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University of Southern California

Ranked
Los Angeles, United States
72nd in World University Rankings 2025
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About the University of Southern California

Basic information and contact details for the University of Southern California

institution

The University of Southern California opened for business in Los Angeles in 1880, when the city still lacked even basic amenities such as paving stones and electric light, and long before it became the glitzy capital of the movie industry. Although spearheaded by a judge called Robert Maclay Widney and a number of like-minded citizens, it took almost 10 years for their plans for a university in the region to come to fruition. It was eventually made possible by the donation of land from a diverse group of philanthropists: a Protestant horticulturist; an Irish pharmacist (and former governor of California); and a German-Jewish banker.

Although it initially welcomed only 53 students, USC has since grown into an internationally renowned research university and the largest private-sector employer in its city. Close to 4,000 faculty are now split between 21 separate schools and units. While the main campus can be found in the centre of Los Angeles, the three teaching hospitals and Schools of Medicine and Pharmacy are grouped together on a separate Health Sciences campus to the north east. Specialisms include cancer, stem cell, regenerative and sports medicine. Equally significant is the city children’s hospital staffed by USC’s Keck School of Medicine.

Physicist Murray Gell-Mann, who postulated the existence of quarks and gave them that name, is one of five Nobel laureates. Home to a School of Cinema Arts since 2011, the university numbers among its alumni many who have gone on to achieve great fame in show business such as Hollywood stars John Wayne and Clint Eastwood and film-maker George Lucas. Equally notable is astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon.

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Rankings

Select the type of rankings below to see stats

World University Rankings 2025
20406080100
Overall 71
Teaching 58.3
Research Environment 60.4
Research Quality 92.8
Industry 75
International Outlook 73.2
66687072201620172018201920202021202220232024202565.567.266.86768.170.469.368.370.871

Breakdown via year: Overall

Ranking positions 2016 to 2025
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Key Student Statistics

A breakdown of student statistics at the University of Southern California

gender ratio
Student gender ratio
54 F : 46 M (1)
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International student percentage
27% (1)
student per staff
Students per staff
14.2 (1)
student
Student total
44180 (1)

Based on data collected for the (1) World University Rankings 2025

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Subjects Taught at the University of Southern California

See below for a range of subjects taught at the University of Southern California

Physical Sciences126–150th

  • Chemistry
  • Geology, Environmental, Earth and Marine Sciences
  • Physics and Astronomy
  • Mathematics and Statistics

Computer Science64th

  • Computer Science

Social Sciences48th

  • Sociology
  • Politics and International Studies
  • Geography
  • Communication and Media Studies

Life Sciences88th

  • Agriculture and Forestry
  • Sport Science
  • Biological Sciences

Clinical and Health=54th

  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Other Health

Law77th

  • Law

Business and Economics=49th

  • Economics and Econometrics
  • Business and Management
  • Accounting and Finance

Arts and Humanities87th

  • Languages, Literature and Linguistics
  • History, Philosophy and Theology
  • Archaeology
  • Art, Performing Art and Design
  • Architecture

Education64th

  • Education

Engineering101–125th

  • General Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Psychology78th

  • Psychology