USC Gould School of Law
early decision Nov 15, 2026 · regular Feb 1, 2027 · final Apr 1, 2027
0 of 7 required items complete· next deadline in 29 days
Your numbers against the class of 2025
This is a comparison against published numbers, not a prediction. Admissions committees weigh essays, letters, and experience that no percentile captures.
7,204 applications, 805 offers, 228 enrolled · Verified 2026-08-14 · view source
What it costs, how graduates fare
- Tuition2025-26
$84,034 full-time · plus $1,914 annual fees
Living expenses $31,686 on campus · $32,298 off
Tuition and the fees the school certifies alongside it — not a full cost of attendance.
Verified 2026-08-27 · ABA Standard 509 report
- Bar passageclass of 2025
94.1%first-time+10.9
83.3% is the average for all ABA-accredited schools’ graduates in the same jurisdictions this school’s graduates sat in · 209 of 222 first-time takers passed
98.9% of the class of 2023 were admitted within two years of graduating
A pass rate on its own says as much about which states a school feeds as about the school, so the ABA’s own like-for-like average is shown with it.
Verified 2026-08-27 · ABA bar passage report
- Employmentclass of 2025
214 of 227 (94.3%) in full-time, long-term jobs requiring bar admission
Ten months after graduation · 4 more in JD-advantage jobs · 0 still seeking · 1 of the bar-admission jobs are funded by the school
The ABA collects employment status and job type only. It collects no salary, so no salary figure comes from this filing.
Verified 2026-08-27 · ABA employment summary
- First-year attrition2024-25
0.0% of the first-year class · 1 student
No law school publishes a graduation rate, so this is not one. It is the students who left in their first year, academic and other, as filed. Transfers out are reported separately and are not counted here.
Verified 2026-08-27 · ABA Standard 509 report
- EarningsCollege Scorecard
Not a starting salary.
$183,063 median one year after finishing · $203,028 after four
$107,773 is the national median at four years for the same credential
A College Scorecard median for 2017-18 and 2018-19 completers who received federal aid, measured a fixed number of years after they finished — not what this year’s graduates are being paid, and not a figure the school or the ABA publishes. The ABA collects no salary data at all.
Verified 2026-08-27 · College Scorecard
Essays
- Personal statementRequired · 3 pgstart by Oct 25, 2026
The personal statement is your primary opportunity to discuss who you are beyond the application basics. We are particularly interested in how your background (academic or otherwise) has led to your decision to study law.
Notes & source
Two to three pages, double-spaced, in at least 12-point font (page_limit reflects the upper end of the stated range). USC notes it is not the place to repeat items on your resume. USC expects written portions to authentically reflect the applicant; AI tools may be used for editing or guidance only.
Verified 2026-08-14 · source page
- Perspective statementOptional · 2 pgstart by Nov 1, 2026
Describe how your contributions to the USC Gould student body may be unique by highlighting anything related to your life experiences or personal background that will help us get to know you better.
Notes & source
USC calls this the optional 'Background and/or Experience Statement'; one to two pages, double-spaced, at least 12-point font. Suggested topics include how upbringing or culture influenced your goals; experience with discrimination, economic disadvantage, or hardship; living in a foreign country, rural, or isolated community, or speaking a language other than English at home; unusual career goals or educational background; or unusual courage, determination, or extracurricular achievement.
Verified 2026-08-14 · source page
- AddendumOptionalstart by Nov 12, 2026
Notes & source
Optional: a brief, concise statement clarifying a particular aspect of the application — not another personal statement. USC encourages an addendum when there is a significant LSAT score discrepancy (four or more points). An affirmative answer to any character and fitness question requires a detailed written explanation and supporting documentation, with an ongoing duty to disclose material changes before enrollment.
Verified 2026-08-14 · source page
Letters & documents
- RésuméRequired · 2 pgstart by Nov 8, 2026
Notes & source
Required; no more than two pages. Should illustrate work history, volunteer commitments, extracurricular activities, and awards/honors, with all sections listed chronologically (most recent first).
Verified 2026-08-14 · source page
- Letter of recommendation (1 of 2)Requiredstart by Oct 18, 2026
Notes & source
Two letters required; up to three accepted, submitted via LSAC's CAS. The most influential letters focus on academic potential and are written by people who know the applicant well; applicants who have been out of college for a number of years may appropriately use an employer letter.
Verified 2026-08-14 · source page
- Letter of recommendation (2 of 2)Requiredstart by Oct 18, 2026
Notes & source
Two letters required; up to three accepted, submitted via LSAC's CAS. The most influential letters focus on academic potential and are written by people who know the applicant well; applicants who have been out of college for a number of years may appropriately use an employer letter.
Verified 2026-08-14 · source page
- Transcripts via LSAC CASRequiredstart by Oct 25, 2026
Notes & source
Registration for LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS) is required; the CAS report contains official transcripts, LSAT score(s), LSAT Writing sample(s), and letters of recommendation. Official transcripts for all post-secondary education, including graduate coursework, must be sent directly to LSAC. Foreign transcripts go through the LSAC JD CAS with AACRAO evaluation; foreign-educated applicants are not required to take the TOEFL.
Verified 2026-08-14 · source page
- LSAT or GRERequiredstart by Sep 16, 2026
Notes & source
LSAT or GRE accepted; the LSAT is required for Binding Early Decision and Rothman Scholar applicants. All LSAT scores from the past five years are considered (only the highest is reported to the ABA); final LSAT accepted is the February 2027 administration, and at least one LSAT Writing sample must be processed before the file is complete. GRE-only applicants must test by March 1, 2027 (no exceptions) and must submit all valid, reportable GRE results from the last five years (ETS code 4030). Applications may be submitted with a pending LSAT score; the file is held until complete.
Verified 2026-08-14 · source page
Administrative
- Application feeRequiredat submission
Notes & source
$80, non-refundable. Waivers (request by February 1, 2027, before submitting) available for applicants experiencing financial hardship and for participants in the California Pathways to Law Program, Teach for America, the Peace Corps, or the US military, and those who attended USC; contact admissions@law.usc.edu with your LSAC account number.
Verified 2026-08-14 · source page
Every item above was verified against gould.usc.edu on 2026-08-14. Expand any item for its own source. Always confirm against the school before you submit — and if we have something wrong, report an error.