USC vs. Stanford

Deciding between University of Southern California and Stanford University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Southern California
Stanford University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • USC Los Angeles, CA
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Setting
  • USC Large City
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • USC 46,566
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Type
  • USC Private 4 Year
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • USC #37
  • Stanford #3
  • Religious Affiliation
  • USC -
  • Stanford -
  • Status
  • USC Non-profit
  • Stanford Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • USC
  • Stanford

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • USC $72,097
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • USC $72,097
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Room & Board
  • USC $19,931
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Average Net Price
  • USC $43,412
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Average Grant Aid
  • USC $46,897
  • Stanford $62,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • USC 70%
  • Stanford 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • USC 82,027
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Admitted
  • USC 8,050
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Acceptance Rate
  • USC 9.8%
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • USC 43.3%
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • USC 1500
  • Stanford 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • USC 33
  • Stanford 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • USC 3.83
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • USC A-
  • Stanford A
  • Admissions Standards
  • USC Elite
  • Stanford Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • USC Very High
  • Stanford Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • USC 32/35
  • Stanford 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • USC 1450/1550
  • Stanford 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • USC Test optional
  • Stanford Required
  • Application Deadline
  • USC
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • USC 9:1
  • Stanford 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • USC
    • Business (25%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • USC 90%
  • Stanford 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • USC $85,500
  • Stanford $122,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • USC 81%
  • Stanford 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • USC $22,375
  • Stanford $12,475
  • Median Loan Payment
  • USC $231
  • Stanford $128

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • USC 47%
  • Stanford 52%
  • % Women
  • USC 53%
  • Stanford 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • USC Very High
  • Stanford Very High
  • HBCU
  • USC No
  • Stanford No
  • % White
  • USC 40%
  • Stanford 37%
  • % Asian
  • USC 22%
  • Stanford 20%
  • % Black
  • USC 4%
  • Stanford 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • USC 14%
  • Stanford 15%
  • % Native American
  • USC 0%
  • Stanford 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • USC 0%
  • Stanford 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • USC 5%
  • Stanford 10%
  • % International
  • USC 13%
  • Stanford 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • USC 1%
  • Stanford 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • USC 42%
  • Stanford 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • USC 39%
  • Stanford 45%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • USC Yes
  • Stanford Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • USC No
  • Stanford Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • USC Yes
  • Stanford Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • USC No
  • Stanford No
  • Daycare Facility
  • USC Yes
  • Stanford Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA with Stanford University in Stanford, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Southern California is larger than Stanford based on total student enrollment (46,566 students vs. 18,625 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Southern California is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Stanford University is in Stanford, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Southern California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Stanford University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Southern California 9:1; Stanford University 6:1.

USC vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USC or Stanford? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Stanford University than USC ($25,078 vs. $43,412).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Southern California are 6.5% lower than at Stanford University ($19,931 vs. $21,315).
  • University of Southern California is 9.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Stanford (about $6,187 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.4% higher at USC than at Stanford University (about $6,187 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Southern California than at Stanford University (70% vs. 61%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Stanford University students is 33.8% larger than aid received by University of Southern California students ($62,755 vs. $46,897).

USC vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USC or Stanford? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Stanford and USC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stanford University (1550) is 50 points higher than at USC (1500).
  • Incoming Stanford students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at USC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Southern California 1450/1550; Stanford University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Southern California 32/35; Stanford University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USC - Test optional; Stanford - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Stanford students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at USC (3.83).
  • USC has a higher acceptance rate (9.8%) than Stanford (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.3% at USC vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

USC vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USC and Stanford? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Stanford University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than University of Southern California's (90%).
  • Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $37,400 more per year than USC graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $85,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stanford University graduates have a $9,900 lower median loan debt than USC graduates ($12,475 vs. $22,375).
  • Among borrowers, Stanford graduates have an estimated $103 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USC graduates ($128 vs. $231).
  • More Stanford graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USC students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 81%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.