University Park Campus, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
The University of Southern California was founded in 1880 by Judge Robert Maclay Widney, with a land donation from three community leaders. Initially, the university had an enrollment of 53 students and 10 faculty members, with Marion McKinley Bovard serving as its first president from 1880 to 1891. The institution began as a college of liberal arts but quickly expanded its programs and facilities.
In 1884, the University of Southern California started a school of music and graduated its first class, consisting of two males and a female. The following year, the university established Southern California's first medical school. Between 1886 and 1910, the University of Southern California underwent several developments and expansions, adding a Law School, a School of Pharmacy, and courses in dentistry.
The University of Southern California started a program in Architecture in 1919, which was the first of its kind in Southern California. In 1924, the university established the country's first school of international relations, and in 1925, it founded the USC College of Engineering. The University of Southern California is also credited with being the first university to offer a filmmaking program, which began in 1929 when it opened a School of Public Administration.
Originally, the University of Southern California operated in affiliation with the Methodist Church, but it mandated from the start that "no student would be denied admission because of race." The university severed formal ties with the church in 1952. When it opened in 1880, tuition was $15.00 per term, and students were not allowed to leave town without the knowledge and consent of the university president.
During World War II, the University of Southern California played a significant role in the war effort by hosting military training programs and conducting research on behalf of the government. After the war, the university continued to expand its programs and facilities, becoming one of the largest private universities in the country by the 1960s.
In the 1920s and 1930s, the University of Southern California experienced significant growth and development, acquiring several new properties, including the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which became the home of the university's football team. The institution also established a number of new academic programs, such as the School of International Relations and the School of Social Work.
The University of Southern California has a distinguished history of athletic programs and has produced more Olympic athletes than any other school in the country. Among the athletes who attended the university are sprinter Charlie Paddock, swimmer John Naber, and track and field star Allyson Felix. The university's football program has also been highly successful, winning 11 national championships and producing numerous NFL players.
Today, the University of Southern California is a leading institution of higher learning, with a diverse student body and a wide range of academic programs.
The University of Southern California boasts a diverse array of faculties and departments, providing undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs across various fields. The Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences serves as the liberal arts school of the university, while 22 other schools cover disciplines such as business, cinematic arts, communication and journalism, dentistry, education, engineering, law, medicine, music, public policy, and social work, among others.
Offering 95 undergraduate majors and 147 academic and professional minors, the University of Southern California caters to a wide range of interests. The graduate program provides 134 master's, doctoral, and professional degrees, ensuring ample opportunities for students to pursue their academic and professional aspirations. The university places a strong emphasis on research, with programs in fields such as biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, economics, engineering, English, fine arts, history, law, mathematics, nursing, pharmacy, physics, political science, psychology, public affairs, public health, social work, and sociology.
In addition to these programs, the University of Southern California also offers specialized courses in clinical psychology, health care management, medicine, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and physician assistant studies. The university's schools and divisions are organized under the Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences for undergraduates, the Graduate School for graduates, or one of the 20 professional schools.
The University of Southern California's academic departments have an impressive track record, with six Nobel Laureates on staff, eight Rhodes Scholars, six MacArthur Fellows, 181 Fulbright Scholars, one Turing Award winner, three National Medal of Arts recipients, one National Humanities Medal recipient, three National Medal of Science recipients, and three National Medal of Technology and Innovation recipients among its alumni and faculty.
The University of Southern California is situated in the bustling city of Los Angeles, specifically within the Downtown Arts and Education Corridor. The university's main campus, known as University Park Campus, is located at 90089 ZIP Code and houses the USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, as well as numerous professional schools. For those traveling to the University of Southern California, the nearest airport is Los Angeles International.
In addition to the University Park Campus, the University of Southern California also has a Health Sciences campus, which is positioned northeast of downtown Los Angeles. This campus is home to the Keck School of Medicine of USC, the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and three major teaching hospitals.
The University of Southern California (USC) focuses on the development of human beings and society through the cultivation and enrichment of the human mind and spirit. This is achieved by offering a wide range of academic programs designed to produce graduates who can make a significant impact on society. The institution also places importance on the spiritual growth of its students by imparting values and principles that contribute to their overall well-being.
The vision of the University of Southern California is to empower students to transform the world. USC is dedicated to preparing its graduates to understand and address current and future global issues in creative and innovative ways. The university's core values include supporting, educating, and engaging students to help them achieve their educational, personal, and professional aspirations. The Division of Student Affairs plays a crucial role in this process by providing opportunities for students to become change agents in the world.
The culture of the University of Southern California, guided by its core values, has established it as one of the top universities globally. USC emphasizes academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, diversity and inclusion, and social responsibility. The university is committed to offering students a challenging and rewarding academic experience that prepares them for success in their careers and life. Additionally, USC places a strong emphasis on research and innovation, focusing on addressing some of the world's most pressing challenges.
The University of Southern California holds accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) since March 6, 1949. This prestigious accreditation signifies that the university meets the highest standards in various aspects, such as its academic mission, capacity to fulfill that mission, quality and integrity of academic programs, commitment to student learning and success, and overall effectiveness of institutional purposes and processes.
In addition to the WSCUC accreditation, the University of Southern California has also received specialized accreditations from several agencies. These include the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the National Association of Schools of Music, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, the American Physical Therapy Association, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for Education. These specialized accreditations further demonstrate the university's commitment to providing high-quality education across various disciplines and fields.
Name of the institution
University of Southern CaliforniaLevel of institution
Four or more yearsGranulation by control over the institution (public/private)
PrivateSchool type
UniversitySetting type
City: LargeCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1880Institution size category
20,000 and aboveMain student body
CoeducationalInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveDegrees
Architecture and Related Services
$52,266Biological and Biomedical Sciences
$25,481Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
$67,678Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
$45,775Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
$88,191Engineering
$75,869English Language and Literature/Letters
$23,653Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
$36,038Health Professions and Related Programs
$48,689History
$29,963Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
$31,909Mathematics and Statistics
$61,861Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
$39,832Philosophy and Religious Studies
$28,506Psychology
$34,924Social Sciences
$41,994Visual and Performing Arts
$26,655