USC vs. WUSTL

Should I go to University of Southern California or Washington University in St Louis? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if USC or WUSTL 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 Southern California vs. Washington University in St Louis comparison
University of Southern California Washington University in St Louis College 3 College 4
University of Southern California Washington University in St Louis
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Overview

USC WUSTL
Location Los Angeles, CA Saint Louis, MO
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 48,945 17,012
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #34 #20
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website usc.edu wustl.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

USC WUSTL
Tuition (In State) $63,468 $59,420
Tuition (Out of State) $63,468 $59,420
Room & Board $17,436 $18,470
Avg Net Price $36,808 $23,432
Avg Grant Aid $45,262 $58,188
% Receiving Grant Aid 71% 43%

Admission

USC WUSTL
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 69,062 32,014
Admitted 8,304 3,764
Acceptance Rate 12% 11.8%
Enrolled % 41.2% 48.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.83 3.92
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Very High Very High
ACT Range 32/35 33/35
SAT Range 1450/1550 1500/1570
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 4, 2025

Academics

USC WUSTL
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (25%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

USC WUSTL
Graduation Rate 90% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $85,500 $82,800
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,375 $19,900
Median Loan Payment $231 $205

Diversity

USC WUSTL
% Men 46% 47%
% Women 54% 53%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 40% 55%
% Black 4% 6%
% Hispanic 14% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 13% 8%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

USC WUSTL
% In-State 42% 12%
% Out-of-State 40% 77%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Southern California is larger than than WUSTL based on total student enrollment (48,945 students vs. 17,012 students)

USC vs. WUSTL Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USC or WUSTL ?

  • University of Southern California is 6.8% more expensive to attend than WUSTL for in-state tuition ($63,468.00 vs. $59,420.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6.8% higher at USC than Washington University in St Louis ($63,468.00 vs. $59,420.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Washington University in St Louis than USC ($23,432 vs. $36,808)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Southern California are 5.9% lower than costs at Washington University in St Louis ($17,436 vs. $18,470)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Southern California than Washington University in St Louis (71% vs. 43%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington University in St Louis students is 28.6% larger than aid received University of Southern California ($58,188 vs. $45,262)

USC vs. WUSTL Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Washington University in St Louis (1469) is 78 points higher than at USC (1391)
  • Incoming WUSTL students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at USC (32)
  • Accepted freshman WUSTL students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at USC (3.83)
  • USC has a higher acceptance rate (12%) than WUSTL (11.8%)

USC vs. WUSTL Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, USC or WUSTL ? 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 WUSTL and USC.

  • The graduation rate at WUSTL is higher than University of Southern California (93% vs. 90%)
  • Graduates from University of Southern California earn on average $2,700 more per year than WUSTL graduates after ten years. ($85,500 vs. $82,800)
  • Washington University in St Louis students graduate with a $2,475 lower median federal student loan debt than USC graduates. ($19,900 vs. $22,375)
  • WUSTL graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than USC graduates. ($205 vs. $231)
  • More WUSTL 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/