Graduate Admission

Paying for USC

When you have found a university that offers everything you are looking for—a distinguished faculty, exceptional students, state-of-the-art facilities and a stimulating urban location—cost should not be the primary factor in determining whether to apply or attend.

The real bottom line is value—the benefits you receive throughout your career in return for your investment. In addition to the immediate benefits of an interdisciplinary and globally-oriented graduate education of the highest caliber, you gain the networking advantage of being part of the Trojan Family of alumni and alumnae. U.S. News & World Report ranks USC among the top 25 universities in the nation for value obtained.

Many options are available for funding your graduate education.

USC Funding Sources

  • The Graduate School
    • Provost's Graduate Fellowships
    • All-University Predoctoral Diversity Fellowships
    • Other USC fellowships (for students pursuing specific fields of study)
    • Other USC scholarships and fellowships (primarily for low-income, minority and underrepresented students)
    • USC graduate student awards (graduate assistantships at the American Language Institute; Freshman Writing Program; Social Science Research Institute; Thematic Option Program of USC College, etc.)
  • Your academic department or professional school
    • Fellowships and scholarships
    • Graduate assistantships: teaching/laboratory assistants; research assistants; assistant lecturers (20 hours/week under supervision of USC faculty; 8-12 units tuition remission per semester)
    • The following professional schools offer specialized financial aid guidance for their students:
      •     Keck School of Medicine of USC
          USC School of Dentistry (has its own financial aid office)
          USC School of Pharmacy
          USC Law School

  • USC Office of Residential Life
    • Head Resident (room and board, plus varying tuition and stipend amounts)
    • Graduate Resident Advisor (room and board, plus varying tuition and stipend amounts)
  • USC Financial Aid Office (administers the following federal and private programs)
    • Federal Work-Study Program
    • Federal Perkins Loan
    • Federal Stafford Loan (Subsidized or Unsubsidized)
    • Federal Graduate and Professional Student PLUS Loan
    • Private Financing

USC Payment Plan

External Sources of Funding

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