"Fight On, For Real" -- The show is hosted by AMV interviews a current USC student who gives prospective students and families an honest, insider view — warmth and Trojan pride intact, but with eyes wide open. Here's the data she'd arm every listener with:Admissions (Class of 2029 / 2025–26) USC received 83,488 applications, admitted 9,345, and enrolled 3,759 new students, with a middle 50% unweighted GPA of 3.79–4.00 and over 21% first-generation college students. University of Southern California The most selective cycle in the school's history registered a 9.81% acceptance rate. TKGCost — The Frank Number Students attending in 2025–26 face an estimated total cost of attendance of $99,139, with tuition alone at $73,260 — up roughly 5% and more than 25% since 2019. CBS News 69% of enrolled students receive grants or scholarships, averaging $48,649 per student. CollegeTuitionCompareScholarships USC's flagship awards range from the full-tuition Trustee Scholarship to the half-tuition Presidential Scholarship, reserved for a small number of top applicants who apply by the December 1 deadline. College Ready Parent Importantly, new merit scholarships beginning Fall 2025 were scaled back to "a more modest level" as part of addressing the university's financial challenges, though current recipients are unaffected. Morning, TrojanEarnings After Graduation Viterbi School of Engineering graduates from the Class of 2025 averaged a starting salary of $107,970 — 37% higher than the national average for engineering and computer science. USC Viterbi Ten years after enrolling, the average income is $85,500 — about 149% higher than the national median. CollegeSimplyDiversity About 60% of students are minorities or people of color, and roughly 20% are low-income Pell Grant recipients. CollegeSimply USC draws students from 48 states, with about 15% coming from outside the country. College FactualCampus The 226-acre campus hosts 20,630 undergraduates with an 8:1 student-faculty ratio, a 74% four-year graduation rate, and tuition and fees of $75,162 for 2025–26.
