Yale University vs University of Southern California (USC)
Yale University and the University of Southern California (USC) stand as two prominent institutions of higher learning, each offering a distinct educational experience. Yale, an Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, boasts a long history of academic excellence and a highly selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of just 6.3%. USC, a private research university in Los Angeles, California, is known for its strong programs in film, music, and engineering, and attracts a diverse student body from across the globe, with an acceptance rate of 16%. While both universities offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, Yale is known for its strengths in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences, while USC excels in fields such as business, engineering, and the arts. Explore the comparison table below to delve deeper into the differences between these two prestigious universities and find the best fit for your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() University of Southern California |
![]() Yale University |
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Overview |
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Location | Los Angeles, California | New Haven, Connecticut |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 96.0% | 98.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 12.5% | 5.3% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$85
Graduate:
$90
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Undergraduate:
$80
Graduate:
$105
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SAT range | 1410 - 1540 | 1480 - 1580 |
ACT range | 32 - 35 | 33 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 31.0% | 54.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 19.0% | 35.0% |
Total number of applicants | 71,031 | 47,240 |
Total number of admissions given out | 8,884 | 2,509 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 3,668 | 1,786 |
Yield rate | 41.3% | 71.2% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $81,659 | $82,170 |
Average net price | $26,021 | $20,605 |
Tuition | $60,446 | $59,950 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$10,098
Meal plan:
$6,634
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Room/dormitory:
$10,100
Meal plan:
$7,700
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
72.0%
Average amount $40,690 |
58.0%
Average amount $58,715 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
22.0%
Average amount $4,215 |
5.0%
Average amount $4,879 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $29,056 |
0.0%
Average amount $5,094 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
20,790
Men 48.5% Women 51.5% |
6,536
Men 48.6% Women 51.4% |
Graduate students |
28,528
Men 44.3% Women 55.7% |
8,031
Men 46.3% Women 53.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 49.9% | 93.6% |
International students | 23.8% | 21.6% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 8,700 | 5,576 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Texas New York Illinois Florida | California New York Connecticut Texas New Jersey |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 6:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 92.0% | 96.9% |
Dropout rate | 7.2% | 2.5% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Marketing (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Legal Professions and Studies, Other (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Real Estate Development (Master's Degrees)
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Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Medicine (Doctoral Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Master's Degrees)
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