USC Merit Scholarships (Academic Year 2023-2024)

Administered through the Office of Admission, USC Merit Scholarships require students to apply for admission to the university by either November 1 or December 1, depending on their intended major. Most majors require students to apply Early Action and submit a complete application by November 1.

Early Action is not available for students applying to the Iovine and Young Academy or to majors in Architecture, Art and Design, Cinematic Arts, Dance, Dramatic Arts or Music. Applicants to these majors should apply by December 1 to be considered for both admission and scholarships.

Ranging in value from a few thousand dollars up to full tuition, merit scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, leadership, service and talent. These include the full-tuition Trustee Scholarship, the half-tuition Presidential Scholarship and the one-quarter tuition Deans Scholarship.

Click to learn more about USC Merit Scholarships.

Outside of the USC Merit Scholarships, there are scholarships offered individually by each school.

School Specific Scholarships & Grants

USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Please refer to the list of USC Merit Scholarships. There are no additional scholarships available for incoming students.

Click to see continuing students scholarships.

USC Leventhal School of Accounting

Undergraduate
Each year, the Leventhal School of Accounting makes a significant number of both merit and need-based financial awards. All of these awards are made to recognize academic excellence and/or outstanding service; some require demonstration of need. Because all the awards are funded by outside donors, the stipulation of the donor as to eligibility must be observed. Please be aware that any financial awards you receive will be included as part of your university financial aid package. The awards will be recognized at the Leventhal School Annual Dinner.

Specific criteria for application eligibility are as follows:

  • Undergraduate or prospective graduate class standing
  • Declared accounting major
  • Currently enrolled in 12 units or more at USC
  • Cumulative GPA 3.0 or higher
  • Attending USC for the full academic year of scholarship

Graduate
Through the support of employers, alumni and other contributors, the Leventhal School of Accounting is able to provide a number of scholarships to students, both domestic and international, in the MAcc, MAcc D+A and MBT full-time programs. Scholarships vary in amount and are disbursed during the Fall and Spring semesters.

All applicants will be considered for scholarship and are required to submit an additional essay on the application.  Those who receive a Leventhal scholarship will be notified of the amount in the admissions letter.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early for priority scholarship consideration.

We do not offer scholarships for students in our MBT-Working Professionals program.

USC School of Architecture

Undergraduate
The School of Architecture awards annual merit scholarships to continuing architecture students. Incoming students should contact the University’s Office of Admission and Financial Aid for opportunities

Read the list of endowed scholarships.

The School of Architecture awards substantial merit scholarships for both domestic and international graduate students. These typically range from 10 to 75 percent of tuition depending on the qualifications of the applicant. All applicants to our programs are automatically evaluated for scholarship consideration based on the application materials submitted. There are no additional forms or applications to submit.

Additional Financial Assistance Opportunities
These additional links are provided as outside resources. There are different eligibility requirements, deadlines, and contact information that you should take the time to research

USC Roski School of Art & Design

The USC Roski School of Art and Design annually awards departmental scholarships to its undergraduate students. Talent awards for incoming freshmen are based on the quality of application portfolios. All incoming students are automatically considered for these awards; a separate scholarship application is not necessary.

Awards are made for four years. Some awards for continuing art majors are targeted to advanced students, or students working in a specific medium; other awards have no such restrictions.

USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation

Please refer to the list of USC Merit Scholarships. There are no additional scholarships available for incoming students.

USC Marshall School of Business

Undergraduate
Please refer to the list of USC Merit Scholarships. There are no additional scholarships available for incoming students.

Graduate
Thanks to the generosity of alumni, corporate partners and donors, several merit-based scholarships are awarded to USC Marshall students. All applicants are considered for scholarship opportunities; there is no separate application process for scholarships offered to incoming USC Marshall students.

The Admissions Committee bases scholarship award decisions on a range of criteria, including scholastic merit, leadership, work experience and other characteristics that add value to the academic and social atmosphere of USC Marshall. Two-year awards range from partial to full-tuition remission.

Second-year Dean’s Scholarships are awarded to outstanding students who did not receive a scholarship upon admission to the program. Awards are based on first-year accomplishments, including superior academic performance, leadership initiatives and contributions to the USC and USC Marshall community.

Schoen Family Scholarship Program for Veterans

Who’s Eligible- Full-time students who have received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces and served a minimum of three years of continuous, full-time, active duty from 2003 to the present. Learn more about the Schoen Family.

For continuing students scholarships, please click here.

USC School of Cinematic Arts

The Office of Student Affairs will notify all students who submit a completed application for admission information about the SCA scholarship application process. Please note that in order to be considered for SCA scholarships, domestic students are required to apply for Financial Aid at USC. Therefore, please make sure to complete your application for financial aid on time.

There are over 50 scholarships and endowed scholarships available for incoming undergraduate students, continuing students, and graduate students. You can find the list of all these scholarships here.

If you have any questions about this scholarship opportunity please contact the SCA Office of Student Services at studentservices@cinema.usc.edu

USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism

For all Annenberg scholarships for current students, please click here.

Graduate
All graduate applications completed by the application deadline are considered by our faculty admission committee for available scholarships and awards. If you are selected for an Annenberg departmental scholarship or award, you will be notified formally by USC Annenberg Admissions.

Additional Financial Assistance Opportunities

For all non-USC scholarships, please click here.

This additional link is provided as an outside resource. There are different eligibility requirements, deadlines, and contact information that you should take the time to research.

USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance

USC Kaufman Scholarships
USC Kaufman awards dance scholarships to students with outstanding talent in dance. Scholarship amounts are determined on an individual basis. While merit-based, dance scholarships work in conjunction with a student’s financial aid package to maximize total grant and scholarship money.

Additional Financial Assistance Opportunities

We encourage you to explore outside scholarship opportunities. Browse free online search engines, talk to your high school’s scholarship coordinator or reach out to foundations that support dance through student scholarships. Please note that outside scholarships may change the composition of your financial aid package.

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC

Ostrow has a scholarship database where you can apply for more than $2 million in awards. Fill out an application at the USC Scholarship Universe link then select the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry application.

If you have questions contact the Ostrow Office of Financial Aid at uscsdfa@usc.edu or 213-740-2861.

USC School of Dramatic Arts

Thanks to the generosity of friends and alumni, the School of Dramatic Arts is able to provide a number of scholarships to some of our exceptional undergraduate students.

These scholarships are reserved for students who have completed a minimum of one year as a dramatic art major at USC and are granted based on a combination of merit and talent as determined by the Dean and a faculty selection committee in the School of Dramatic Arts.

If you have questions contact the Office of Admissions & Student Services at sdaugrad@usc.edu or 213-740-2861.

USC Rossier School of Education

At USC Rossier, we are committed to helping students identify resources to fund their education. Both general and program-specific scholarships are available. While students may be automatically considered for some USC scholarships upon application, some scholarships require their own separate application. Review the list here.

Please consult your program admissions director about additional resources for which you may qualify.

USC Viterbi School of Engineering

Please refer to the list of USC Merit Scholarships. There are no additional scholarships available for incoming students.

Continuing students can find scholarship opportunities here.

USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology

Please refer to the list of USC Merit Scholarships. There are no additional scholarships available for incoming students.

Continuing students can find scholarship opportunities here.

USC Gould School of Law

Find a list of scholarship opportunities for the different degrees here.

Keck School of Medicine at USC

Amongst the list of scholarships, here are military-connected ones available:

Hollywood Canteen Endowed Scholarship

To be limited to to honorably discharged veterans or their direct family members of the US armed Services who need financial assistance.

  • Open To: MSII-MSIV students
  • Award Amount: Varies

Robert Wright Medical Scholarship Fund

For medical students that are members or veterans of the Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.

  • Open To: MSI students
  • Award Amount: Varies

Wright Mexican-American Scholarship Fund

For students who are Americans of Mexican descent, natives of California and will practice/enter residency in the state of California or in the Armed Forces.

  • Open To: MSIV students
  • Award Amount: Varies

Find more information on financial aid and scholarships here.

USC Thorton School of Music

The USC Thornton School of Music awards scholarships to students with outstanding demonstrated talent in the student’s chosen field of study.

Undergraduate
Undergraduates pursuing degrees in Music Industry, Popular Music Performance, Music Production, and Choral Music are not eligible for Thornton scholarship awards. Applicants to all other undergraduate programs, both domestic and international, are considered for scholarships based on the following: [1] a recommendation from the faculty of the department of a student’s major and [2] availability of funding. Approximately one-third of admitted undergraduates in music is offered a scholarship ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 per year. In addition, a select number of applicants will be offered USC academic awards (Trustee, Presidential, and Dean’s Scholarships) ranging from one-quarter to full tuition (see below). Admitted undergraduates are generally notified by April 1 regarding their USC financial aid packages, which will include any merit-based awards being offered by USC or the Thornton School.

Graduate
Graduate students pursuing degrees in Arts Leadership and Music Industry are not eligible for Thornton scholarship awards. Graduate students pursuing degrees in Community Music, Contemporary Teaching Practice, Music Teaching and Learning, and Screen Scoring are considered for a limited number of scholarships. All other graduate students are eligible for a range of merit-based funding including scholarships, teaching assistantships, and USC fellowships. Students admitted to scholarship-eligible programs are only notified if they are to receive an award and, in general, will receive such notification via email by April 1.

It must be noted, however, that a faculty recommendation for Thornton School of Music merit aid does not guarantee that a student will be awarded a scholarship. In addition, for undergraduates receiving need-based aid, the combination of all merit, departmental or outside agency scholarships or loans may not exceed the USC-calculated financial need.

USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

The USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy has financial support opportunities for all programs, as well as information on other sources of support which exist outside the Division of which we are aware.  Please see our Division’s Financial Resource Brochure for more information.

USC School of Pharmacy

Please refer to the list of USC Merit Scholarships. There are no additional scholarships available for incoming students.

Continuing students can find scholarship opportunities here.

Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy

Find more information on financial aid and scholarships here.

USC Bovard College

Please refer to the list of USC Merit Scholarships. There are no additional scholarships available for incoming students.

USC Sol Price School of Public Policy

The Price School of Public Policy awards a number of scholarships to entering and continuing graduate and undergraduate students. Some are partial to full tuition scholarships while others support students in research, internships, and other professional development opportunities. Listed below are awards funded by the Price School, the criteria, the application process, and deadlines. Applications will be available in January 2019 for awards having a March 1 deadline.

In some cases, receipt of these awards may affect financial aid packages students have already received from USC. When that happens, we will work with you and the USC Financial Aid Office so that these awards replace loan money rather than gift aid. Yet, depending on a particular student’s package, these awards may replace gift aid you are receiving from other sources at USC. Please contact the Price School Student Aid Coordinator for assistance at wilsonca@price.usc.edu.

Please find the list of scholarships here.

USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work offers multiple scholarships based on financial need, scholastic achievement, and leadership qualities.

Scholarships do not have to be repaid and are awarded in varying amounts to students who meet special qualifications outlined by a selection committee or donor. Unless otherwise indicated, all scholarships and merit awards can only be used towards tuition expenses.

New students will be awarded scholarships based on academic merit and financial need as detailed in their application for admission. No additional application is required for merit scholarship consideration.

Applicants will be offered the opportunity to apply for the Dean’s Leadership Scholarship and Philanthropic and Endowed Scholarships. Electronic applications for these scholarships will be sent to students via email after submitting their application for admission. This will enable you to be considered for and apply to various scholarships offered through the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work.

Current students will be offered the opportunity to apply for the next academic year’s scholarships each summer, prior to the start of the fall term. The Scholarship Programs Office will email new scholarship applications to all current students.

You can find a list of all scholarships here.

Amongst the list of endowed scholarships, here are military-connected ones available:

Gary Sinise Endowed Scholarship - *1st year students, only

Students’ primary focus will be a commitment to helping their fellow veterans by working with active duty service members, veterans and their families.

  • Annual amount: Ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 per academic year.
  • Eligibility: This scholarship is awarded each academic year to MSW students who have served in the military, who have been wounded or disabled in military service, are the children or family members of a fallen service member or come from an active military family.
  • Application Process: Prospective students can apply using the email that will be sent after submitting their application for admission. Continuing students are not eligible to apply.

Ahmanson Scholarship

Awards supporting veterans to supplement costs not covered by entitlement benefits.

  • Annual amount: $1,000 - $5,000
  • Eligibility:
  • full-time MSW and MSN students (on ground or VAC) during the 2018-2019 Academic Year
  • Financial Need
  • Military Status (Veteran/Active Duty/Reserve),
  • Post 9/11 GI-Bill Eligible (those who have exhausted GI-Bill are still eligible)
  • NOT supported by Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation
  • GPA of 3.5 or above
  • Application Process: Students can apply using the email link that will be sent in the Fall.

Pamela & Mark Mischel Family Endowed Scholarship Fund

  • Annual amount: Varies
  • Eligibility: Restricted to students pursuing a military Social Work specialization in the Masters of USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work program, with a preference for a veteran or a spouse of a veteran.
  • Application Process: Prospective students can apply using the email that will be sent after submitting their application. Continuing students can apply using the email that will be sent prior to the start of the new fall term.