The University of Southern California is a private research university in Los Angeles, California, established on October 6, 1880 by Judge Robert Maclay Widney with early donors including Ozro Childs, John Gately Downey and Isaias Wolf Hellman, making it the oldest private research university in California. It began with 53 students and 10 faculty members, was originally affiliated with the Methodist Church before severing formal religious ties in 1952, and now enrolls more than 47,000 students, roughly 21,000 undergraduate and 26,000 graduate or professional, drawn from all 50 U.S. states and more than 115 countries; it joined the Association of American Universities in 1969.
Facts
Founded Year Ownership Type Ranking Band Classification
Institution Type Statistics
Enrollment Size FAQs
How many students attend the University of Southern California?
More than 47,000 students, including about 21,000 undergraduates.
USC enrolls more than 47,000 students in total, roughly 21,000 of them undergraduates and about 28,500 postgraduate students, drawn from all 50 U.S. states and more than 115 countries.
Connections
Associated With
Fellow member of the Association of American Universities, an invitation-only group of leading research universities.
Source Boston University (Wikipedia)
Fellow member of the Association of American Universities, an invitation-only group of leading research universities.
Source Northwestern University (Wikipedia)
Fellow member of the Association of American Universities, an invitation-only group of leading research universities.
Source Rice University (Wikipedia)
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Located In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is located.
Source University of Southern California (Wikipedia)Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia articletier 2Quote, Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article
The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal[a]) is a private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is located.
Source University of Southern California (Wikipedia)Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia articletier 2Quote, Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article
The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal[a]) is a private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States.
Sources
1. University of Southern California (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead section
Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in California.
- Lead section / infobox
Description, institution-kind classification
The University of Southern California is a private research university in Los Angeles, California, established on October 6, 1880 by Judge Robert Maclay Widney with early donors including Ozro Childs, John Gately Downey and Isaias Wolf Hellman, making it the oldest private research university in California.
View the Source 2. Wikidata: University of Southern California
- Wikidata Q4614, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
- Wikidata Q4614, class allow-list match (w-bbfill-education6-0927)
- Wikidata Q4614 P2196 (number of students) (w-bbfill-education6-0927)
- Wikidata Q4614 P2196 (number of students), CORRECTION of char-code cast defect (w-bbfill-education6-0927)
View the Source3. Center for World University Rankings: CWUR World University Rankings 2025
Center for World University RankingsCWUR Global 2000 list 2025, world rank 54Quote, CWUR Global 2000 list 2025, world rank 54
Top 0.3% University of Southern California USA 28 252 130 30 79 84.5
Boston University (Wikipedia)
Northwestern University (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Northwestern UniversityView the Source Rice University (Wikipedia)
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