University of Southern California (USC) vs University of San Francisco

Envision yourself pursuing higher education in the vibrant cities of Los Angeles or San Francisco. The University of Southern California (USC) and the University of San Francisco (USF) stand out as two prominent institutions offering distinct academic experiences. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in several key aspects. USC boasts a lower acceptance rate, indicating its highly selective admissions process, while USF offers a more accessible route to higher education. Explore the comparison table to delve into further details, such as popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences, setting the stage for a transformative educational journey.
University of San Francisco logo

University of San Francisco

University of Southern California logo

University of Southern California

Overview

Location San Francisco, California Los Angeles, California
Campus setting City: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 86.0% 96.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation Catholic

Admission

Acceptance rate 70.9% 12.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $55
Undergraduate: $85

Graduate: $90
SAT range 1190 - 1390 1410 - 1540
ACT range 26 - 31 32 - 35
Students submitting SAT score 17.0% 31.0%
Students submitting ACT score 11.0% 19.0%
Total number of applicants 22,372 71,031
Total number of admissions given out 15,867 8,884
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,452 3,668
Yield rate 9.2% 41.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $75,232 $81,659
Average net price $39,825 $26,021
Tuition $52,920 $60,446
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $11,030

Meal plan: $5,110
Room/dormitory: $10,098

Meal plan: $6,634
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

92.0%
Average amount $31,112
72.0%
Average amount $40,690
Students receiving federal student loan 47.0%
Average amount $5,182
22.0%
Average amount $4,215
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $23,306
2.0%
Average amount $29,056

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 5,969
Men 35.6% Women 64.4%
20,790
Men 48.5% Women 51.5%
Graduate students 4,065
Men 34.0% Women 66.0%
28,528
Men 44.3% Women 55.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 35.6% 49.9%
International students 12.9% 23.8%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 2,800 8,700
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Washington Oregon Texas Hawaii California Texas New York Illinois Florida

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Psychology
  • Education
  • Business
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Public Administration and Social Service
Students to faculty ratio 13:1 9:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 75.6% 92.0%
Dropout rate 7.8% 7.2%
Transferred out 16.4% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $154,879
  • Year 2: $175,674
  • Year 3: $161,396
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $103,844
  • Year 2: $91,744
  • Year 3: $130,019
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $117,274
  • Year 2: $122,038
  • Year 3: $127,016
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,668
  • Year 2: $100,292
  • Year 3: $112,643
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $101,719
  • Year 2: $96,866
  • Year 3: $106,157
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $97,959
  • Year 3: $105,769
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $103,513
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,025
  • Year 2: $79,284
  • Year 3: $95,947
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,019
  • Year 2: $67,101
  • Year 3: $85,917
Economics (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,064
  • Year 2: $67,660
  • Year 3: $78,626
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $104,166
  • Year 2: $187,234
  • Year 3: $221,418
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $167,228
  • Year 2: $163,225
  • Year 3: $161,094
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $106,344
  • Year 2: $126,683
  • Year 3: $148,434
Marketing (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $113,473
  • Year 2: $117,572
  • Year 3: $147,381
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,796
  • Year 2: $116,083
  • Year 3: $146,357
Legal Professions and Studies, Other (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $79,420
  • Year 2: $88,198
  • Year 3: $140,330
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $127,841
  • Year 2: $131,090
  • Year 3: $140,129
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $135,775
  • Year 2: $135,393
  • Year 3: $136,848
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $121,676
  • Year 2: $101,072
  • Year 3: $134,632
Real Estate Development (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $119,991
  • Year 2: $122,038
  • Year 3: $125,784

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