University of Southern California

The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal^[a]) is a private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in California and has an enrollment of more than 47,000 students.

The university is made up of a liberal arts school, the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, and 22 undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools. It has about 21,000 undergraduate and 28,500 post-graduate students from all fifty U.S. states and more than 115 countries. It joined the Association of American Universities in 1969.

USC is known for its sports teams, called the Trojans. They compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Big Ten Conference. Trojan athletes have won many championships and Olympic medals, more than any other American university. Many USC football players have gone on to play in the National Football League.

History

Main article: History of the University of Southern California

The University of Southern California was founded in 1880 by Judge Robert Maclay Widney. He and three important people in Los Angeles at the time donated land and money to start the school. From the beginning, the university promised that no student would be turned away because of their race. When it first opened, there were only 53 students and 10 teachers. The first class to graduate had just three students.

As the university grew, new buildings were added. One of the oldest buildings, the Bovard Administration Building, was finished in 1921. During World War II, many students joined the military, but after the war, thousands of veterans came to study, making the campus very busy. The university continued to grow, adding many new buildings and even hosting some Olympic events in 1984.

USC’s mascot is the Trojan, represented by a statue called “Tommy Trojan.” The name came from a sports writer who said the team fought like the ancient Trojans.

Campus

Main article: Campus of the University of Southern California

The main campus of the University of Southern California is located in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, just a short distance from downtown. The campus is easy to reach by car and has many nearby places to visit, such as the Shrine Auditorium and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Most buildings on campus have a classic style, though some newer buildings look quite different.

USC also has other locations beyond its main campus. There is a Health Sciences Campus, a children’s hospital, and centers in places like Orange County and Sacramento. The university also has a special campus in Washington, D.C. for research and learning. USC has many chances for students to help the community, and many choose to take part in these programs. The university is also supported by public transportation, with several train and bus stops close to its campuses.

Organization and administration

USC is run by a group of leaders called a board of trustees. This board has 50 members who help make big decisions for the university. The university’s leaders include a president, a provost, and many other important people who manage different parts of USC.

USC has many schools, such as the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, and professional schools like the Marshall School of Business and the School of Cinematic Arts. Each school is led by a dean. There are also student governments that help represent students and make decisions about school activities. The university has its own safety team to keep everyone safe on campus.

Academics

The University of Southern California (USC) is a big private research university in Los Angeles, California. It offers many different subjects to study, including arts, sciences, engineering, and more. Students can choose from over 95 undergraduate majors and many graduate programs. USC has twenty professional schools where students can learn in areas like film, architecture, engineering, and business.

USC’s Dornsife College is the main school for arts and sciences, offering many undergraduate and graduate programs. The School of Cinematic Arts is famous for film and also includes programs for interactive media and games. The Viterbi School of Engineering is well known and has been highly ranked in the United States. The university also has schools for architecture, communication, journalism, dentistry, and more, giving students many options for their education.

Student body

The University of Southern California (USC) has about 47,500 students. Around 20,000 are undergraduate students, and about 27,500 are graduate or professional students. About half of the students are female, and half are male. Many students come from California, the rest of the United States, and other countries.

USC offers help with paying for school to many students. In 2025, the average help given was $71,169 for those who needed it. The school also gives special scholarships to a few students who do well academically. These scholarships can cover all, half, or a quarter of the tuition cost. USC is known for offering many of these special scholarships.

Many students at USC come from families that have not gone to college before, or have parents who also went to USC. Some students also qualify for special government help because their families do not earn much money. USC has over 375,000 former students, known as Trojan alumni, who have gone on to do many different things after leaving the university.

Faculty and research

The University of Southern California is known for its strong research. In 2018, it spent over $891 million on research projects, ranking 23rd in the United States. USC has many experienced teachers and researchers, including 17 members of the National Academy of Sciences and winners of important awards like the Nobel Prize and the Turing Award.

The university also supports international policy work and has special centers for engineering and earthquake research. In 2016, USC got one of the world's most powerful quantum computers. In 2023, its graduate students voted to form a union, making USC the first private university in Los Angeles with such a group of workers.

Athletics

Main article: USC Trojans

The USC Trojans are part of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and compete in the Big Ten Conference. USC students who play sports have won many championships, with 123 total team titles and 361 individual titles. They are especially known for their strong rivalry with the University of California, Los Angeles, or UCLA, in both sports and school activities.

USC has been very successful in many sports. In men’s sports, they have won many titles in track and field, tennis, baseball, swimming, diving, water polo, volleyball, and gymnastics. The football team is one of the best, having won 11 national championships and producing many players who go on to play in the NFL. In women’s sports, USC has also achieved great success, especially in tennis, volleyball, water polo, golf, basketball, beach volleyball, swimming, diving, track and field, and soccer.

Traditions and student activities

The University of Southern California has many fun traditions. One of its most famous traditions is its fight song, "Fight On", which was created in 1922 by a dental student.

USC has some big rivalries, especially with Notre Dame and UCLA. The game against Notre Dame is played every year for a special trophy called the Jeweled Shillelagh. The rivalry with UCLA is very strong because both schools are close to each other in Los Angeles. They compete for trophies and have some fun pranks between the two schools.

The university’s official mascot is Traveler, a white Andalusian horse. There is also a famous bronze statue called Tommy Trojan that students often meet at.

The Spirit of Troy marching band is very popular and has performed in many movies and big events like the Olympics. They have even played with famous musicians and at big award shows.

USC has many student groups that add spirit to the school. The Song Girls are a dance squad that performs at games and events around the world. The Daily Trojan is the student newspaper, and there is also a student radio station, KXSC (FM), and a student television station called Trojan Vision. The yearbook, El Rodeo, has been made every year since 1889.

The university also has many fraternities and sororities with a long history on campus.

Controversies

The University of Southern California has faced several challenging situations over the years. In the mid-2010s, the university was investigated for not following proper rules to keep students safe and fair in handling complaints. Later, a doctor at the university was accused of treating patients improperly, leading to many complaints and settlements.

The university was also involved in a big scandal about college admissions in 2019, where some people were accused of using unfair methods to help students get into USC. There have also been reports about some university leaders not following the same rules as everyone else.

In 2024, the university faced criticism for how it handled student protests about world events, leading to many discussions and changes in plans for graduation ceremonies.

Notable people

For a more comprehensive list, see List of University of Southern California people.

USC has graduated many successful people, including those who have won top awards in movies and television, such as more Academy and Emmy Awards winners than any other school. This is largely because of its famous School of Cinematic Arts. The university has also graduated very wealthy leaders, with 29 living billionaires among its alumni. Five important scientists and leaders have been Nobel Laureates at USC.

Some well-known USC graduates include Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the Moon; Charles Bolden, a former NASA director and astronaut; George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars and Indiana Jones; Andrew Viterbi, who helped invent important technology used in mobile phones; and actor Will Ferrell. Other famous alumni are leaders in sports, entertainment, business, and government from many countries around the world.

In media

Because the University of Southern California is close to Hollywood, many movies, TV shows, and music videos have been filmed there. The school's beautiful buildings and famous film school make it a popular spot for filmmakers. You might have seen USC in movies like Forrest Gump, Legally Blonde, and The Social Network, as well as TV shows such as Brooklyn Nine-Nine, How to Get Away With Murder, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.