University of Southern California Ranking

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In the 2026 QS World University Rankings, the University of Southern California (USC) ranks #146 globally. It ranks #72 worldwide according to Times Higher Education, and #77 according to U.S. News Best Global Universities. 

Moreover, the university's Marshall School of Business is highly regarded, with its Master’s in Supply Chain Management ranked #5 globally.

If you are considering studying abroad in the US, the University of Southern California offers exceptional academic opportunities. Beyond healthy rankings, its excellence and achievements in academic and non-academic areas showcase why it’s considered one of the best universities in the US.

University of Southern California Rankings 2025-26

University rankings offer valuable insights into a university's strengths and help you align your best career options after graduation with the right institution. 

The University of Southern California (USC) maintains a solid global standing in 2025–26, though rankings vary by platform. In the QS World University Rankings, USC declined from #116 (2024) to #125 (2025) and #146 (2026), partly due to changes in QS methodology. 

On the other hand, THE improved USC’s position from #74 (2024) to #72 (2025), reflecting strong performance in teaching and research. U.S. News ranked USC steadily at #77 in both 2025 and 2026, indicating a consistent global reputation and research impact. Despite the QS drop, USC remains a top choice for international students.

 

Ranking Bodies	2024 Rankings	2025 Rankings	2026 Rankings
QS World University Rankings	#116	#125	#146
Times Higher Education (THE)	#74	#72	NA
U.S. News & World Report	NA	#77	#77

Now, let’s explore how the university fares across individual subjects and specialized ranking systems.

Subject-wise Rankings of University of Southern California

When selecting a university, it's crucial to understand how it performs in your specific area of interest. USC excels in various disciplines, consistently earning top spots across QS, THE, and U.S. News rankings. 

For instance, USC ranks #72 in Business & Management (QS) and #37 in Neuroscience and Behavior (U.S. News), making it a top choice for students pursuing specialized degrees in these fields. 

Let’s further explore the major University of Southern California rankings across key academic fields.

QS Rankings

USC is highly ranked across multiple disciplines in the QS World University Rankings, with notable achievements in Communication and Media Studies (#7) and Accounting and Finance (#53) in 2025, reflecting its solid reputation in these areas.

The following table outlines the position of select University of Southern California courses in the 2025 QS subject rankings:

Subject	Ranking for 2025
Communication and Media Studies	#7
Electrical and Electronic Engineering	#98
Anatomy and Physiology	#28
Arts & Humanities	#73
Computer Science and Information Systems	#49

With strong rankings in these core areas, USC remains a top choice for students in the fields of communication and technology. Now, let's take a closer look at Times Higher Education (THE) rankings.

THE Rankings

USC also performs well in Times Higher Education (THE) rankings, particularly in Social Sciences (#48) and Business & Economics (#49), highlighting the university’s balanced academic strengths.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the positions of some specific courses as per the 2025 THE rankings:

Subject	Ranking for 2025
Social Sciences	#48
Business and Economics	#49
Medical and Health	#54
Computer Science	#64
Education Studies	#64
Law	#77

These rankings reflect USC's academic prowess across both technical and non-technical disciplines. Let's now turn our attention to USC’s performance in U.S. News & World Report rankings.

U.S. News Rankings

USC’s position in the U.S. News & World Report rankings is also impressive, particularly in Economics and Business (#30) and Molecular Biology and Genetics (#53) in 2025, highlighting its leadership in both general and specialized fields.

Here are some of the top-ranked courses at USC as per the 2025 US News Rankings:

Subject	Ranking for 2025
Economics and Business	#30
Neuroscience and Behavior	#37
Engineering	#138
Clinical Medicine	#66
Public, Environmental, and Occupational Health	#42
Surgery	#66

These rankings emphasize USC’s excellence in both technical and creative disciplines. 

With a clear understanding of USC’s subject-specific strengths, let's now explore the other miscellaneous University of Southern California rankings.

Miscellaneous Ranking 2025

When choosing a university, it’s not just about academic programs; other factors, such as sustainability, diversity, and community engagement, also play a vital role in your decision-making process. 

In 2025, USC positioned itself among the top in sustainability and diversity, further cementing its reputation as a well-rounded institution.  For instance, it ranked #45 in the 2025 QS Sustainability Rankings.

Let’s find out more about such miscellaneous rankings.

 

Ranking Agency	Ranking Description	Ranking
QS Rankings	Sustainability	#45
Wall Street Journal	Student body diversity, resources for success, and job outcomes	#15
Niche	Best Colleges for International Relations in America	#9
The Princeton Review	Top 50 Game Design program ranking	#1
Forbes	Among Research Universities	#22
Niche	Colleges with the Best Student Life in America	#3

These rankings highlight USC's strong commitment to creating a positive social impact, both on campus and beyond, and prioritizing all-around student development.

Now, let’s examine the significant achievements of the University of Southern California to see how these rankings translate into success.

University of Southern California: Excellence and Achievements

When choosing a university, it’s essential to consider not just rankings but the overall impact and recognition the institution has achieved. The University of Southern California (USC) is globally known for its academic excellence, innovative research, and significant impact on both local and global communities. 

USC has earned significant accolades, including #15 in the Wall Street Journal survey for its commitment to diversity, student success, and graduate outcomes.

Here’s how USC performs across key categories: academic excellence, community engagement, and cultural contributions.

Academic Excellence and National Recognition

USC's academic programs are widely respected, with the university consistently ranked among the top in multiple fields, such as business, engineering, and communications. 

For instance, the Marshall School of Business is ranked #14 globally in Master’s in Business Analytics by QS, and USC’s Viterbi School of Engineering ranks #20 in Best Engineering Schools in U.S. News Rankings. 

The following recognitions highlight how USC campuses continue to earn academic respect across national and regional platforms:

Category	Recognition
National Recognition	#47 in Philosophy (QS 2025) #1 in Best Colleges for Communications in America (Niche) #27 in National Universities (U.S. News)
Regional Rankings	#1 in Best Colleges for Business in California (Niche) #1 Best Colleges for Accounting and Finance in California (Niche)
Graduate-Level Recognition	#9 in Business Programs (U.S. News)
Overall Academic Value	#72 in THE World Rankings 2025 #65 in Best Value Schools (U.S. News)

These recognitions highlight USC's commitment to maintaining excellence in both theoretical and applied research. Now, let's move on to explore USC's community and lifestyle recognitions.

Community and Lifestyle Recognitions

USC is renowned for its diverse campus community, offering numerous student organisations, and actively engaging with the surrounding community. In addition to ranking #70 among Top Performers on Social Mobility by U.S. News Rankings, USC is consistently recognized for providing excellent resources and student support systems. 

Let’s take a look at some of the notable recognitions in this field:

Category	Recognition
Assistance to economically disadvantaged students	#70 in Top Performers on Social Mobility (U.S. News)
Diversity	#13 in Most Diverse Colleges in America (Niche)
Campus	#23 in Best College Campuses in America (Niche)

With a strong focus on inclusivity and student success, USC offers an enriching college experience. Now, let’s explore USC’s cultural and creative excellence.

Cultural and Creative Excellence

USC is also recognized for its creative programs, particularly in the arts. The USC School of Cinematic Arts is frequently ranked among the top film schools globally. 

Furthermore, USC's commitment to nurturing creativity extends to its programs in design and the performing arts, making it an ideal place for students seeking to make a lasting impact in the cultural sector. 

Here are some other significant recognitions in the field of culture and creativity.

Category	Recognition
Cinematic Arts	Top Film School (The Hollywood Reporter)
Design & Performing Arts	#4 in Best Colleges for Performing Arts in America (Niche)
Music	#9 in Best Colleges for Music in America (Niche)

These cultural accolades solidify USC's reputation as a leader in creative education and art forms. 

With these achievements in mind, let’s now examine how the rankings relate to the institute’s acceptance rates.

University of Southern California: Ranking V/S Acceptance Rate

Understanding the relationship between rankings and acceptance rates is key. USC is a prestigious institution, consistently ranked among the top universities globally, but its acceptance rate reflects the competitiveness of its programs. 

The University of Southern California (USC) has an overall acceptance rate of 10%, making it a highly selective institution. This means that while being highly ranked, the University of Southern California Admissions are highly competitive, requiring strong academic credentials and extracurricular achievements. 

Let's take a closer look at the acceptance rates across key programs at USC and how they align with their rankings.

Program	U.S. News Rankings 2025	Acceptance Rate
Law	#26	12.4%
Business	#11	23.1%
Engineering	#20	40.6%
Social Work	#10	15%

As shown, USC's programs are highly ranked but have very low acceptance rates, especially in specialized fields such as Law. Understanding these figures helps set realistic expectations for prospective students. 

Now, let's examine the methodologies employed by ranking bodies to understand how these rankings are calculated and what they reveal about USC’s academic standing.

Ranking Bodies Methodologies

University rankings often vary based on the metrics they represent. QS assigns 30% weightage to academic reputation, whereas the Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings prioritize teaching quality at 29.5%. U.S. News assigns a 15% weightage to faculty resources and research.

For the University of Southern California rankings, understanding these methods helps explain the variation in subject and campus-level performance. 

Below is a summary of what each ranking body considers most important.

QS World University Rankings

QS ranks the University of Southern California by analyzing research output, faculty strength, and global participation. The evaluation reflects the university's standing in academic and industry networks worldwide.

Key indicators include academic and employer reputation, faculty-to-student ratio, research citations per faculty member, and the proportions of international faculty and students. 

The following table outlines the core indicators used by QS to assess university performance:

Focus Area	Indicators	Weightage
Research and Discovery	Academic Reputation	30%
	Citations per Faculty	20%
Employability and Outcomes	Employer Reputation	15%
	Employment Outcomes	5%
Global Engagement	International Faculty Ratio	5%
	International Research Network	5%
	International Student Ratio	5%
	International Student Diversity	0%
Learning Experience	Faculty Student Ratio	10%
Sustainability	Sustainability	5%

Unlike the QS methodology, Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings uses a distinct set of indicators and evaluation criteria.

Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings

THE assesses universities based on a combination of teaching quality, research capabilities, and global impact. It also considers industry income, which highlights the university’s role in supporting innovation and applied research. 

For University of California courses, this includes recognition in areas such as teaching excellence, research influence, and international collaboration. 

Below are the key factors used in THE’s evaluation:

Focus Area	Indicators	Weightage
Teaching	Teaching Reputation	15%
	Staff-to-student ratio	4.5%
	Doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio	2%
	Doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio	5.5%
	Institutional income	2.5%
Research Environment	Research reputation	18%
	Research income	5.5%
	Research productivity	5.5%
Research Quality	Citation impact	15%
	Research strength	5%
	Research excellence	5%
	Research influence	5%
International Outlook	Proportion of international students	2.5%
	Proportion of international staff	2.5%
	International collaboration	2.5%
Industry	Industry income	2%
	Patents	2%

Next, let’s explore how U.S. News & World Report organizes its rankings and where USC stands within their framework.

U.S. News and World Report Rankings

U.S. News ranks colleges based on student outcomes and institutional effectiveness. Factors like graduation rates, faculty credentials, and access to resources are central to its approach.

This makes it especially relevant for private universities like the University of Southern California (USC), where affordability and support are key considerations. The breakdown below outlines the key measures that shape these rankings:

Focus Indicators	Weightage
Average 6-year graduation rate	16%
Average first-year retention rate	5%
Graduation rate performance	10%
Pell graduation rates	5.5%
Pell graduation performance	5.5%
College grads earning more than a high school grad	5%
Borrower debt	5%
Peer assessment	20%
Financial resources	8%
Faculty salaries	6%
Full-time faculty	2%
Student-faculty ratio	3%
Standardized tests (SAT/ACT/GMAT/GRE)	5%
Faculty Research	4%

All the above methodologies highlight USC’s consistent strengths in academics, student success, and institutional performance, confirming its stable position among US universities.

Conclusion

The University of Southern California (USC) remains a leading institution in the latest global rankings. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, USC is ranked #146, while in Times Higher Education (THE), it holds the position of #72. The U.S. News Best Global Universities ranking places USC at #77, reflecting its global standing across multiple ranking platforms.

While USC experienced a drop in the QS rankings, falling from #116 in 2024 to #125 in 2025, and further to #146 in 2026, this change may be attributed to the rising competition and shifts in performance parameters in higher education. 

Despite the decline in QS, USC maintains strong placements in THE and U.S. News, highlighting its continued excellence in academics and research. Overall, USC's rankings reflect its continued commitment to offering high-quality education, detailed research, and a diverse student body.