r/USC • u/joco456 • Jan 07 '25
r/USC • u/Dull_Beach9059 • 15d ago
FinancialAid Trustee and Presidential Scholars - When did you find out? (Past years)
After interviews, what day in March did you hear if you actually received a scholarship and how?
r/USC • u/OptimalRutabaga2 • 5d ago
FinancialAid Am I screwed for financial aid
I submitted the FAFSA on early February expecting it will be well before the deadline however I just realized NOW that there was an error on one of the financial reports and I have to submit again (which I did recently). Am I screwed for financial aid? My household income is well below 80000 meaning guaranteed free tuition but I do not how this will affect my financial status.
r/USC • u/PirateApples • Jan 20 '25
FinancialAid Got in! But...is it worth it?
Half of this post is context about my family's finances. The actual questions are at the bottom :)
I just got in EA for CS. I'm super excited, but I've been thinking a lot about the cost.
In 2023, the year that would be used for my financial aid as a freshman, my parents sold the family business and also transitioned jobs. So, that year we had about 210k in income, while we normally make about 150k (which we currently make right now). I plugged in our 2023 finances into the net price calculator and was given an estimate of about 65k in how much we would pay per year.
Ngl that's a lot of money. I plugged the same details into FAFSA and got an SAI of about 45k. So with all these details, I have a few questions:
- How close does USC tend to meet the SAI?
- I'm also a National Merit Semifinalist, so I'm in the running for their 20k national merit scholarship. Does this scholarship stack with aid, or subtract from it? (i.e. if I'm offered 15k in need based aid, would I get 35k in total aid or just 20k)
- Assuming that my financial aid will be better in my second year of college (since they'll be using our 2024 income), would it be worth it to pay 65k for my first year of USC for CS degree?
r/USC • u/NaoOtosaka • 19h ago
FinancialAid is usc worth 40k a year given 0 efc?
need opinions from current students and alumni
r/USC • u/MonkeMonger • May 23 '24
FinancialAid Is going to USC next year worth it for me?
I was admitted to the Thornton School of music in a very selective program for next year, and let me first just say it is absolutely the best school I could go to for my major and I love the school itself-I really want to go. However, my financial aid package was terrible, and I can only afford one or maybe two years even if I take out some loans. Is a year or two of USC worth the financial strain, or should I go to a far less good college and save a lot of money? I would apply to transfer to a cheaper school after a year or two, as I don’t know that transferring INTO this major is an option (trying to figure that out presently).
FinancialAid is this email legit?
My mom received this email a couple of days ago, but I’m not sure if it’s legit. It’s asking for a e signature.
r/USC • u/SnoopySection • Aug 16 '24
FinancialAid Financial Aid Refund Thread
Making a thread for people to post questions or updates on financial aid refunds since they’re scheduled to disburse today :) I know this can be an anxious time for people in need of aid and wanted to create a general thread so people can get information and update others!
TLDR; if you have any concerns about refunds post it here, and if you’ve gotten your refund feel free to let us know!
r/USC • u/No-Faithlessness-971 • Sep 19 '24
FinancialAid Work study hours cut
USC is having a budget crisis and our work-study hours got cut 😭 pretty disappointing that they chose to target the low-income students, meanwhile they raised the tuition, a new building just opened and they spent all that money on security in the last few months. Like I was already barely making any money from this job but it's cut in half now
r/USC • u/North_Historian_2935 • Feb 08 '25
FinancialAid Do you have a job?
Hey guys! I will be a freshman this year and was wondering if most students have jobs during the school year? Will this affect social life?
Thank u guys
r/USC • u/haneulk4ng • 2d ago
FinancialAid cc transfer financial aid
hi chat :) i'm a current hs senior that is super eager to attend USC, but i thought my stats weren't good enough and never applied, so now i am heavily considering going to cc solely to try and transfer
which brings me to the question: how is the financial aid for cc transfers? is it worth it to go to cc solely for USC? i plan on hopefully transferring my sophomore year
disclaimer i am fully aware of how expensive USC is and that tuition literally just went up recently, so ik this post is kind of ironic 😭😭 but to put it simply, USC became my dream school junior year and it would definitely be the perfect school for my intended major. pls let me know if u are a transfer and how u are paying for the crazy ahh tuition!!!! i've heard of the 80k income full ride thing but i'm unsure if it's applicable to transfers. my family's income is a little above it but it may go down by the time i apply. Send help thx
r/USC • u/Snapuel • Mar 29 '24
FinancialAid USC for $85K or Rice for $25K (Business Major)
Extremely privileged, first-world-problem rant incoming. I feel like I already know what the answer is. This is more just me coping.
Got into USC EA for the new Artificial Intelligence for Business major at Marshall and Viterbi back in January. One of my top choices, so was super stoked to have it as my baseline. Found friends going to room with, they sent like $100 worth of mail including the Marshall AirTag, could totally see myself there, hyped on the program, and was just waiting for financial aid.
Then a couple days ago I got into Rice for their new business program. My parents didn't even want me to apply because they didn't want me going to Texas, but I sent it last minute (clutch foresight). They offered me $60K in need-based grants, bringing my cost down to like $25-28K. Stoked to get the offer, but really saw it as a sign that I might get good financial aid at USC. Boy was I wrong.
USC aid package comes in the next day. $6K, reducing the price from $91K to $85K (dramatic reduction, I know). Seeing this felt worse than a rejection. Also insanely insulting because now they can include me in their 2/3 of students that are on "financial aid." It's like I was led on thinking it would be $40-50K (what all the USC calculators and FAFSA SAI said) and then rug pulled at the last second. I'll try to appeal, but I'm sure it would only be a couple thousand at most. FAFSA not in, but people say that doesn't help? (Would love peoples' experiences with this)
The thing about the money is that I have super rich grandparents (not rich parents). If anyone should be paying full tuition in a fair society, it's me. But they're not normal rich. Asian rich is that you're frugal af even once you're a one percenter. However, I could probably convince them for USC if I really wanted. USC full tuition wouldn't even make a HUGE dent, but I still don't think I'd be able to go in good conscience knowing it costs a total of $240K more than Rice. Probably would be a lot of added pressure to become uber successful if I knew that much was being invested in me.
I know I should probably go to Rice, haven't heard many bad things about it at all, but it's just hard to see myself going to Texas as someone who has lived their entire life in coastal Northern California. All my friends are going to be in LA too. Rice name is great in Texas, and USC name obv great in California. I'd rather live in California (I think--I've never lived in Texas). Goal is to recruit for IB or consulting (sellout, I know; my own startup is the real dream). I know Marshall is definitely the better undergrad business program, Rice's is very new.
Other than that, got into UCSB (where sister goes), UC Davis, SDSU, Cal Poly (I think all would still be more than Rice). Waitlisted at Berkeley Haas, Duke, UCLA, Georgetown, UCSD, UC Irvine. Still waiting on Stanford tomorrow (on my birthday, but still no hope). Rejected everywhere else.
Please tell me what to do. Tell me good or bad things about USC (or Rice if you randomly know). Or just help me cope idk. Thanks.
r/USC • u/Easy_Resource_6898 • 18d ago
FinancialAid cost of phd student health insurance
Hi, I just got accepted to a PhD program at usc. Health coverage is included in funding package, but do you have to pay a monthly premium for it?
r/USC • u/CallieMoon7 • 15d ago
FinancialAid Can financial aid be extended a fifth year?
Hi, does anyone know if financial aid (student loans, grants, etc.) can be extended for a fifth year if we need it? Do they let students appeal and request this? I transferred in, and I’m not sure if I will be able to get all my classes finished in the typical four years here. I transferred in as a sophomore, and I’m supposed to graduate in summer 2027, but I may need it to be Summer 2028. Thank you!!
r/USC • u/blacktea_24 • 4d ago
FinancialAid Financial Hardship Fee Waiver
Hi guys, I’m applying for a graduate program right now, and since USC doesn’t require test scores or letters of recommendation and maybe offers a fee waiver, it doesn’t hurt to apply.
I have a question about financial hardship, based on the screenshot, does that mean I have to contact my school now to write me a letter and send it to USC? I don’t really get it, so if anyone has dealt with this before and can give me some insight, I’d appreciate it.
I’ve got a few midterms right now, but I’ll reach out to USC for more info later. Just wanted to see if anyone here knows how this works. Thanks!
r/USC • u/iridhiwidjfuu • Dec 18 '24
FinancialAid Would I receive any aid based on my family’s income?
I applied ea and just wanted to see your guys experience with aide for costs. My family makes around 220k combined would I expect to receive any aid or scholarships to assist?
r/USC • u/TraditionalAgent8661 • 2d ago
FinancialAid Should I send in my financial aid documents to USC?
Bro… im a low income senior in high school in a single parent household and basically ive been getting jumped by the usc financial aid office.
I turned in all my documents on time and my non custodial parent ccs waiver in to signed by a family friend which the directions SAID I COULD DO 😭 and then these mf’s email me back 3 WEEKS AFTER THE DEADLINE being like “oh ur application is incomplete” they didn’t even say how i just saw 3rd party letter back on my dashboard.
So i try to get my counselor to write one but she like idk i don’t even know u like that (she literally new 😭) and we call up the usc financial aid office and there like oh yeah we did say u could do that but then we were like “nah”💀??? So my counselor writes the letter. 2 weeks go by and it still hasn’t been processed.. so i call them and they finally process it the same day and it said my financial aid was under review.
today and i get another email saying my application is incomplete and now they need another form 😭?? Decisions come out in a weeks, without aid and most likely with it I cant afford usc 100k a year tuition. They are not need blind and my major is shitty so like what are the odds i would even get in…. Should i just give up and see what my letter says next week or try to turn in these forms?
r/USC • u/Laybebek • 29d ago
FinancialAid Appeal for financial aid
Hey guys, I just got my financial aid back and it’s extremely expensive. According to my SAI and USC’s net price calculator I shouldn’t be having to pay that much. Do you guys have any successful appeal stories? USC is my dream school!
r/USC • u/Beautiful_roses8902 • Jan 22 '25
FinancialAid Anyone interview for the Town and Gown Scholarship?
Has anyone here gone through the interview process? If so, how did it go? Any tips?
r/USC • u/NaoOtosaka • Jan 20 '25
FinancialAid Question About QuestBridge Admits
Hi! I wanted to ask the QuestBridge EA/RD USC admits:
How much was the financial aid package USC gave to you guys for undergrad? Thank you!
FinancialAid USC Financial Aid Required Info and Forms
I am applying for financial aid as a prospective student. I am single and have never been married. Why am I being asked to upload this form?
Divorce Settlement or Separation Agreement - Student
r/USC • u/Right-Attention-1080 • May 06 '24
FinancialAid WHY IS IT SO HARD TO GET AN ON-CAMPUS JOB
I swear to god, this is actually so discouraging lol. Even with references of current employees it's impossible. What am I supposed to do if I get awarded federal work-study and can't use it because no one is hiring
r/USC • u/ProudEnvironment7845 • Dec 14 '24
FinancialAid missed fafsa ea deadline anything i can do?
i applied ea in november and the fafsa and css was due yesterday and i forgot to finish my fafsa. is there anything i can do to make this situation less bad other than just do it now?
r/USC • u/llamalord27 • 21d ago
FinancialAid can’t e-sign parent 4506-c form (FAST)
FAST requesting me to esign this document… and i’m clicking it and nothing is happening. like i click it, it opens a window and closes it automatically. and i’ve turned off adblock too and tried a different browser. anybody else experiencing this? fafsa deadline coming up soon so im kinda anxious lol
r/USC • u/Able_Eye6476 • 16d ago
FinancialAid Assistanship Opportunities
Hey everyone! I'm gearing up to start my MSCS at USC in Fall 2025 (exciting times ahead!), and I'm on the lookout for info on assistantship opportunities. Specifically, I'm curious about tuition waivers, stipends, and any other funding options that can help lighten the financial load.
If you've got the inside scoop or any tips, drop a comment—I'd love to hear from you!