Undergrad Programs Graduate Programs

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University of Southern California Ranking Badges

USC earned 302 ranking badges in the 2027 College Factual rankings: 59 in the top 1%, 124 in the top 5%, 72 in the top 10% and 47 in the top 15% of the schools in each ranking. Its highest placement is #1 of 562 in Most Popular for Management Sciences & Methods, a top 1% award.

Key facts

• Badges earned: 302 (2027 edition)
• In the top 1% / top 5%: 59 / 124
• Highest placement: #1 of 562, a top 1% award
• Fields of study with a badge: 26
• Placements this edition: 761
• Badge cutoff: a top 15% placement in a ranking

Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.

How Many Ranking Badges Has University of Southern California Earned?

University of Southern California holds 302 ranking badges across 26 fields of study, 183 of them in the top 5% or better; each badge is an award for placing in the top 15% of a ranking. College Factual re-runs each ranking as fresh data is published. These badges come from the 2027 edition. Each row marks the highest award tier reached in that ranking. Learn more about our data sources and methodologies. College administrators who want to showcase these awards through our badge program can contact us.

Count by Award Level

Award Level	Badges
Top 1%	59
Top 5%	124
Top 10%	72
Top 15%	47
Total	302

What Is University of Southern California Known For?

University of Southern California is best known for Engineering: 30 of its 255 traditional-student awards are in that field. Its top-ranked majors include General Architecture, Real Estate Development and Management Sciences & Methods.

College Overall

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Overall Best				✓
Overall Best (Far Western)				✓
Overall Best (California)				✓
Male / Female Diversity		✓
Male / Female Diversity (Far Western)		✓
Male / Female Diversity (California)		✓
Location Diversity		✓
Location Diversity (Far Western)			✓
Location Diversity (California)			✓
Ethnic Diversity				✓
Ethnic Diversity (Far Western)			✓
Ethnic Diversity (California)			✓
Most Popular				✓
Most Popular (Far Western)				✓
Most Popular (California)				✓

Architecture/Urban Planning

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Most Popular				✓
Architectural Sciences
Most Popular	✓
General Architecture
Highest Paid Graduates				✓
Landscape Architecture
Top Ranked		✓
Real Estate Development
Most Popular				✓
Highest Paid Graduates				✓
Most Focused		✓
Urban & Regional Planning
Top Ranked	✓
Most Popular	✓

Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked		✓
Most Popular			✓
Biochemistry & Biophysics
Most Popular		✓
Biomathematics & Bioinformatics
Most Popular		✓
Ecology & Systematics Biology
Top Ranked			✓
General Biology
Top Ranked		✓
Neurobiology & Neurosciences
Top Ranked	✓
Most Popular		✓
Highest Paid Graduates		✓
Other Biological Sciences
Top Ranked			✓
Pharmacology & Toxicology
Most Popular			✓
Physiology & Pathology Sciences
Top Ranked	✓

Business, Management & Marketing

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked				✓
Most Popular				✓
Business Administration & Management
Top Ranked				✓
Highest Paid Graduates			✓
Entrepreneurial Studies
Top Ranked		✓
Most Popular			✓
Finance & Financial Management
Top Ranked				✓
Hospitality Management
Top Ranked			✓
Human Resource Management
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular			✓
Highest Paid Graduates	✓
Management Sciences & Methods
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular				✓
Highest Paid Graduates		✓
Most Focused			✓
Marketing
Top Ranked				✓
Highest Paid Graduates			✓

Communication & Journalism

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular				✓
Communication & Media Studies
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular				✓
Highest Paid Graduates		✓
Journalism
Top Ranked				✓
Most Popular			✓
Public Relations & Advertising
Top Ranked		✓
Most Popular			✓
Radio, TV & Digital Communication
Top Ranked		✓
Most Popular			✓

Communications Technology/Support

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked				✓
Graphic Communications
Top Ranked			✓

Computer & Information Sciences

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular				✓
Computer Information Systems
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular		✓
Computer Science
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular				✓
Highest Paid Graduates		✓
Most Focused		✓
Computer Software Applications
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular			✓
Highest Paid Graduates			✓
Information Science
Top Ranked		✓
Information Technology
Top Ranked			✓

Education

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked				✓
Most Popular			✓
Educational Administration
Top Ranked				✓
Most Popular			✓
Educational Assessment
Highest Paid Graduates				✓
Other Education
Top Ranked	✓
Highest Paid Graduates			✓
Student Counseling
Top Ranked				✓
Most Popular			✓
Highest Paid Graduates		✓
Teacher Education Subject Specific
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular			✓
Teaching English or French
Most Popular		✓

Engineering

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular			✓
Aeronautical Engineering
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular		✓
Highest Paid Graduates		✓
Biomedical Engineering
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular	✓
Highest Paid Graduates		✓
Chemical Engineering
Top Ranked	✓
Civil Engineering
Top Ranked			✓
Highest Paid Graduates		✓
Computer Engineering
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular		✓
Highest Paid Graduates			✓
Construction Engineering
Top Ranked			✓
Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular	✓
Electrical Engineering
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular			✓
Highest Paid Graduates	✓
Environmental Engineering
Top Ranked	✓
Industrial Engineering
Top Ranked			✓
Highest Paid Graduates			✓
Materials Engineering
Top Ranked			✓
Mechanical Engineering
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular	✓
Highest Paid Graduates			✓
Other Engineering
Most Popular				✓
Systems Engineering
Top Ranked		✓
Highest Paid Graduates		✓

Engineering Technologies

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked			✓
Engineering-Related Fields
Most Popular		✓

English Language & Literature

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked		✓
General English Literature
Top Ranked			✓
Highest Paid Graduates			✓
Writing Studies
Most Popular	✓

Ethnic, Culture & Gender Studies

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked	✓
Most Popular	✓
Area Studies
Most Popular	✓
Highest Paid Graduates		✓
Ethnic Studies
Highest Paid Graduates		✓

Foreign Languages & Linguistics

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked	✓
Most Popular		✓
Linguistics & Literature
Top Ranked	✓
Most Popular	✓
Romance Languages
Highest Paid Graduates			✓
Slavic, Baltic & Albanian Languages
Most Popular		✓

Health Professions

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked				✓
Most Popular			✓
Advanced Dentistry & Oral Sciences
Most Popular			✓
Allied Health Professions
Top Ranked				✓
Highest Paid Graduates		✓
Communication Sciences
Top Ranked			✓
Dentistry
Most Popular		✓
Health/Medical Admin Services
Top Ranked				✓
Highest Paid Graduates		✓
Medicine
Top Ranked			✓
Mental & Social Health Services
Top Ranked			✓
Highest Paid Graduates		✓
Nursing
Top Ranked				✓
Highest Paid Graduates			✓
Other Health Professions
Top Ranked		✓
Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular			✓
Highest Paid Graduates		✓
Public Health
Top Ranked		✓
Most Popular			✓
Rehabilitation Professions
Top Ranked				✓
Most Popular				✓
Highest Paid Graduates		✓

History

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular			✓
History
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular			✓

Law Enforcement & Firefighting

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked				✓
Criminal Justice & Corrections
Top Ranked				✓
Homeland Security
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular	✓
Security Science and Technology.
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular	✓

Legal Professions

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked		✓
Most Popular				✓
Law
Top Ranked		✓
Highest Paid Graduates		✓
Legal Research
Most Popular			✓
Most Focused	✓
Other Legal Professions
Top Ranked	✓
Most Popular			✓

Library Science

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked			✓
Library & Information Science
Top Ranked			✓
Highest Paid Graduates		✓

Mathematics & Statistics

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked	✓
Most Popular			✓
Applied Mathematics
Most Popular				✓

Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked	✓
Most Popular			✓
Cognitive Science
Most Popular	✓
Data Analytics.
Most Popular			✓
Dispute Resolution
Highest Paid Graduates				✓
Gerontology
Most Popular				✓
Most Focused		✓
Human Biology
Most Popular			✓
International Studies
Most Popular	✓
Nutrition Science
Top Ranked	✓
Other Interdisciplinary Studies
Top Ranked		✓
Highest Paid Graduates	✓

Natural Resources & Conservation

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked			✓
Natural Resources Conservation
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular		✓
Highest Paid Graduates				✓

Philosophy & Religious Studies

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked	✓
Most Popular			✓
Philosophy
Most Popular				✓
Highest Paid Graduates	✓

Physical Sciences

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Most Popular		✓
Physics
Most Popular	✓

Psychology

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked				✓
Child Development & Psychology
Top Ranked				✓
Clinical & Counseling Psychology
Top Ranked				✓
Most Popular	✓
Highest Paid Graduates			✓
General Psychology
Top Ranked			✓

Public & Social Service

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular				✓
Public Administration
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular			✓
Highest Paid Graduates		✓
Public Policy
Most Popular			✓
Social Work
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular			✓
Highest Paid Graduates	✓

Social Sciences

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular			✓
Economics
Top Ranked		✓
Most Popular			✓
General Social Sciences
Top Ranked	✓
Most Popular	✓
Geography & Cartography
Top Ranked	✓
Most Popular			✓
International Relations & Security
Top Ranked	✓
Most Popular			✓
Highest Paid Graduates	✓
Political Science & Government
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular			✓
Sociology
Top Ranked			✓

Visual & Performing Arts

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular				✓
Arts & Media Management
Top Ranked		✓
Most Popular			✓
Dance
Top Ranked		✓
Design & Applied Arts
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular		✓
Highest Paid Graduates			✓
Drama & Theater Arts
Top Ranked		✓
Most Popular				✓
Film, Video & Photographic Arts
Top Ranked			✓
Most Popular				✓
Fine & Studio Arts
Top Ranked		✓
Highest Paid Graduates			✓
General Visual & Performing Arts
Top Ranked				✓
Most Popular	✓
Highest Paid Graduates			✓
Music
Most Popular				✓

How Does University of Southern California Rank in Athletics?

In College Factual’s 2027 athletics rankings, University of Southern California earned 27 badges across 19 sports, 19 of them in the top 5% or better; its highest placement is #1 of 70 in Beach Volleyball (D1).

College Overall

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Overall Athletics (D1)			✓
Overall Athletics			✓

Men’s Sports

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Baseball		✓
Baseball (D1)		✓
Basketball			✓
Basketball (D1)			✓
Football		✓
Football (D1)	✓
Golf		✓
Golf (D1)			✓
Tennis (D1)		✓
Volleyball				✓
Volleyball (D1)				✓

Women’s Sports

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Basketball			✓
Basketball (D1)			✓
Beach Volleyball			✓
Beach Volleyball (D1)				✓
Golf		✓
Golf (D1)			✓
Lacrosse			✓
Lacrosse (D1)			✓
Soccer			✓
Soccer (D1)			✓
Tennis		✓
Tennis (D1)			✓
Volleyball			✓
Volleyball (D1)				✓

How Does University of Southern California Rank for Online Students?

In College Factual’s 2027 online-program rankings, University of Southern California earned 19 badges across 18 online programs, 8 of them in the top 5% or better; its highest placement is #1 of 41 in Most Popular Online for Legal Research.

College Overall

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Most Popular Online			✓

Communication & Journalism

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Communication & Media Studies
Most Popular Online		✓
Public Relations & Advertising
Most Popular Online	✓
Radio, TV & Digital Communication
Most Popular Online			✓

Computer & Information Sciences

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Computer Science
Most Popular Online			✓

Education

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Educational Administration
Most Popular Online			✓
Student Counseling
Most Popular Online		✓

Engineering

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Aeronautical Engineering
Most Popular Online	✓
Computer Engineering
Most Popular Online	✓
Electrical Engineering
Most Popular Online			✓
Other Engineering
Most Popular Online				✓

Health Professions

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Health/Medical Admin Services
Most Popular Online	✓
Public Health
Most Popular Online		✓

Legal Professions

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Legal Research
Most Popular Online				✓
Other Legal Professions
Most Popular Online		✓

Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Gerontology
Most Popular Online				✓

Public & Social Service

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Public Policy
Most Popular Online	✓
Social Work
Most Popular Online		✓

Social Sciences

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Geography & Cartography
Most Popular Online		✓

How Does University of Southern California Rank for Veterans?

In College Factual’s 2027 veterans rankings, University of Southern California earned 1 badge in the top 5% or better; its highest placement is #1 of 4 in Top Ranked Veterans for Dispute Resolution.

Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies

Ranking	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%	Top 1%
Dispute Resolution
Top Ranked Veterans				✓

Continue Your Research on USC

• All rankings for USC
• USC overview
• Best Colleges ranking
• USC official website
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Notes and References

Each ranking here is built on federal education data, 2027 edition. University of Southern California appears in 761 of the College Factual rankings covered on this page.

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.