Common App is accepting applications!
Common App is live and accepting applications for the Academic Year 2026-27.
If you are interested in joining the Trojan Family and want to apply for the Viterbi School of Engineering, will need to apply through the Common App. Ensure you complete the following steps so we can read your application.
Getting Started
Set up your Common App profile, then you can select the University of Southern California as an institution you are interested in applying to.
Select a USC Viterbi School major. USC Viterbi only considers applications that have selected a Viterbi School major as their first choice major. We will not consider applications that have a Viterbi School major listed as their second option. All Viterbi majors will be prepended with “VSE”.
Check-out the short answer questions. When you select a Viterbi School major as your first choice major, it will automatically prompt two short answer questions (yes they are short… only 250 word responses). These questions are aimed to get a better idea of why you might fit into our program.
Application Deadlines for Fall 2026
First-Year Applicants
First-Year Applicants are still in high school, or you have not enrolled in college since leaving high school. You are considered a transfer applicant if you have enrolled in college since leaving high school.
Early Action
Application Deadline: November 1, 2025
- Early Action (EA) is non-binding, and non-restrictive. If you would like to be considered for merit-based scholarships (Presidential, Trustee, Deans), you must apply to USC by the EA deadline.
- Applicants selecting Early Action will be notified of their admission or deferral to Regular Decision in mid- to late January 2026.
Regular Decision
Application Deadline: January 10, 2026
- You must submit your application before 11:59 in your time zone. This is the absolute, final deadline to apply for admission as a first-year applicant.
- Applicants selecting or deferring to Regular Decision will be notified of a decision by April 1, 2026.
Transfer Applicants
You are considered a transfer applicant if you have enrolled in college since leaving high school. There is only Regular Decision for our transfer applicants.
Regular Decision (Transfer)
Application Deadline: February 15, 2026
- This is the final deadline for all transfer applicants. Transfer candidates will receive either an admission decision or a request for spring grades by later May. If you receive a request for spring grades, you will be notified of an admission decision by mid-July, 2026.
