USC operates on the semester system. A full USC semester includes 15 weeks of classroom instruction and one week of final examinations. View USC's academic calendar for more information.

Current application deadlines are listed on our Admission Deadlines page.

All deadlines are postmark deadlines unless otherwise stated by the department to which you are applying. We recommend that, whenever possible, you send all application materials in one packet.

USC application deadlines are postmark deadlines. Therefore, as long as an application or other materials are mailed and postmarked by the deadline date, they will be considered on-time. The only exception to this relates to the School of Cinema-Television. Cinema's deadline dates are "received by" dates, so applicants to these programs should endeavor to mail their materials with ample lead time to account for postal processing.

For students submitting online applications, anything submitted by 11:59 p.m. (Pacfic Time) of the deadline day will be considered "on time."

We suggest that freshman applicants take all SAT and/or ACT exams by December of their senior year. Although we will accept scores from later sittings, we cannot guarantee that your results will reach us in time to be considered by our admission committee.