FAQs: Dates and Deadlines

What are USC's application and admission deadlines?

Current application deadlines are listed on our Dates and Deadlines page.

All deadlines are received-by deadlines unless otherwise stated by the department to which you are applying. For students submitting online applications, anything submitted by 11:59 p.m. (in your current time zone) of the deadline day will be considered "on time."

What are the deadlines for submitting scholarship applications?

To be considered for any scholarship administered through the USC Office of Admission, first-year applicants simply need to submit a completed application for admission by December 1. Transfer applicants should submit their applications by February 1.

Other scholarships offered by USC organizations outside the Office of Admission may have separate deadlines and application requirements. Please visit our Merit Scholarships page for more information.

When do classes start? When is USC's summer vacation?

USC operates on the semester system. A full USC semester includes 15 weeks of classroom instruction and one week of final examinations. View USC's Academic Calendar for more information.

What is the last SAT or ACT sitting that USC will accept for fall applicants?

We suggest that first-year applicants take all SAT and/or ACT exams by December of their senior year. Although we will accept scores from later sittings, we cannot guarantee that your results will reach us in time to be considered by our admission committee.