USC Financial Aid - Grants & Scholarships

Grants & Scholarships Information

Scholarships and Grants are forms of aid that help students pay for their USC education. Unlike loans, they do not have to repaid. Scholarships, grants, and fellowships come from a variety of university, federal, state, and private sources. Generally, scholarships and fellowships are reserved for students with special qualifications, such as academic, athletic, or artistic talent. Awards are also available for students who are interested in particular fields of study, who are members of underrepresented groups or who live in certain areas of the country. There are need-based grants which are based upon a student's demonstrated financial need.

Any scholarships you receive will not be in addition to your need-based financial aid but will change the composition of your financial aid eligibility. In most cases, we allow outside scholarships to reduce the student loans or Federal Work-Study in your financial aid package. Each situation must be reviewed in light of availability of funds, state and federal regulations, and the university's financial aid policies. Federal regulations require that we consider all of your resources when determining your eligibility for financial aid. As a result, receipt of additional scholarship awards will most likely effect your eligibility for financial aid. Once your department notifies our office of a departmental award, we will revise your Statement of Financial Aid Eligibility and notify you of the revision.

If you are a recipient of an outside award that is not listed in your financial aid award, please send us a copy of your scholarship award notification so that we can adjust your financial aid package accordingly and notify you of the revision.

Most scholarships will replace some type of financial aid in your eligibility statement. If you wish to know how your scholarship will affect your financial aid eligibility, please contact our office.

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