USF vs. USC

Should I go to University of San Francisco or University of Southern California? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if USF or USC is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of San Francisco vs. University of Southern California comparison
University of San Francisco University of Southern California College 3 College 4
University of San Francisco University of Southern California
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Overview

USF USC
Location San Francisco, CA Los Angeles, CA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 9,688 48,945
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #137 #34
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website usfca.edu usc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

USF USC
Tuition (In State) $54,980 $63,468
Tuition (Out of State) $54,980 $63,468
Room & Board $16,550 $17,436
Avg Net Price $42,953 $36,808
Avg Grant Aid $30,916 $45,262
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 71%

Admission

USF USC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 23,103 69,062
Admitted 16,444 8,304
Acceptance Rate 71.2% 12%
Enrolled % 9.5% 41.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.57 3.83
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 27/31 32/35
SAT Range 1210/1410 1450/1550
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025

Academics

USF USC
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)

Outcomes

USF USC
Graduation Rate 70% 90%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $70,400 $85,500
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $22,375
Median Loan Payment $258 $231

Diversity

USF USC
% Men 35% 46%
% Women 65% 54%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 27% 40%
% Black 3% 4%
% Hispanic 19% 14%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 5%
% International 19% 13%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

USF USC
% In-State 55% 42%
% Out-of-State 34% 40%

Campus

USF USC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Southern California is larger than than USF based on total student enrollment (48,945 students vs. 9,688 students)

USF vs. USC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USF or USC?

  • University of Southern California is 15.4% more expensive to attend than USF for in-state tuition ($63,468.00 vs. $54,980.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.4% higher at USC than University of San Francisco ($63,468.00 vs. $54,980.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Southern California than USF ($36,808 vs. $42,953)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of San Francisco are 5.4% lower than costs at University of Southern California ($16,550 vs. $17,436)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of San Francisco than University of Southern California (96% vs. 71%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern California students is 46.4% larger than aid received University of San Francisco ($45,262 vs. $30,916)

USF vs. USC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USF or USC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USC or USF .

  • The average SAT score at University of Southern California (1391) is 219 points higher than at USF (1172)
  • Incoming USC students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at USF (26)
  • Accepted freshman USC students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at USF (3.57)
  • USF has a higher acceptance rate (71.2%) than USC (12%)

USF vs. USC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, USF or USC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between USC and USF.

  • The graduation rate at USC is higher than University of San Francisco (90% vs. 70%)
  • Graduates from University of Southern California earn on average $15,100 more per year than USF graduates after ten years. ($85,500 vs. $70,400)
  • University of Southern California students graduate with a $2,625 lower median federal student loan debt than USF graduates. ($22,375 vs. $25,000)
  • USC graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than USF graduates. ($231 vs. $258)
  • More USC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USF students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 73%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/