Computer Science at the University of Southern California is taught through the Viterbi School of Engineering, sitting inside a private research university that has become significantly more selective over the past decade and now enrolls one of the largest international student populations of any US university. USC's Los Angeles location gives Computer Science students direct access to the entertainment, technology, and aerospace industries at once, an unusual combination that shows up in Viterbi's cross-disciplinary research ties to USC's School of Cinematic Arts (visual effects, games) and to major aerospace employers in the region.
This guide walks through what it takes to get into USC's Computer Science programs, both undergraduate (BS) and graduate (MS), including the acceptance-rate reality, cost, requirements, English-test rules, and where graduates go.
Acceptance Rate
USC does not publish a separate acceptance rate for Computer Science at either level. USC admits undergraduates to the university as a whole, and its graduate acceptance rate is not published in a single blended figure:
- Undergraduate (university-wide): USC's Class of 2029 was admitted at an overall fall rate of about 10.4% (roughly 8,684 admits from about 83,500 applications); including a separate spring admit cohort, the combined rate runs closer to 13%. This is a meaningful drop from the 15%+ acceptance rates USC posted about a decade ago. There is no separate CS-specific figure, but Computer Science (Viterbi) is consistently one of USC's most competitive majors within the applicant pool.
- Graduate: USC does not publish one official university-wide graduate acceptance rate; MS Computer Science admissions are handled by Viterbi and evaluated holistically, without a single confirmed admit-rate figure available.
Bottom line: treat the 10.4% figure as an honest university-wide proxy for undergraduate CS, not a CS-specific number, since USC's own admissions data shows this level of overall selectivity without breaking out Computer Science separately.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
Undergraduate (BS Computer Science, 4-year degree):
| Cost Item | Amount (USD/year) |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $75,384 |
| Living expenses | $18,541 |
| Total estimated cost of attendance | $93,925 |
For the full four-year BS, that puts total program cost at roughly $375,000-$380,000 before financial aid. Tuition is identical for domestic and international students. USC's need-based aid program covers roughly two-thirds of undergraduates in some form, though international undergraduate aid is more limited and competitive than domestic aid.
Graduate (MS Computer Science):
Viterbi bills graduate tuition per unit rather than a flat annual rate. At Viterbi's published 2026-27 rate of $2,742/unit, a typical full-time course load (around 24 units/year) works out to roughly $65,808/year, used here as a representative approximation; always confirm the exact current per-unit rate and expected unit load directly with Viterbi, since this varies depending on how many units a student takes per term. The graduate application fee is $105.
Admission Requirements
Undergraduate, based on USC's published international applicant requirements:
- Common Application
- USC-specific supplemental writing questions
- Official high school transcript
- School Report and counselor recommendation
- Teacher recommendation letter
- SAT or ACT scores (test-optional through the 2026-27 cycle; only around 44% of enrollees submitted scores; the middle 50% SAT range for admitted students is 1450-1540)
- English proficiency test score for applicants whose first language is not English
- Application fee of $90, or an approved fee waiver
USC offers Early Action (deadline November 1, decisions mid-January) and Regular Decision (deadline January 10; December 1 for performing arts majors, decisions by April 1). USC recently expanded Early Decision to nearly all undergraduate programs starting with Fall 2027 applicants, a shift from its historical Early Action-only model, so confirm the current-cycle application plan.
Graduate (MS Computer Science), based on USC's published requirements:
- Statement of purpose
- Academic transcripts from all institutions attended
- Letters of recommendation (typically 2-3)
- GRE: most master's and PhD programs at USC, including MS Computer Science, do not require it
- TOEFL or IELTS scores, required for most graduate programs unless exempted
- Resume/CV
- Application fee of $105, or an approved fee waiver
Deadlines vary considerably by program; most PhD and many master's programs set individual December-February deadlines, and decisions typically arrive several weeks to a few months after each deadline.
How to Get Into USC's Computer Science Program
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Treat the supplemental writing questions as a real differentiator. USC's short-answer prompts are read closely for individual voice and fit, and with test scores optional through 2026-27, a strong, specific essay carries disproportionate weight relative to universities where testing is required.
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Show demonstrated technical work beyond coursework grades. Competitive programming results, substantial personal or open-source projects, or research experience help distinguish an application in Viterbi's competitive CS applicant pool.
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If you submit SAT/ACT scores, target the upper end of USC's range. Since USC is test-optional, only submit scores that meaningfully strengthen your application (SAT 1450+, ACT 32+ puts you inside the current middle-50% range for admitted students).
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Clear the English-proficiency bar with real margin. USC's own data shows admitted students average a TOEFL well above 111, notably higher than the published 100 minimum, so applicants aiming for Viterbi Computer Science specifically should target scores meaningfully above the stated floor.
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For graduate applicants, don't underprepare Speaking. USC's own prep guidance notes that Viterbi's quantitative engineering and CS master's applicants tend to clear Reading and Listening comfortably but occasionally underprepare Speaking for the presentation-heavy project format common in USC's engineering graduate courses.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
Undergraduate:
- IELTS: minimum 7.0 overall, recommended 7.5
- TOEFL: minimum 100 overall with no section below 20 (legacy 0-120 scale, tests before January 21, 2026); 5 overall with no section below 4 on ETS's new 1-6 CEFR-aligned scale for tests from that date onward; USC notes admitted students average above 111
- PTE: minimum 68
- Duolingo: minimum 130
- Waiver: not required if English is the applicant's native language or secondary schooling was conducted entirely in English at a school in a recognized English-speaking country
Graduate:
- IELTS: minimum 7.0 overall, recommended 7.5; requirements vary by school, with some professional programs setting a higher bar
- TOEFL: minimum 100 overall (legacy scale), roughly 5.0 on the new CEFR-aligned scale for tests from January 21, 2026 onward
- Conditional admission: applicants admitted using only the Duolingo English Test must sit USC's own International Student English Exam through the American Language Institute upon matriculation; the American Language Institute also offers pre-sessional and concurrent English coursework
For the full breakdown of USC's testing policy, see USC IELTS requirements and USC TOEFL requirements.
Career Outcomes
USC does not publish outcomes broken out specifically for Computer Science; the figures below are USC's broader university-wide outcomes, presented as an honest proxy rather than a CS-specific statistic:
- USC does not publish an undergraduate or graduate employment rate or average starting salary figure university-wide or for Computer Science specifically
- Top recruiters (university-wide undergraduate and graduate): Amazon, Google, Deloitte, J.P. Morgan, Walt Disney Company, Northrop Grumman, Boston Consulting Group
- USC's Los Angeles location gives Computer Science graduates direct access to major technology employers (Amazon, Google), the entertainment industry (Walt Disney Company, and USC's own strong ties to visual effects and games studios via the School of Cinematic Arts), and aerospace employers (Northrop Grumman)
Given how many major tech employers already recruit on USC's undergraduate and graduate recruiter list, Computer Science graduates are well positioned relative to USC's broader student population, though applicants wanting CS-specific placement or salary data should consult Viterbi's own careers office directly.
FAQ
Does USC publish a separate acceptance rate for Computer Science? No. USC admits undergraduates to the university as a whole, not to a specific major, so there is no Computer-Science-specific acceptance rate. The best available figure is USC's own published overall fall admit rate of 10.4% for the Class of 2029 (about 13% combined with the spring cohort).
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need for USC Computer Science? Undergraduate applicants should target IELTS 7.0+ (7.5 recommended) or TOEFL 100+, since USC notes that admitted students actually average above 111. Graduate MS Computer Science applicants face a similar IELTS floor with a TOEFL minimum around 100 on the legacy scale.
Is the GRE required for USC's graduate Computer Science program? No. Most PhD programs and many master's programs at USC, including MS Computer Science, do not require the GRE.
How much does USC's Computer Science program cost? Undergraduate tuition is $75,384/year, with total cost of attendance around $93,925/year. Graduate MS Computer Science is billed per unit at Viterbi's published rate ($2,742/unit), working out to roughly $65,808/year for a typical full-time course load.
Is USC test-optional for Computer Science applicants? Yes, through the 2026-27 admissions cycle; only around 44% of enrollees submitted SAT or ACT scores. Applicants who submit strong scores (SAT 1450+, ACT 32+) can still use them to strengthen a competitive Viterbi CS application.
How selective is USC Computer Science compared to other Viterbi majors? USC does not publish a major-specific breakdown, but Computer Science is consistently understood to be one of Viterbi's, and USC's, most sought-after majors, so applicants should treat it as at least as competitive as USC's overall 10.4% fall admit rate, not less.