Is USC University of Southern California known for good financial aid?

I'm considering applying to the University of Southern California, but I'm worried about the cost. Does anyone know if USC is known for offering good financial aid packages to their students? Any personal experiences or stats would be helpful!

USC is known for offering generous financial aid packages to its students. To give you some context, for the 2023-2024 academic year, USC awarded more than $570 million in financial aid, and over two-thirds of undergraduate students received some form of financial assistance.

USC practices need-blind admission, which means your ability to pay doesn't affect your admission decision. They also follow a policy of meeting 100% of the demonstrated financial need for all admitted students, and this is true for both domestic and international students. This means that if you're admitted, USC will provide you with a financial aid package that covers the full difference between your family's ability to pay and the total cost of attendance.

The financial aid package can include a combination of grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans. It's important to know that USC is committed to ensuring that student loan debt is manageable.

USC also has a few prestigious scholarships for incoming freshmen such as the Trustee Scholarship, which covers full tuition, and the Presidential Scholarship, which covers half tuition. These are competitive, but well worth applying for if you meet the criteria.

Therefore, while USC does have a high sticker price, they offer substantial financial aid that can make attending more affordable than the initial cost might make it seem. However, keep in mind that everyone's financial situation is unique and your final aid package will be determined by your own family's financial circumstances. It's recommended to use USC's Net Price Calculator to get a more accurate estimate based on your personal information.