USC Merit Scholarships 2027 | Up to Full Tuition

The USC Merit Scholarships 2027 are open to first-year applicants, including international students. The University of Southern California awards competitive admission scholarships ranging from several thousand dollars to full tuition. For most majors, applicants must submit a complete Early Action or Early Decision application by 1 November 2026 to receive merit-scholarship consideration.

Applicants to Dance, Dramatic Arts and Music follow a different route: they must apply by the 1 December 2026 Regular Decision deadline. USC does not publish a cutoff time or time zone for either deadline, so applicants should submit early.

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What do USC merit scholarships cover?

USC’s Office of Admission awards merit scholarships valued from a few thousand dollars up to full tuition. The university says the awards recognize academic excellence, leadership, service and talent. More than 1,000 admitted students in the previous entering class received scholarships worth at least US$10,000 per year.

USC’s scholarship guide identifies major admission awards whose values are linked to tuition, including the full-tuition Trustee award and partial-tuition awards. Final scholarship names, values and conditions are confirmed in each recipient’s official award notice.

Important: USC explicitly states that no merit scholarship covers the university’s full cost of attendance. Housing, meals, health insurance, books, travel and personal expenses may remain the student’s responsibility. International applicants are not eligible for USC need-based financial aid and must provide financial documents showing how they will fund remaining costs.

Who is eligible?

All international first-year applicants who apply by the appropriate merit deadline are eligible for consideration. USC lists no minimum GPA or test-score threshold specifically for these admission scholarships. Selection is holistic and highly competitive.

Strong candidates normally demonstrate:

• Excellent academic performance in a rigorous secondary-school curriculum
• Meaningful leadership, service or community engagement
• Distinctive talent, initiative or intellectual curiosity
• Clear, thoughtful application essays and USC responses
• Potential to contribute to the USC community

Meeting the deadline only provides consideration; it does not guarantee a scholarship or admission.

Do I need a separate scholarship application?

No separate form is required for the merit scholarships administered by USC Undergraduate Admission. Applicants must submit the admission application by the deadline that applies to their chosen major. Other departmental or external USC scholarships may have separate forms, eligibility rules and deadlines.

Required application documents

The current first-year checklist includes:

• The Common Application and USC-specific questions
• Official secondary-school transcripts and any completed college coursework
• One recommendation from a school counselor or teacher
• Portfolio, résumé, writing samples or audition materials when required by the intended major
• Optional official SAT or ACT scores
• Mid-year/fall grades when available
• Application affirmations completed through the USC Applicant Portal

International applicants must also submit official academic records in the original language with certified English translations where needed, external examination results or predictions, passport information, the Financial Statement of Personal or Family Support, and proof of funds. USC’s official first-year page offers a Common Application fee waiver route for applicants experiencing financial hardship; it does not list the fee amount on that page.

English proficiency and SAT/ACT policy

USC is test-optional for first-year applicants to the 2027–28 academic year, including international applicants. SAT or ACT scores are therefore not required for general admission or merit consideration.

However, international applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency. USC states that it does not grant waivers or exceptions. Current recommended minimums include:

• TOEFL: 5 overall with at least 4 in each section for tests taken on or after 21 January 2026
• IELTS: 7.0
• Cambridge C1 Advanced: 185 overall with at least 169 in each skill
• PTE Academic: 68
• Duolingo English Test: 130
• SAT EBRW: 650, or ACT English: 27

Official English-test results should reach USC within two weeks of the applicable application deadline.

How to apply for USC Merit Scholarships 2027

1. Choose your USC major: Check whether it follows the most-major deadline or the performing-arts deadline.
2. Start the Common Application: Add the University of Southern California and complete all required sections.
3. Prepare USC responses: Give specific evidence of academic interests, leadership, service and impact.
4. Arrange official records and recommendation: Allow your school enough time to submit them.
5. Complete any major-specific materials: Portfolios and auditions can have detailed requirements.
6. Submit by the correct deadline: Most majors use 1 November 2026; Dance, Dramatic Arts and Music use 1 December 2026.
7. Complete portal requirements: Submit affirmations, international financial documents and English results where applicable.
8. Monitor your USC Applicant Portal: USC will communicate application and scholarship decisions through official channels.

Apply Through the Common Application

Important deadlines

• Early Action/Early Decision for most majors: 1 November 2026
• Dance, Dramatic Arts and Music: 1 December 2026
• Final Regular Decision deadline for most majors: 10 January 2027, but this later deadline does not provide the standard merit consideration described above
• Official cutoff time/time zone: Not listed

Frequently asked questions

Can international students receive USC merit scholarships?

Yes. USC confirms that international applicants who meet the appropriate application deadline are eligible for merit scholarships.

Is the USC scholarship fully funded?

The highest awards can cover full tuition, but USC states that no merit scholarship covers the complete cost of attendance. Applicants should plan for living and other non-tuition expenses.

Is there a separate scholarship form?

No separate form is required for admission-administered USC merit scholarships. Submit the complete admission application by the relevant merit deadline.

Are SAT or ACT scores required?

No. USC is test-optional for 2027–28 first-year applicants. English-proficiency evidence remains compulsory for international applicants whose native language is not English.

What is the main scholarship deadline?

For most majors, it is 1 November 2026. Applicants to Dance, Dramatic Arts and Music use 1 December 2026.

Official sources

• USC Undergraduate Admission: scholarships
• USC first-year dates, deadlines and checklist
• USC international applicant requirements
• USC test-optional and merit-scholarship guidance

Related opportunities

• Richmond Scholars Program 2027
• Duke Karsh International Scholarship 2027
• Vanderbilt Signature Scholarships 2027
• Emory University Scholar Programs 2027

Verification note: ScholarshipHubNow checked this guide against USC’s official scholarship and admission pages on 16 September 2026. Applicants should recheck the official portal before submitting because universities may update requirements. Missing cutoff times are reported as not listed rather than inferred.