Remarkable first-year cohort begins at USC after unprecedented number of applicants

With the commencement of the autumn semester, USC has embraced 5,303 new undergraduates into the Trojan Family. The incoming class comprises 3,759 first-year students chosen from a historic group of 83,488 first-year applicants. Additionally, it hosts a significant 1,544 transfer students—one of the highest intakes of incoming transfers at leading private colleges.

“These fresh Trojans encapsulate a diverse range of students from various backgrounds who are exceptionally well-equipped for academic achievement,” stated Timothy Brunold, USC’s acting vice president for enrollment management.

Included is Alexis Jacquez, a first-year individual at the USC Price School of Public Policy, who has aspired to attend USC since childhood.

“It’s a significant achievement that I got in,” expressed Jacquez, who completed her studies at Woodrow Wilson Senior High School in Los Angeles. “I put forth tremendous effort, and my family backed me every step of the way. Everyone jumped up and down, going wild when I opened the acceptance letter.”

Jacquez is among 49 first-year Trojans who belong to the USC Leslie and William McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative’s Class of 2025.

The seven-year initiative provides academic aid and resources to ready students from neighborhoods nearest to USC in South Los Angeles and the Eastside for the challenges of college, including admission and graduation.

“Our scholars have performed remarkably well,” remarked Kim Thomas-Barrios, associate senior vice president of USC educational partnerships. “This genuinely illustrates that if children in any ZIP code receive adequate support, academic challenge, and resources for access, college is undeniably within reach.”

An enlarging Trojan Family

Among the first-year and transfer students are those with family ties to USC, extending the legacy of generations of Trojans connected through their USC education.

Max Lee, a first-year student at the USC Marshall School of Business, is following his father’s legacy, who obtained his MBA at USC Marshall.

“I get to share the same experiences as he did,” stated Lee, who grew up attending USC Trojan football matches with his family. “My dad believes USC benefitted his career and future, so he’s optimistic that I’ll leverage the same opportunities he had at USC to propel my career forward.”

“The Trojan Family is one of USC’s greatest assets,” stated USC Interim President Beong-Soo Kim. “With every cohort of new students, we welcome thousands joining our Family for the first time, while others continue a rich legacy—and all of them are exceptionally accomplished and qualified. Our institution boasts one of the world’s most extensive…

“““html

alumni networks — exceeding half a million worldwide — and we are lucky that so many Trojans foster a passion for the university among their immediate and extended families.”

Due to these factors, Kim has determined that, for the ongoing admissions cycle, USC will not dismiss information regarding whether an applicant has a family member who attended USC, but will rather maintain its established approach of viewing that information as merely one component of an applicant’s complete experience, interests, and achievements. USC will disclose additional data concerning its admissions decisions in accordance with California Assembly Bill 1780, which became effective earlier this month.

“We aim for our cohorts to embody a wide array of perspectives and experiences, from students who have never visited our campus to those who have regularly explored it. Both viewpoints enrich our institution, and we did not wish to favor one over the other,” Kim remarked. “Regardless of their journey here, students attending USC are highly skilled and prepared for our intellectually rigorous programs,” he added.

A dynamic blend of perspectives

The incoming freshman class comprises 28% straight-A students, with an additional 11% of students earning only one B during their high school tenure. On a 4-point scale, the cohort boasts an average GPA of 3.85 overall. “They rank among the finest and most talented students from their high schools,” Brunold stated.

Students from California constitute 45% of the first-year enrollments; 195 of them graduated from a Los Angeles Unified School District high school. Following California, the five states contributing the most first-year students are New York, Texas, Illinois, Washington, and New Jersey.

The new group of Trojans also features a notable number of students with military connections: 40 incoming students intend to take part in USC’s ROTC program. The new transfer class includes 83 students who are associated with the military: veterans, reservists, or National Guard members.

First-year students hailed from 2,062 distinct high schools, with the highest numbers coming from the James A. Foshay Learning Center (Los Angeles), Mira Costa High School (Manhattan Beach), Loyola High School (Los Angeles), La Cañada High School (La Cañada Flintridge), Orange County School of the Arts (Santa Ana), and Milken Community School (Los Angeles).

The first-year class has roughly 30% more students from small towns and rural areas compared to last year’s cohort — totaling 90 — which Brunold attributes to USC’s involvement in the STARS (Small Town and Rural Students) College Network, an initiative designed to assist students from small-town and rural America in enrolling, thriving, and graduating from the undergraduate program of their preference.

Brunold emphasized that attracting students from such varied locations fosters “a community that doesn’t solely hold a single viewpoint.”

“We’re welcoming students from diverse regions who will enrich our campus with their unique beliefs, backgrounds, and viewpoints,” Brunold remarked.

‘Feeling at home already’

First-year student Rahul Keshav, an industrial and systems engineering major at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, is one of the students who connected with USC through STARS.

“I’ve resided in a small town where every time I visit the grocery store, I invariably encounter someone I know,” shared Keshav, who grew up in Half Moon Bay, a city of approximately 12,000 in San Mateo County. “This will be a fresh experience, and I’m eager to be part of this new community.”

Now that he’s here, Keshav mentioned he’s discovering that community. “After a few weeks, I am thrilled to have found good friends, amazing academic advisors, and teachers who genuinely care about my education,” he stated. “The community at USC is incredibly inviting. Although it has only been a short time here, I already feel at home.”