University of Southern California (USC) Rankings 2025

• Given the current job market, 60-70% may secure a job within 6 months. I know about 10% that have struggled to get a job even after a year.
• $70,000 to $140,000 base salary can be expected for new grad roles.
• Usually through internships, Linkedin, Glassdoor, Indeed and websites of popular companies like Amazon, Google, etc.
• Almost all the students placed have formerly interned in that company to have it converted to full-time. Some prominent Roles and Companies of my batchmates - Data Scientist at Apple, Data Scientist at Discover, ML Engineer at Meta, Data Scientist at Amazon, AI Engineer at Nvidia
• Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Deloitte, and EY are the major companies that hire.

• I searched using Whatsapp groups, Telegram groups and through seniors for initial accommodation. Then looked through websites like Apartments.com and Zillow.com
• $850 for a shared room in a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom unit. Apartment had a swimming pool and a coin-operated laundry-dryer machine.
• I didn't have as many challenges, as I was able to contact the right friends to get my housing sorted out.
• Make sure to ask about roach issues. Try to share apartments with known people or at least have phone calls with them before moving in with them. Leases are usually for one-year terms, so make sure you find good roommates. Consider going for a private room if your budget allows. If sharing, go with known people or try to see compatibility with strangers.
• Less than 0.5 miles from campus. Most Indian students live off campus in a 1-mile radius.

• The pay range as well as the employment rates completely depend on the kind of job role you're applying to. For an SDE the market has been a little on the dull side this year, however much better than the previous year.
• While I don't have the numbers with me, a good chunk of students were able to land an internship this time with an average pay of 30USD per hour which goes upto 55 USD for big techs. The pay range is similar for Full time opportunities.

• I chose an off-campus housing. There were several whatsapp groups that are shared with us  well before time as soon as we get our offer letters. Through those groups I connected with some people and got a flat together.
• I was lucky enough to connect with someone from the Spring intake, so i was able to join them as soon as I landed in the states. So the house was very well set-up for me beforehand because they were already living in it.
• The rent is 1000USD for a private room. My house is a 15 min walk from campus and 5 min walk from the grocery store as well as the indian store. You don't have to worry about housing, you will be provided with resources to get in touch with the right people for everything from a house to even the furniture!

• Graduates of the University of Southern California’s Master’s in Computer Engineering program benefit from strong employment outcomes, with 95% job placement rates.

  $100,000–$150,000 is the typical starting salary for USC computer engineering graduates.

  Since the job market is down. Hard to find job. 

• Recent graduates report placements at leading companies in diverse roles:
  Apple:  Digital Design Engineer
  NVIDIA:        GPU Architecture Engineer
  Intel: Design Verification Engineer, CPU engineer

• Found my accommodation via WhatsApp groups.
• Monthly rents vary from 700-1600 based on no. of sharing in a room
• Challenge was to find a good roommates, since we are moving to new country
• Search for accommodation  with friends on university WhatsApp groups
• Accommodation is 10 min walk from campus. 0.5 miles. Most of the students stay in the same area as I'm

• The market is pretty bad, full time job roles are really difficult to obtain, you have to do a lot of networking and create a lot of connection in able to get a good job and despite the 4 gpa you cannot guarantee that you are going to get an internship secured also, so you cannot just bet on the job.
• It is better if you have experience in the field from your home country before having come here because the companies here look for experienced individuals.

• Off campus is the best type of accommodation you can go for, cause not only is it cheaper than on campus but you also get to meet a lot of students in your vicinity and you can connect based on the location you are at.
• Moreover if you are on campus you are automatically enrolled within the food program which only mainly consists of non-vegetarian food so if you want flexibility it would be better if you chose off-campus housing. Average rent is $650-$800. 

The post-study placement and research opportunities for the MS in Computer Science program at USC are excellent. The university boasts strong industry connections, attracting top tech companies for recruitment. Companies such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, and Apple regularly visit the campus, offering roles in software development, data science, AI, cybersecurity, and more. The placement process is well-organized, with career fairs, on-campus interviews, and networking events facilitating student-employer interactions. Career services provide extensive support, including resume workshops, interview preparation, and job search strategies.

I chose the University of Southern California (USC) for my MS in Computer Science due to its outstanding reputation and the comprehensive, cutting-edge curriculum it offers. USC is renowned for its strong emphasis on research and innovation, providing access to world-class faculty and state-of-the-art facilities. The factors that drove me to accept the offer include the university's robust industry connections and the vibrant tech community in Los Angeles, which offers excellent internship and job opportunities. Additionally, USC's diverse and inclusive environment, along with its extensive alumni network, ensures a supportive and enriching experience. My overall experience at USC has been exceptional. The collaborative atmosphere, coupled with ample resources and extracurricular opportunities, has significantly enhanced my academic and personal growth. Choosing USC for my MS in Computer Science has proven to be a pivotal decision, aligning perfectly with my career aspirations and providing a solid foundation for my future endeavors.

It is not really good. It is just below average. They show us different internship opportunities they have and urge us to apply! Not sure about the specifics of the placement process or number of students placed as that information isn't just publicly shared like that but I know a few friends that secured well-paying jobs at these companies.

I liked the program of ms in computer science and I thought that it would be a better career option that I had decided to step into. Our university also helps in making connections which is a skill that I needed to develop. Overall my college experience was great. Faculty members are helpful and always ready to support us. I'm quite disappointed about the placement but overall a great learning experience.

They have a program called First Jobs, where they help you find a job. I have been unsuccessful so far but have seen many students successfully landing jobs.

I enjoyed my time at USC. I felt it was academically enriching and that I learned a lot, as well as made many long term friends. The administration very often made it apparent that they cared more about money and profit than the well-being of their students, however. This is not new for USC, which has been involved with many, many scandals. Scholarship, a top film school in the world, location, extremely low acceptance rate, the greater university it was a part of, and its school spirit and prestige.

Because Intelligence and Cyber Operations is a very unique major, there are definitely a lot of connections that students in this program have over others. This club called Cyborg hosts weekly events with big companies such as Crowdstrike, Microsoft, FBI, etc. They show us different internship opportunities they have and urge us to apply! Not sure about the specifics of the placement process or number of students placed as that information isn't just publicly shared like that but I know a few friends that secured well-paying jobs (around 70k/year) at these companies.

I love the unique program of Intelligence and Cyber Operations that USC offers and I thought that it would be a better career path that I had originally decided to step into. Instead of majoring in data science, I would just minor in it to apply it to a different field I was interested in -- cybersecurity. Another reason I took this offer is that USC is close to home and was a cheaper option than the other option I was deciding on. I loved that USC is a social school, built on making connections which is a skill that I needed to develop, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall my college experience at USC has been phenomenal and I definitely wouldn't change a thing. It truly is a great place and I want to make sure I can make use of it for the next three years. I know this is cliche but it is the people that make USC what USC truly is. I would love to continue meeting new people and enjoying my time at USC!

Multiple career fairs take place during the year. Some of the companies that recently visited were HP, AMD, NVIDIA, etc. lots of labs and professors giving opportunities to student to work over the summer as well.

For admission I required SOP, LOR’s, CV. I mostly focused on demonstrating my past experiences and how did it align with my future program aspirations. One of the top colleges for MEM, Engineering department ranked amongst one of the top in the nation, program structure and flexibility for ex. I can take courses from Business School. It’s great overall. Good campus life with reasonable chances of getting part time job, good infrastructure facilities for recreational activities and enough libraries to make sure we study right before the exams

There are regular career fairs in the campus and all the main companies regarding analytics,management, defense have come during the last 3 months of me being here. Average package depends on the semester and market situation. You can expect anywhere from 100k-180k placement depending on the course and position.

"I think the key in general is to ask the professors under whom you have worked to write a recommendation letter so that they can relate and write exactly what you did for LORs. For SOPs I think dictating your like and showcasing the skills required and core values of the universities to your profile makes a lot of difference. I had made it to the final round of Dartmouth just based on making my profile align with the uni values. CV: should be professional one with college and professional work properly filled. " "USC, the main reason was the tag of MEMPC for my program and it's reputation, and the second reason was the flexibility of the course to go through marshall school of business to pick and choose my course. Other factors included the location and weather as well. " I like the overall experience of the university. There's so much to learn, live and experience. It's thrill for sure can be stressful but at the same exciting to learn how to make your own path.