USC
USC SAT and ACT Requirements
USC is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. The middle 50% of enrolled first-year students scored 1450 to 1550 on the SAT and 32 to 35 on the ACT.
2026-27 policy
Test-Optional
SAT middle 50%
1450–1550
ACT middle 50%
32–35
Acceptance rate
9.8%
USC SAT scores by section
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 710 | 760 |
| Math | 740 | 790 |
| Total | 1450 | 1550 |
| ACT Composite | 32 | 35 |
The total is the sum of the section percentiles, the standard way to estimate a middle 50% for the combined score.
Where your score puts you
- Below 1450: lower than three quarters of enrolled students. A retake has the most upside here, and at a test-optional school you can also leave the score off.
- 1450 to 1550: in line with the class. The rest of your application decides it.
- Above 1550: higher than three quarters of enrolled students. Testing is no longer what holds the application back.
Keep these numbers
Frequently asked questions
Does USC require the SAT or ACT?
USC is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. USC is test-optional; applicants choose whether SAT/ACT scores are considered and are not penalized for omitting them. If scores are submitted, they must come as official reports directly from the testing agency (self-reported scores are not accepted).
What SAT score do you need for USC?
The published range is not a cutoff. Among enrolled first-year students, a quarter scored below 1450, half scored between 1450 and 1550, and a quarter scored above 1550. A score at or above 1550 puts you ahead of most of the class on testing; a score below 1450 works against you.
What ACT score do you need for USC?
The middle 50% of enrolled students scored 32 to 35 on the ACT. On the official conversion table that is an SAT 1430 to 1540.
Score ranges: College Scorecard API — U.S. Department of Education (api.data.gov) and Editorial overrides layer (overrides.json) — Common Data Set & institutional sources. They describe students who enrolled, not everyone admitted. Test policy: USC admissions, verified for 2026-27.
