University of Southern California campus
Los Angeles, United States
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University of Southern California

Los Angeles·university·Est. 1880
Scholarship available

#121

QS Rank

$65,000

Tuition/yr

73,271

Enrollment

About University of Southern California

USC is a leading research university with particular strength in engineering, business (Marshall), film, and sciences. Located in Los Angeles, USC benefits from proximity to entertainment, aerospace, and technology industries. The university combines rigorous academics with practical, real-world learning through internships and projects. USC's location provides unparalleled networking opportunities in diverse industries. The university emphasizes entrepreneurship and innovation across disciplines. USC graduates enter positions in technology, entertainment, aerospace, business, and engineering.

World University Rankings

QS World University Rankings (2026)#121
Times Higher Education (THE) (2025)#55
ARWU / Shanghai Rankings (2024)#101
US News Best Global Universities (2025)#28

Campus & Location

Province

CA

Campus setting

Urban

Cost of living: Housing: USD 1,600–2,800/mo | Food: USD 450–700/mo | Major US city; high cost but strong entertainment, tech, and healthcare job markets.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

All graduates from CRICOS-registered programs qualify for 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT). STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total of US work authorisation.

For Nepali students

One of the largest Nepali graduate cohorts in the US; active Nepali Student Association at USC.

Programs(4)

MS in Data Science

Data Science & Analytics
Master's~$50k/yrIELTS 7+GPA 3.3+fall, spring

Master of Science — Data Science

Information Sciences Institute

Data Science & Analytics
Master's~$33k/yr2 yrIELTS 6.5+GPA 3.3+fall, springPGWP

Marshall MBA

Marshall School of Business

Business & Management
MBA~$66k/yr2 yrIELTS 7+fall

Master of Science — Computer Science

Viterbi School of Engineering

Computer Science & IT
Master's~$35k/yr2 yrIELTS 6.5+GPA 3.3+fall, springPGWP

Data last verified from official sources · Disclaimer

Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents

A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:

GPA 3.060%+ in NEB +2, B+ average in Cambridge A-levels, or Second Division in a TU bachelor's degree.
GPA 3.370%+ in NEB +2 or First Division in a TU bachelor's degree.
GPA 3.675%+ in NEB +2 or First Division with Distinction in a TU bachelor's degree.
IELTS 6.5The most common graduate minimum — achievable with 2–3 months of focused preparation. IELTS 7.0+ needed for the most competitive programs.

Use our GPA converter to translate your exact score to the 4.0 scale.

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Data last verified: 2026-04-29 · Source: https://www.usc.edu. Information may change — verify with University of Southern California’s official website before applying.