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      • Learn About Our Student & Alumni Groups
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      • Yellow Ribbon & Scholarships Overview
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      • Master of Business for Veterans
      • With Your Shield: A McMorrow Veterans Initiative
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Home Students Introduction & General Information FAQs

FAQs

I am (or someone I know is) an active duty service member/veteran who is interested in attending USC as a undergraduate student. What can I do to get started?

We'd love to help you get started on your journey towards joining us at USC. Please take a look at some of the following links that outline information for general undergraduate admissions and information specifically geared towards incoming active duty service members and military veterans.

Undergraduate Student Admissions
Military Undergraduate Student Information
USC Yellow Ribbon & Military Scholarships Overview
Yellow Ribbon Scholarship FAQs

If you have any lingering questions after reading through the linked pages please feel free to email us at military@usc.edu and we'd be glad to answer any remaining questions you have!

I am (or someone I know is) an active duty service member/veteran who is interested in attending USC as a graduate student. What can I do to get started?

We'd love to help you get started on your journey towards joining us at USC. Please take a look at some of the following links that outline information for general graduate admissions and information specifically geared towards incoming active duty service members and military veterans.

Graduate Student Admissions
Military Graduate Student Information
USC Yellow Ribbon & Military Scholarships Overview
Yellow Ribbon Scholarship FAQs

If you have any lingering questions after reading through the linked pages please feel free to email us at military@usc.edu and we'd be glad to answer any remaining questions you have!

How do I activate my benefits as a veteran, active duty service member, or beneficiary?

In order to activate your benefits please contact USC's Veterans Certification Office at vets@usc.edu. Emailing them directly will create a ticket where they will be able to assist you in activating any benefits you may be entitled to.

Can I use my CalVet Fee Waiver at USC?

USC is a private university and as such the CalVet fee waiver cannot be used at our university. The CalVet fee waiver can only be used at California public universities or community colleges. We do have other financial aid available (including scholarships and federal loans) on both the undergraduate and graduate levels. We are also a Yellow-Ribbon school, meaning that if you are using a post-9/11 GI Bill, and the program you're applying to is part of a school that supports Yellow Ribbon, you are eligible for that as well.

Do you offer credit for any of my time or courses in the military?

Academic credit will be awarded for transferable coursework taken at one of the regionally accredited U.S. Military academies upon receipt of official transcripts. The university will also evaluate course work/experience completed through the armed services and may award credit for such courses if they meet the following criteria:

  • Students must provide official Joint Services (JST) transcripts to Transfer Credit Services.
  • Coursework must be evaluated by ACE as upper-division credit.

USC will not grant credit for the following:

  • DD-214 or DD-295.
  • Coursework not offered in an area of study taught at USC.
  • Coursework/experience not evaluated by ACE.
  • Coursework from the Community College of the Air Force.
  • DSST, CLEP and DLPT exam scores.
  • Other Learning Experiences (OLEs).
I never took the SAT or the ACT exams. Can I apply as a transfer student to USC?

Any student who has completed at least 30 units of college-level coursework by the time they enter USC does not need to take the SAT or ACT.

I filled out my FAFSA. Am I done with my Financial Aid Application?

Not yet. You also need to fill out the CSS Profile for most private schools you have applied to - that includes USC! Fill out both the FAFSA and the CSS Profile by February 11 to have priority consideration for financial aid at USC.

If I use my GI Bill, I don't have to apply for Financial Aid, right?

You should always apply for Financial Aid at any school you are applying to. Sometimes there are grants (free money) available to those who qualify. Sometimes there are subsidized federal loans available. Financial Aid should not just replace your VA Education Benefits. Please read more on what Financial Aid is and how you can utilize it.

Can you assist me in coordinating with the USCVA / ROTC?

We would love to help connect you with the correct people on campus. Please email us at military@usc.edu and we'll do our best to put you in touch with the right people!

Is the Yellow Ribbon Program offered by the school I am applying for / have been accepted to?

All USC undergraduate students will receive yellow ribbon benefits if they meet the eligibility requirements. Schools differ on the amount they offer to graduate students who qualify for 100% G.I. Bill benefits. The policy of each school can be found here. If your graduate school is not included on this list, please reach out to contacts within your school and verify they are not participating in the yellow ribbon program.

Additionally, USC offers multiple scholarships to assist veteran students in achieving their educational goals. A list of these scholarships can be found here.

I am a potential student interested in joining a branch of ROTC on campus, how can I get started?

We're thrilled that you're interested in joining an ROTC unit here on campus. We recommend that you reach out to each individual unit for information about what they offer as well as how to join their program. Information on how to contact each branch can be found at the websites linked below.

Air / Space Force ROTC
Army ROTC
Navy / Marine Corps ROTC

If you have any additional questions please don't hesitate to ask via email at military@usc.edu

Does USC offer online programs that I can attend from anywhere?

USC offers a broad range of programs both online and in person. Please follow this link to learn more about our online programs.

I am a military-affiliated student and I am working with another office at USC. They are being unresponsive, can you help me?

We would love to help you get in contact with whatever office you require assistance from. Please email us the issues you are facing at military@usc.edu and we will do our best to help you out!

I would like to make a donation to a USC military-affiliated program. How would I go about doing that?

We're glad to hear you're interested in providing USC veteran students with scholarship funding! You can see a list of our scholarship funds for both student veterans and ROTC students on our website.

If you'd like to make a donation directly to a student organization, please reach out to us via mail at military@usc.edu and we'd be glad to help get you in contact with the correct people.

USC Military & Veterans Initiatives

3518 Trousdale Parkway, VKC 371
Los Angeles, CA 90089

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military@usc.edu

Visit the USC Veterans Resource Center

Tutor Campus Center (TCC)
3607 Trousdale Parkway, Suite 330
Los Angeles, CA 90089

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