USC & SMU Research Notes
usc_smu.md
USC & SMU Research Notes
University of Southern California (USC)
Admissions (Class of 2029 / Fall 2025)
- Total applicants: 83,488
- Admitted: 9,345 (11.2% overall)
- Enrolled: 3,759 (yield 40.3%)
- EA applicants: 42,119; admitted 3,524 (8.4-8.7% EA rate)
- EA is non-binding, non-restrictive. Not available for portfolio/audition majors.
- Pilot ED launching Fall 2026 for Marshall School of Business only (2-year pilot).
Academics
- SAT middle 50%: 1450-1550 (superscored: 1490-1550)
- ACT middle 50%: 33-35
- Unweighted GPA middle 50%: 3.79-4.00 (avg ~3.80)
- Top 10% of HS class: ~80%
- Testing policy: Test-optional
- 44% of enrolled students submitted SAT/ACT scores
Demographics (Undergraduate)
- White: 34%, Asian: 24%, Hispanic: 17%, International: 12%, Multiracial: 6%, Black: 5%
- Women: 52%
- First-generation: 21%
- Total undergraduates: ~20,630
Financial Aid / Net Cost
| Income Bracket |
Net Price |
| $0-$30,000 |
$14,668 |
| $30,001-$48,000 |
$16,252 |
| $48,001-$75,000 |
$20,050 |
| $75,001-$110,000 |
$30,858 |
| Over $110,000 |
$52,271 |
Athletics
- 726 varsity athletes (377 men, 349 women)
- ~3.5% of undergraduate enrollment
- Big Ten Conference (moved from Pac-12 in 2024)
Sources
- USC OIR Common Data Set 2024-2025
- USC Admission First-Year Student Profile (Class of 2029)
- College Factual diversity and net price data
- Empowerly / Crimson Education Class of 2029 reports
Southern Methodist University (SMU)
Admissions (Class of 2029 / Fall 2025)
- Total applicants: 24,053 (56% increase from prior year)
- Admitted: 11,459 (47.7% overall)
- Enrolled: 1,715 (yield 15.0%)
- ED acceptance rate: ~74% (significantly higher than overall)
- EA acceptance rate: ~91% (non-binding, non-restrictive)
- Offers both ED (binding) and EA (non-binding)
Academics
- SAT middle 50%: 1340-1480 (average 1400)
- ACT middle 50%: 31-34 (average 32)
- Unweighted GPA: ~3.68
- Top 10% of HS class: ~50% (of those reporting rank)
- Testing policy: Test-optional
Demographics (Undergraduate)
- White: 64%, Hispanic: 13%, Asian: 8%, International: 6%, Black: 5%, Multiracial: 4%
- Women: 49%, Men: 51%
- 42% from Texas; students from 46 states and 49 countries
- First-generation: ~420 in entering class
- Total undergraduates: ~7,285
Financial Aid / Net Cost
| Income Bracket |
Net Price |
| $0-$30,000 |
$26,718 |
| $30,001-$48,000 |
$27,331 |
| $48,001-$75,000 |
$31,813 |
| $75,001-$110,000 |
$34,587 |
| Over $110,000 |
$43,206 |
Athletics
- 514 varsity athletes (252 men, 262 women)
- ~7.1% of undergraduate enrollment
- Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) — joined July 2024
- 17 NCAA Division I sports
Sources
- SMU University Decision Support Fall 2025 entering class factsheet
- SMU News: Class of 2029 records announcement
- College Factual diversity and net price data
- SMU Common Data Set 2024-2025