Everything you need to know about transferring to USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences - from requirements and deadlines to competitive majors and insider strategies.
28%
Transfer Accept Rate
3.75
Median Admit GPA
65%+
From CA Community Colleges
Feb 15
Application Deadline
At a Glance
Location
Los Angeles, California
Semester System
Fall Only
No spring or winter transfer admits
Minimum Units
30 semester units minimum
Junior-level standing required
Minimum GPA
3.0 (CA residents)
Competitive admits average 3.5–3.9
What You Need
USC Dornsife evaluates transfer applicants holistically. Here's what you need to be competitive.
Dornsife is USC's largest and most diverse college:
Prerequisites vary widely by major within Dornsife:
Standard USC application through Common App:
Dornsife seeks curious, intellectually engaged students:
Know the Landscape
Acceptance rates vary by major. Understanding the competitive landscape is key to a smart application strategy.
Dornsife College
Most competitive Dornsife major for transfers. Strong quantitative preparation required.
Low
Accept Rate
3.7+
Competitive GPA
Dornsife College
Popular pre-med pathway. Strong science GPA essential.
Low
Accept Rate
3.6+
Competitive GPA
Dornsife College
Popular social science major with research opportunities.
Moderate
Accept Rate
3.5+
Competitive GPA
Dornsife College
Strong program with DC and public policy connections.
Moderate
Accept Rate
3.5+
Competitive GPA
Dornsife College
Well-regarded humanities program with small class sizes.
Moderate
Accept Rate
3.4+
Competitive GPA
Dornsife College
Popular interdisciplinary major. Global perspective valued.
Moderate
Accept Rate
3.5+
Competitive GPA
Key Dates
Missing a deadline can cost you an entire year. Here are the dates that matter.
August 1
Begin your USC/Dornsife transfer application.
February 15
Submit completed application with all USC supplements.
March 3
FAFSA and CSS Profile due for aid consideration.
May
Dornsife transfer decisions released.
Pacific + USC Dornsife
Our team provides expert guidance tailored specifically to USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences transfer admissions.
Your supplemental essays need to show specific knowledge of Dornsife programs, faculty, or research opportunities. We help you go deep.
Dornsife values intellectual breadth. We help you frame your diverse interests as a strength rather than a lack of focus.
For biology and pre-med applicants, we ensure your science prerequisites align with both Dornsife admission and medical school requirements.
We use USC's CC articulation agreements to plan your coursework and ensure efficient credit transfer.
If you have research experience - even at the CC level - we help you frame it as evidence of intellectual curiosity Dornsife values.
Choosing recommenders who can speak to your intellectual engagement and curiosity is key for Dornsife. We guide this process.