First-Year Applicants
Your Path to USC Engineering Starts Here.
You are considered a first‑year applicant if you are enrolled in high school, even if you have earned college credits, or if you have completed high school without subsequently attending a college.
We Don’t Want Anything Extra
There are no additional applications, test scores, or extra materials you need to submit in order to be considered for any of the Viterbi School programs. Simply follow the instructions for applying to USC, and list a Viterbi School major as your first choice major. Any major prepended with ‘VSE’ (Viterbi School of Engineering) is an engineering or computer science major.
You Aren’t Locked In To A Major
Applicants are asked to select an engineering or computer science major on the application, but this choice does not impact the likelihood of admission. Students admitted to any Viterbi School program as first-year applicants do not need to reapply if they later decide to change majors. Flexibility is built into the curriculum, allowing students to switch programs when the time is right for them.
Your GPA is Only a Small Part of Your Story
USC does not have strict “cutoffs” for grades, GPA, or class rank. Instead, these elements are considered alongside your personal achievements to understand who you are and how you might contribute to the next incoming class.
Dates and Deadlines
First-Year Applicants
*Fall 2027 Applicants: Deadlines become official when the Common Application opens each year on August 1.
Early Decision
Application Deadline: November 1*
- Students who are sure that USC is their first choice, and are prepared to make a commitment to attend, can apply Early Decision (ED) to USC.
- In addition to submitting the required items students must also submit an ED agreement.
- ED is binding. Students may not apply ED to any other college or university and, if admitted, must enroll at USC and withdraw any outstanding applications to other schools.
- All ED applicants will be considered for USC Merit Scholarships (no separate application required).
- ED applicants will be notified of their admission or option to defer to Regular Decision by mid-December.
Early Action
Application Deadline: November 1*
- Early Action (EA) is non-binding and non-restrictive.
- All EA applicants will be considered for USC Merit Scholarships (no separate application required).
- EA applicants will be notified of their admission or option to defer to Regular Decision in late January.
Regular Decision
Application Deadline: January 10*
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Applicants selecting or deferring to Regular Decision will be notified of a decision by April 1.
Admission Deadline FAQs
Application Checklist
- Common Application
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended (including college transcripts, if you have taken college courses prior to your high school graduation). Official transcripts can be sent electronically or mailed.
- The Teacher/Counselor report, is required from either your school counselor or a teacher from your school.
- You must list a Viterbi engineering or computer science program as your first choice major. All Viterbi programs are pre-pended with “VSE.” If you are not sure which one fits you best, please choose “Undeclared Engineering.”
- Complete the 2 Viterbi Supplemental questions in the USC questions on the common app. See more information, including Fall 2026 year’s questions below.
USC Viterbi is Test Optional. Learn more about the test optional policy and how it may affect your application if you choose to submit scores.
*Note: If you are an international, home-schooled, DACA, or transfer applicant, please review our Notes and Requirements for Certain Populations section.
What We Look For
Courses:
Strong candidates for admission are prepared with the highest level of rigor available to them at their high school. It is expected that each first-year student entering USC will have completed a combination of higher level courses in English, social studies, foreign language, and the arts, with demonstrated success in challenging math and science courses. At least one year of Calculus is important preparation for all engineering or computer science majors.
Activities:
We are particularly interested in learning about our applicants’ activities outside the classroom. The Activities Summary gives you the opportunity to highlight special skills or talents, interesting experiences, and personal accomplishments. When reviewing activities, the admission committee is looking for those experiences that might suggest your potential for leadership and involvement at USC. We are interested in learning more about your passions, potential, and what you spend your time pursuing. Your application will paint a picture of you and how you might contribute to the community, tradition and spirit of USC.
Writing:
The written elements of the application (The Personal Statement, USC Supplemental Questions, two USC Viterbi Supplemental Questions, and Quick Takes) give you the opportunity to speak directly to the admission committee in your own voice. USC carefully reads and considers everything submitted, so make sure to use a style and vocabulary with which you are comfortable. This is your chance to tell us more about yourself. Take your time answering the questions appropriately and let us know more about you and your interests and passions.
USC Viterbi Supplemental Questions: First Year Applicants for Fall 2026
*Fall 2027 Supplemental Questions will be confirmed when the Common App goes live on August 1, 2026.
These questions are your opportunity to showcase your personality, passions, and perspective. There’s no right answer, just your authentic voice. Visit our most recent blog post to learn more about answering the supplemental questions below: “Building a Strong Application: Tips and Tricks on Attacking the Supplemental Questions.”
1: Your Unique Contributions to USC Viterbi
The student body at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering is a diverse group of unique engineers and computer scientists who work together to engineer a better world for all humanity. Describe how your contributions to the USC Viterbi student body may be distinct from others. Please feel free to touch on any part of your background, traits, skills, experiences, challenges, and/or personality in helping us better understand you.
2. The Engineering Grand Challenges
The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and their 14 Grand Challenges go hand-in-hand with our vision to engineer a better world for all humanity. Engineers and computer scientists are challenged to solve these problems in order to improve life on the planet. Learn more about the NAE Grand Challenges at https://viterbiadmission.usc.edu/challenges and tell us which challenge is most important to you, and why.
Additional Requirements For Some Applicants
International Applicants
Every year, USC Viterbi admits students from all over the world to study engineering or computer science. To review the requirements of international applicants, please follow the instructions on the USC Admission page.
Home-Schooled Applicants
Home-Schooled applicants must also submit answers to the home-school questions on the Common Application Secondary School Report. Please see the Office of Admission’s FAQ regarding the Test Optional policy as it relates to Home-Schooled applicants.
Undocumented Applicants
USC admission, enrollment, and tuition policies are not based on your immigration or DACA status. Additional information for undocumented and DACA students can be found on our Immigration & DACA Status page.
Transfer Applicants
This information on this page is relevant to first-year applicants only. If you are a transfer applicant, you must follow the transfer application process. If you are not sure which type of applicant you are, please follow the guide below:
- You are a transfer applicant if you have completed any college level courses since you graduated high school or achieved the equivalent of a high school diploma.
- You are a first-year applicant if you are currently enrolled in high school, even if you have completed college credits OR you have graduated from high school and have never attended college.
Frequently Asked Questions
Admission Factors and Major Pathways
Is it more difficult to get into Viterbi than other majors at USC?
No. It is no more difficult to be admitted to Viterbi than the rest of the university. We admit our students at a similar rate as the university, and the average GPA for Engineering students is the same as the average GPA for all USC students.
Is it easier to apply for a non-engineering major and then switch to Viterbi after I am admitted?
No, and this is not advisable. If you are thinking about studying engineering or computer science (in any capacity), you should indicate that on the Common Application as your first-choice major. By starting in the Viterbi School, you have the opportunity to determine if it is right for you. If it isn’t, you can always transfer to another major at USC.
Which engineering major is the hardest/easiest to get admitted to?
We do not have any impacted programs or majors. There are no set numbers of seats per major. As a result, you do not have a better or worse chance of admission to any program. The application requirements are also the same for all majors. If you are admitted to one of our programs, you have the flexibility to change your major to any other Viterbi major without having to reapply.
Do I need to meet a specific GPA cutoff to be admitted to USC?
No, USC does not use GPA cutoffs. Instead, we review your application in context—looking at the strength of your classes, your performance, and your potential to make an impact on our campus.
Can I still apply if I do not plan to have calculus completed by senior year?
Yes, you can still choose to submit an application. However, competitive applicants will have completed at least one course in Calculus or will have it in progress their senior year.
I am a current student at USC and I would like to change my major to engineering. Do I need to go through the admission process?
No. If you are already a current student at USC you will need to follow the directions at https://viterbiundergrad.usc.edu/pre-engineering in the chance there are open seats in the Viterbi School for any particular term.
Can I apply as a transfer student?
It depends. If you have not graduated from high school, and are taking community college or university courses, you need to apply as a first-year applicant. Yes, even if you will have an Associate’s Degree when you graduate high school. So long as you are enrolled in high school, you are considered a first-year applicant.
If you have graduated high school, earned a high school diploma (or the equivalency), and have enrolled in community college or university courses, you are considered a transfer applicant.
If you have graduated high school and earned a high school diploma, but have not taken college or university courses post-graduation, you can apply as a first-year applicant, so long as you take a gap year. If you enroll in any college courses during your gap year, you will automatically be a transfer applicant.
Early Action (EA), Early Decision (ED), vs. Regular Decision (RD)
How does Early Decision differ from Early Action or Regular Decision?
- Early Decision (ED): Binding and restrictive, and available for Viterbi majors. Students may apply to only one institution through a restrictive process and must attend if admitted. Applicants are informed of an admission decision by mid-December.
- Early Action (EA): Non-binding and non-restrictive, and available for all Viterbi majors. Students receive an earlier decision but can apply to other schools, and are not required to attend should they be admitted. Applicants are informed of an admission decision in mid-January.
- Regular Decision (RD): Non-binding and non-restrictive. Applicants are informed of an admission decision by April 1.
Do I have to apply Early Action (EA) or Early Decision (ED) to be considered for merit scholarships?
Yes, you will only be considered for USC Merit Scholarships if you apply Early Action or Early Decision and submit your application by the Early Action and Early Decision deadline. There is nothing else you need to do to be considered for merit scholarships. You will automatically be considered for merit scholarships when you submit your Common App through the EA or ED process.
Applicants who submit Regular Decision deadline will not be considered for Merit Scholarships.
Other scholarships offered through USC-affiliated organizations are available but require a separate application. Visit USC’s Scholarships page for more information. USC also offers a robust need-based financial aid program. More information is available at the USC Financial Aid website.
How can I decide if applying Early Action, Early Decision or Regular Decision is best for me?
Only you can decide which application pool is best for you. Here are a few things to consider when making your choice to apply Early Decision, Early Action or Regular Decision…
- USC’s Early Decision (ED) is for students who are eager to commit to USC as their first choice and want to complete the admission process sooner. Students should consider applying Early Decision if they are absolutely sure that USC is their first choice and are prepared to make a binding commitment to attend if admitted.
- USC’s Early Action (EA) admission is non-binding and does not require enrollment at USC. Early Action and Regular Decision rounds are appropriate for those students who are still deciding on their first-choice college.
- Both Early Decision (ED) and Early Action (EA) applicants will be considered for USC Merit Scholarships.
- All applicants in Early Decision (ED) and Early Action (EA) will also have the option to defer to Regular Decision if a student is not admitted in that round.
- Regular Decision (RD) is great for students for various reasons including more time to research schools, visit campuses or polish their application.
There is no one-size-fits-all choice, only the best fit for you. Still not sure? Find out more >>Deadline FAQ’s
When will I hear back from USC?
- Early Decision (ED) applicants will be notified of their admission or option to defer to Regular Decision by mid-December.
- Early Action (EA) applicants will receive an admission decision or option to defer to Regular Decision by mid- to late January.
- Regular Decision (RD) applicants (or if you were deferred from EA or ED), you will hear back by April 1.
Application Questions
Do I have to list a Viterbi major as my first-choice on the Common App?
Yes, we only consider first-choice majors for admission to the Viterbi School. Any major prepended with ‘VSE’ (Viterbi School of Engineering) is an engineering or computer science major, including Undeclared Engineering.
Do you want any extra documents (resume, CV, portfolio) as a part of my application?
No. To ensure equity in our process we do not accept anything that we do not ask for in the application.
Can transcripts be submitted after the deadline?
Yes. You have met the application deadline if you submit the Common App by the deadline. Supporting documents – such as official transcripts – can be submitted soon after the deadline.
That being said, please get your transcripts to us as soon as possible, because we cannot review your application until we get them!
Are letters of recommendation required?
Yes, one letter of recommendation (AKA the Teacher/Counselor Report) is required from either your school counselor or a teacher from your school via the Common App.
Can I submit more than one letter of recommendation?
The truth is… we don’t want more than the Teacher/Counselor Report included in your Common App.
Where should I send my transcripts?
Official transcripts from all institutions attended (including college transcripts, if you have taken college courses prior to your high school graduation) are required.
Do I have to send my official transcripts to the USC Office of Admission and to the USC Viterbi Admission Office?
No need to send duplicates.
When you send documents to USC they are uploaded into your file – and all offices can view your file/the documents you sent.
How can I verify that my application is complete?
You may get an update on the status of your online application by logging in to your application portal here: admission.usc.edu/status
Please keep in mind, it can take 10-14 business days or more (after USC receives documents) – like transcripts – to upload into your file. Do not be alarmed if you recently sent in your transcripts and they are not yet in your file.
USC will contact you if you are missing any required application documents.
Can I list a Viterbi major as a second-choice on the Common App?
We do not consider second-choice majors for the Viterbi School. You must select a Viterbi School (VSE) major as your first-choice to be considered for admission to the Viterbi School. Any major prepended with ‘VSE’ (Viterbi School of Engineering) is an engineering or computer science major.
Can I apply for Spring?
No. USC only accepts applications for the fall semester. However, if you are admitted for the fall semester, you can request to defer your admission to the spring. Please keep in mind that space is limited, and deferrals are not guaranteed.
Office of Financial Aid
Information regarding need-based financial aid can be found on the Office Financial Aid website as well as important dates, deadlines and helpful resources.
Get in contact with the Office of Financial Aid to get all your questions answered.
