parent Form, with appropriate documentation, to the Financial Aid Office. For faxing instructions, visit www.usc.edu/contactfao.
    • Completing this form is required only if your custodial parent is currently single, divorced, separated, remarried, or was never married.
    • USC does not require the CSS Non-Custodial Parent Form.
    • USC will determine an expected contribution for the custodial parent, the non-custodial parent, and the stepparent, as appropriate.