- Nonprofit/For-Profit?
- Nonprofit
- Undergrad Student Body
- 876
- Graduate Student Body
- 715
- Copyrights
- Student owns all scripts written
- School owns copyright for cycle films & thesis films
- Camera Equipment
- RED
- Sony Cinema Cameras
- Software Used
- Adobe After Effects
- Avid Media Composer
- DaVinci Resolve
- Movie Magic Scheduling
- Pro Tools
- Maya 3-D
- Filmmaking Facilities
- Sound Stage(s)
- Green Screen
- Sound Recording Studio
- ADR Foley Stage(s)
- Color Correction Suites
- Editing Bays
- IMAX
- Screening Rooms
- Sound Mixing Room(s)
- TV Studio
- Visual Effects Studios
- Internships
- Student must arrange
- School provides resources to help find internships
- Job Placement
- Student is on their own
- School Connects Students with Alumni
- School Provides Career Development Training
- School Operates Job Board
- Number of Applicants
- 400 and they admit 32
- Application Fee
- $90
- GRE Required?
- No
- SAT or ACT Required?
- No
- Portfolio Required?
- Yes
- Minimum GPA
- None
- Letters of Rec Required
- 2 (Undergrad)
- 2 (Graduate)
- 3 (Graduate)
For more than 90 years, the University of Southern California has trained the next generation of prolific filmmakers. As the nation's first institution of higher learning to offer a bachelor's degree in film, the School of Cinematic Arts remains at the forefront of emerging filmmaking trends. USC SCA is among Filmschool.org’s top 10 undergraduate film schools and runner-up for Best Directing Program. In 2023, The Hollywood Reporter moved USC SCA up to no. 2 on its annual list of the top 25 American film schools.
USC is notoriously one of the most competitive schools in the country. Faculty members are current working industry professions with extensive backgrounds and success in film and television. With an alumni list that reads more like a ‘who’s who’ list of Hollywood – Shonda Rhimes is an alumnus – USC offers an extensive network, exposing students to mentorship and internship opportunities as well as state-of-the-art facilities. To top it off, USC frequently brings in industry leaders for workshops and lectures and offers students exclusive screening opportunities.
Be sure to check out our interview with USC Admissions:
As well as our guide to applying to USC:
Undergraduate Application Requirements
- Creative Materials
- Creative Portfolio List
- Transcripts
- 2 Letters of Recommendation
- Writing Sample
- Cinematic Arts Personal Statement
- Video Introduction
- Collaboration Question
Graduate Application Requirements
- Cinematic Arts Personal Statement
- Writing Sample
- Creative Portfolio List
- Collaboration Question
- Video Introduction
- Media Sample
- 2 Letters of Recommendation
- 3 Letters of Recommendation (Stark/Media Studies)
Tuition Details
Cost of Attendance - Financial Aid
Find USC's 2023-2024 and 2022-2023 cost estimates, including tuition, fees, and living expenses. Discover how we make education accessible by bridging the gap between the cost of attendance and what families pay out of pocket.
financialaid.usc.edu
Helpful Links
Notable Alumni
- George Lucas (Star Wars, American Graffiti, THX 1138)
- Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13, Frost/Nixon)
- Judd Apatow (The 40 Year–Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Trainwreck)
- John Carpenter (Halloween, Escape from New York, The Thing)
- Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3, Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc.)
- Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump, Flight, Back to the Future)
- Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Swingers, Mr. and Mrs. Smith)
DISCLAIMER: The information on this page is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time it was last updated. PLEASE verify with the school ALL due dates and requirements as they may have changed since our last update. If any info on this page is incorrect please let us know and we will update it. We are not responsible for missed deadlines or rejected applications due to out of date information on this page. Please do your due diligence.