Karia Kiritbhai Study Abroad Course Expert
Study Abroad Course Expert
The University of Southern California (USC), located in Los Angeles, is a prestigious private research university with roughly 49,000 students enrolled. Admission is selective and competitive, with an acceptance rate of about 10%. The strongest programs at USC include Film, Business (Marshall), Engineering (Viterbi), Law, and Computer Science. The graduation rate is extremely high, from 91% to 93%, and early career graduates report salaries of approximately INR 68 to INR 74 lakhs per annum (USD $82,000-$89,000).
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), which is also located in Los Angeles, is another highly ranked public research university in the U.S. with a student population of over 45,000. Admissions are likewise competitive at UCLA with an acceptance rate of just around 9%. It is particularly noted for flagship programs in Economics, Engineering, Psychology, Life Sciences, and Film & Television. The graduation rate is reported to be slightly higher at around 93-95%. Alumni typically earn early career wages between INR 70-76 lakhs yearly ($84,000-91,000).
| University of Southern California | University of California | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 5.9 Out of 10 | 7.8 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 73 Times Higher Education 2026 # 146 QS World University 2026 # 54 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 18 Times Higher Education 2026 # 46 QS World University 2026 # 17 Center for World University Rankings 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 20 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 99 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 26 for Law by US News 2025 | # 13 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 12 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 12 for Law by US News 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -142 PG Programs -124 Doctorate Programs -7 | UG Programs -24 PG Programs -43 Doctorate Programs -7 |
| Acceptance Rate | 12.0 % | 9.0 % |
| Exam Score | GMAT-690 GRE-306 IELTS-6.5 PTE-68 SAT-1360 TOEFL-100 | GMAT-703 GRE-325 IELTS-7 TOEFL-87 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 63468 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 25795 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 39862 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 42993 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 26544 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 27396 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Graduate Employability Ranking 2023: 59 QS World University Ranking :#134 Average salaries are given below:
| Graduate Employability rank: QS-#3 University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is one of the top public universities in Los Angeles, United States. It is ranked #44 in QS World University Rankings 2023.
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| application requirements | 3 to 4 years of work experience for some graduate programs; at least 2 letters of recommendation; 2 to 3-page statement of purpose | 94% in 12th for UG and 83% in bachelors for graduate admission; Name and email of references; Statement of Purpose |
| Campuses and B-Schools | Marshall Business School | Anderson School of Management |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.8/10 Read 37 reviews | 8.0/10 Read 11 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 49 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 72 for Business by QS World University 2025 | # 20 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 31 for Business by QS World University 2025 |
| exam scores | GMAT - 630/800GRE - 317/340IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 68/90TOEFL - 90/120 | IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 87/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -117152 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) - |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Sep 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Spring 2026 Intake) Dec 15, 2025 (Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) | Apr 12, 2026 (Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | University of Southern California | University of California |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1880 | 1919 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 20:1:1 |
| Male:Female | 48% Male, 52% Female | 49% Male, 0% Female |
| Location Facts | Has two campuses located in Los Angeles: University Park having Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and many professional schools; Health Science campus having Keck School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy and three teaching hospitals. | Five mile from Pacific Ocean, Located in West-wood neighborhood of LA |
| Library | Over 22 campus libraries having – Total Volume: 5,919,656; Title Held: 5,007,597; Serials: 77,299; Physical Media: 172,964, Electronic Media: 122,269; Electronic Books: 1,682,067; Electronic Journals: 172,964; | 12 million print and electronic volumes |
| Campus Life | Cultural Communities: Asian Pacific American Student Services, LGBT Resource Center, International Services, etc; Graduate, Undergraduate and Residential Student Governance; Volunteer Center; Trojan Marching Band; Relationship & Sexual Violence Prevention Services | Over 100 Student organizations |
| Hostel | #Rooms - $12271 #Room and Board - $19931 | #Food & Housing - $27396 |
| Famous Alumni | Neil Armstrong (astronaut); George Lucas (creator of Star Wars); Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (former Prime Minister of Pakistan); John Wayne (Academy Award winner); Andrew Viterbi (co-founder of Qualcomm Inc.); Will Ferrell (actor) | 14 Nobel laureates, 15 Mac Authors |
| City Life | Los Angeles (LA) is the second most populous city of USA; Hollywood is located here; 841 Museums and art gallaries, California Beaches, Disneyland park, Los Angeles offers various concert halls, regular festivals, and bustling nightlife; Ranked 7th on Global City Index and 9th on Global Economic Power Index; Unemployment rate in December 2022 was 4%; Industries employing maximum number of people are healthcare, retail, hospitality, and manufacturing | Los Angeles (LA) is the second most populous city of USA; Hollywood is located here; 841 Museums and art galleries, California Beaches, Disneyland park, Los Angeles offers various concert halls, regular festivals, and bustling nightlife; Ranked 7th on Global City Index and 9th on Global Economic Power Index; Unemployment rate in December 2019 was 4%; Industries employing maximum number of people are healthcare, retail, hospitality, and manufacturing |
| Weather |
University of Southern California vs University of California, Los Angeles
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
UCLA is ranked globally in the top 20-25, particularly in Medicine, Life Sciences, Engineering, Law, the Arts & Humanities. USC is considered to be in the global top 50-70, with primary rankings in Film & Media, Business, Engineering, and Social sciences. While both schools have global recognition, UCLA has broader global name recognition, while USC has a global reputation in cinematic arts and industry-focused programs.
General Information
USC, established in 1880, is a premier private research university located in Los Angeles, with roughly 49,000 students. The university has entrepreneurial spirit, strong alumni connections and it draws influence and power in entertainment and technology sectors. UCLA, a public research university founded in 1919, is a leading research university in the University of California system with slightly over 47,000 students, located in Westwood, Los Angeles. UCLA offers an urban and large flagship public university experience, while USC offers a private, industry-focused academic experience.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
USC acceptance rate is at around 10% or so, and is a highly selective university, depending on the program, USC is extremely selective in Film, Business, and Engineering. UCLA acceptance rate is about 9%, is considered slightly more competitive overall than USC, and programs in the STEM, Arts, and Economics are extremely competitive. Both UCLA and USC have extensive global applications. UCLA positions itself with top-tier academic research as primary, and USC with career pathways and creative disciplines.
Research Impact & Facilities
Both universities are listed among R1 research institutions. UCLA may dominate research in medicine, neuroscience, engineering, environmental sciences, and public policy. This is underlined by its ranking for hospital and medical school. Health sciences, creative technologies, engineering, and innovation over multiple fields portray major areas of research at USC with strong ties to industry. Historically, UCLA places academic and scientific breakthroughs at the forefront, whereas USC promotes applied research with real-world impact in creative and professional areas.
Cost & Financial Aid
University tuition for international students is approximately $66,000 per year, while for a non-resident student at UCLA, this tuition would be approximately $47,000. Cost of living in Los Angeles applies publicly for both universities, but nearly no difference comes about, due to the closeness of the housed location. USC affords merit-based scholarships on a big scale; some are even for international students, while UCLA grants few scholarships to non-resident students. If you reside in the state, public funding makes a world of difference.
Career Destinations & Graduates' Success
Graduates of USC excel in entertainment, media, business, tech, and healthcare due to strong industry networks in Los Angeles and a deep pool of influential alumni. Meanwhile, UCLA graduates flourish in law, healthcare, academia, business, tech, and the arts as they have the university's international reputation and a very large alumni population working in their favor. USC strikes as the university for those considering industries and creative trades, whereas UCLA holds greater prestige in research, medicine, and a balanced academic background.
