Getting Started
Financial Aid
John Hubbard Hall (JHH) Lobby
(213) 740-1111 (telephone counseling)
www.usc.edu/contactfao
www.usc.edu/financialaid
USC administers one of the largest financial aid budgets in the country, and more than 60 percent of students receive some type of financial aid. Awards are made to students who demonstrate financial need and meet all eligibility requirements and deadlines.
It is your responsibility to reapply for financial aid each year for the next academic year, adhering to published deadlines and procedures. Application information is available online in early December at www.usc.edu/financialaid.
Undergraduate Financial Aid
Undergraduate financial aid includes merit scholarships, need-based grants, low-interest loans and work-study.
Merit-Based Programs
Scholarships awarded based on academic excellence, leadership, service and talent are available through academic departments at USC, alumni groups, minority support organizations, outside agencies and foundations. ROTC scholarships are available through the Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.
Need-Based Programs
USC has a long tradition of meeting 100 percent of the USC-determined financial need for undergraduate financial aid applicants who satisfy eligibility requirements and meet all deadlines. In determining financial aid eligibility, the USC Financial Aid Office strives to distribute funds as equitably and generously as possible. The family is expected to be the primary source of funding for college; financial aid is intended to supplement the family contribution.
Financial aid applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, and must meet all other eligibility criteria. Applicants must meet the standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) published in the USC Catalogue (www.usc.edu/catalogue). If you receive financial aid, the combination of any merit-based awards and all financial aid may not exceed your USC-determined financial need. The total amount of financial aid you receive, both need-based and merit-based, cannot exceed your total cost of attendance.
Graduate and Professional Student Financial Aid
As a graduate student, the primary source of support is likely to be your academic department or professional school. Together with the Graduate School, USC departments and schools award a long list of grants, graduate fellowships and assistantships. Awards from agency sponsors and scholarships from sources outside the university are also significant sources of support.
Doctoral students at USC receive extensive financial support that enables them to devote full attention to their Ph.D. studies.
Graduate and professional students who meet eligibility requirements may also apply for low-interest federal student loans and work-study through the Financial Aid Office.
Financing Options for Undergraduate and Graduate Students
In addition to financial aid and scholarships, USC has several financing options available. The USC Payment Plan is a short-term option that allows the family to divide the cost of each semester into five monthly payments. The USC Tuition Prepayment Program lets the family prepay tuition for future semesters at the current rate.
In addition, several federal and private long-term loan programs enable the family to spread the cost of education over several years. Students should exhaust all federal assistance available, including the Federal Direct Stafford Loan, Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan and the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan before considering a private student loan program. The credit and repayment terms of federal loan programs may be more favorable than those for private loan programs.
For More Information
Complete details are available at www.usc.edu/financialaid. The best way to contact the Financial Aid Office is by telephone at (213) 740-1111. Additionally, financial aid representatives are available by email via www.usc.edu/contactfao.
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