University of Southern California SAT scores & GPA
Admitted students at University of Southern California cluster around a composite SAT midpoint of about 1500. Here is what that means for your application — honestly.
The numbers
| Measure | University of Southern California |
|---|---|
| SAT composite midpoint | ~1500 |
| Acceptance rate | 9.8% |
| Source | U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard · Last verified 2026-06-19 |
We report the composite midpoint (the middle of the admitted range), not a fabricated 25th–75th band or a school-reported average. For the full reported range and ACT equivalents, see University of Southern California's published Common Data Set.
What score do you actually need?
There is no hard cutoff. The midpoint (~1500) is a reference point, not a promise: landing near or above it makes you competitive on the numbers; landing below it means the rest of your application — rigor, grades, essays — needs to do more work. Because University of Southern California is extremely selective (9.8% admit rate), strong scores help but never guarantee admission on their own.
Test-optional?
Test-optional policies change year to year, so check University of Southern California's official admissions site for the policy that applies to your cycle. Our odds tool handles test-optional applicants either way: if you don't submit scores, we estimate from the rest of your profile rather than penalizing a missing number.
See how your SAT compares — free
Directional estimate, not a guarantee of admission.