The average cost of attendance is detailed below and includes tuition, fees, books and living expenses during the nine-month academic year. This amount also represents the maximum total financial aid package (all loans and grants combined) you can expect to receive per year.
USC Gould students pay the same tuition rate regardless of their state of residence. Please note that rates for tuition and fees are set annually and are subject to change. In recent years, tuition has increased by 3-5% each year.
Law students are not permitted to work during the first year, but may hold part-time employment of up to 20 hours per week during the second and third years.
| Living w/Parents/Relatives | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $80,184 | $80,184 | $80,184 |
| Mandatory Fees | $1,756 | $1,756 | $1,756 |
| Books/Supplies | $2,200 | $2,200 | $2,200 |
| Housing | $2,674 | $12,240 | $13,050 |
| Food | $7,660 | $7,660 | $7,660 |
| Personal | $2,736 | $2,736 | $2,736 |
| Transportation | $2,782 | $2,782 | $2,782 |
Total |
$99,992 |
$109,558 |
$110,368 |
The figures below represent estimated costs for the fall 2024 and spring 2025 semesters.
| Student Expense | Fall Charge | Spring Charge | Status |
| Tuition | $40,092 | $40,092 | Mandatory |
| Student Bar Association Fee | $60 | $60 | Mandatory |
| Student Health Services Fee | $650 | $650 | Mandatory |
| Norman Topping Scholarship Fund | $11 | $11 | Mandatory |
| Graduate Student Programming Fee | $40 | $40 | Mandatory |
| Transportation Fee | $117 | $117 | Mandatory |
| USC Health Insurance Plan | $1,063 | $1,977 | Can be waived, if proof of coverage provided |
| Public Interest Law Fund | $25 | $25 | Optional |
| Tuition Refund Insurance | $115 (approx.) | $115 (approx.) | Optional |
| Parking Permit | $536 (approx.) | $536 (approx.) |
Optional |
| USC Dental Insurance | $136 | N/A | Fall only enrollment, but coverage is for the full year |
Notes:
1. Admission deposit credit will be split in half with one-half being credited to your fall semester bill and the other half to your spring bill.
2.All students will have an additional $1,637 added to their total cost of attendance to allow for the loan origination fees which are deducted from loan disbursements. This amount represents an average amount for all students borrowing student loans; actual loan fees may be lower or higher depending on the total amount borrowed.
3. 3L students only will have an increased Estimated Cost of Attendance to accommodate 'Licensing Fees'($2,092) as applicable for the State Bar Examination.
USC's Office of Student Financial Services offers numerous payment options, including an interest-free USC Payment Plan for tuition, fees, university housing, meals and other charges, paid in monthly installments.
Students may only receive a refund of tuition and fees for courses dropped by the published refund deadline. The refund deadline for regular session classes is at the end of the third week of classes for each semester, but the specific date can be found in the University’s Schedule of Classes (https://classes.usc.edu/) next to each class section by clicking on the calendar icon. It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdraw from any class that the student is not attending. Informing the course instructor does not constitute withdrawal from the course. All withdrawals must be processed through Web Registration or by official notification to the Gould Academic Services department ([email protected]). Students will be held financially liable for all classes that appear on the Web Registration Registered Course list after the refund deadline. There is no refund for classes withdrawn from after the refund deadline, regardless of the reason for withdrawal. Refunds for additional charges, including but not limited to housing, meal plans and parking permits, will be determined by the office assessing the charge. This policy is enforced equally for settled as well as unsettled charges.
The University does offer students the option to purchase Tuition Refund Insurance each semester which provides some protection to a student who must withdraw from ALL classes due to an illness or accidental injury. USC has contracted with A.W.G. Dewar, Inc. to provide this optional program. https://arr.usc.edu/registration-counseling/registration/usc-tuition-refund-insurance-program/
If students receive Title IV federal financial aid funds (Federal Direct Loan, Federal Direct PLUS Loan) and withdraw from all classes after the refund deadline, they may be required to return any “unearned” Title IV federal financial aid, even if they are not entitled to a refund of tuition. Refer to Withdrawal Implications for Recipients of Financial Aid for more information.
