Apart from a great weather, the University of Southern California (USC) offers world class graduate opportunities to students. To bag a seat at one of the highly ranked graduate programs, you need to set a GRE target score which will keep you competitive for a seat at USC.
Like most schools USC refrains from specifying minimum GRE score requirements. This means applicants have to set their GRE score target according to the departments/programs of their choice.
The admissions page of USC Viterbi School of Engineering states, “We do not use a formula or have minimum test score requirements for admission to USC. In general, successful applicants have demonstrated outstanding quantitative ability and proven success in previous academic endeavors, particularly prerequisite coursework relevant to their intended major.”
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Here is a table that covers a few of the departments/programs at University of Southern California
The GRE score requirements for USC are estimated based on historical data and information available on official websites of these departments/programs at USC.
USC Department/Programs |
GRE Score Requirements |
| MA in Economics/Economic Development | Verbal–450, Quantitative– 650 (Old GRE score) |
| MA in East Asian Area Studies | Verbal–153, Quantitative– 144 |
| USC School of Architecture | Verbal–153, Quantitative– 144 |
| Master of Public Administration/Master of Planning | Verbal–153, Quantitative– 144 |
| Master of Communication Management | Verbal–152, Quantitative– 152, Analytical Writing – 4.0 |
| USC Sol Price School of Public Policy | Verbal – 153, Quantitative – 144 |
| USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism | 297 (Composite GRE score) |
| USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences (Earth Sciences Program) | 300 (Composite GRE score) |
This is just a brief list of programs at USC. If you do not find your target programs in the list, get in touch with the departments you are interested in. Apart from the school website, you can also speak to the admission officers directly. Scoring around 155+ in both quantitative and verbal sections should keep you competitive at most departments at USC.
As we always say, GRE scores are only one part of the admission process. Just do a Quora search and you will find lots of tales about students who have been rejected at USC despite a GRE score of 320. This tells you that admissions to USC are based on a combination of factors such as GPA, recommendation letters and statement of purpose that play an equally important part in the admissions process.Targeting USC? Keep calm & start preparing for GRE.
