Organizer Information
University of Southern California (USC) is a private research university in Los Angeles, California. Its creative-arts education includes the USC School of Cinematic Arts, the USC Roski School of Art and Design, the School of Architecture, the School of Dramatic Arts, and other arts-related academic units. The School of Cinematic Arts offers undergraduate and graduate study across cinema, film and television production, animation, interactive media, media arts, producing, and screenwriting.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: University of Southern California
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate / Graduate / Doctoral
- Degrees Offered: BA, BFA, MA, MFA, MS, PhD
- Academic Fields: Film / Cinema & Media Studies / Animation / Digital Arts / Interactive Media / Games / Media Arts / Screenwriting / Producing
- Relevant Programs: Cinema & Media Studies; Film & Television Production; Animation + Digital Arts; Interactive Media & Games; Media Arts + Practice; Peter Stark Producing Program; Writing for Screen & Television; Expanded Animation Research + Practice.
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Undergraduate applications open 1 August; graduate applications open 26 August for fall admission.
- Application Deadline: Varies by applicant type and program
- Start of Studies: Fall; selected graduate Film & Television Production MFA admission is also available for spring
- Application Fee: $85 undergraduate / $90 graduate for Fall 2026 applications
- Tuition: Undergraduate tuition $75,384 for 2026–27; SCA graduate tuition is charged per unit and program costs vary.
- Funding: USC and the School of Cinematic Arts offer scholarships and other financial support; international students may receive merit-based or departmental awards but are not eligible for USC need-based financial aid.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- USC's School of Cinematic Arts accepts students into disciplines spanning film production, cinema and media studies, animation and digital arts, interactive media and games, media arts and practice, producing, and screenwriting. Undergraduate applicants apply to specific SCA programs, while graduate applicants apply to individual degree programs.
- Program-specific creative work, writing, portfolio, or other supplementary materials apply where identified by the relevant program.
General Eligibility
- First-year applicants must be completing or have completed the equivalent of a U.S. high-school education before enrollment. USC considers international qualifications within the context of the applicant's educational system. Transfer applicants must have completed at least one college course after high-school graduation.
- Graduate applicants to SCA must hold a bachelor's degree, or have the degree conferred before the intended first term at USC. International degrees are subject to USC's country-specific equivalency requirements.
- For SCA undergraduate admission, applicants submit program-specific supplemental materials through SlideRoom. Following the application deadline, SCA undergraduate applicants receive an invitation for an admission interview/assessment through Kira Talent.
Additional Eligibility Conditions
International applicants must provide financial documentation demonstrating their ability and intent to finance the first academic year before USC can issue admission and immigration documents.
Educational Background
- Undergraduate applicants must satisfy USC's first-year or transfer academic requirements. International first-year applicants must submit academic records from their secondary education and any colleges or universities attended, with certified English translations where required.
- Graduate SCA applicants must hold a bachelor's degree. Several SCA graduate programs impose additional academic or experiential requirements; for example, the MA in Cinematic Arts (Media Arts, Games & Health) requires a minimum 3.00 GPA and evidence of interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, or transdisciplinary skills.
Language Requirements
- International applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency.
- USC accepts TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge English, PTE, SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and ACT English for undergraduate applicants, with specified minimum scores. USC lists IELTS 7, PTE 68, Cambridge C1 Advanced 185 with 169 in each skill, and qualifying scores on other approved examinations. Duolingo English Test may be used with a minimum score of 130 when an applicant cannot take another approved examination.
- For SCA graduate applicants, the published minimums include IELTS 7, PTE 68, Cambridge C1 Advanced 185 with 169 in each skill, and the specified TOEFL thresholds.
Application Fee
| Applicant | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $85 |
| Graduate | $90 for Fall 2026 applications |
USC lists the undergraduate fee as non-refundable. The graduate fee for programs beginning in Fall 2026 is listed as $105 by the Graduate Admission Office, while the Registrar's fee schedule lists $90 for graduate applications; applicants should therefore verify the fee displayed for their specific SCA application before submission.
Tuition
| Study Level / Program | Applicant Type | Published Tuition | Billing Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate USC | All eligible undergraduate applicants | $75,384 estimated tuition, 2026–27 | Two semesters / 12–18 units per semester |
| SCA Animation + Digital Arts MFA | Graduate | $60,478 first-year tuition* | Program-specific units |
| SCA Cinema & Media Studies MA | Graduate | $49,495 first-year tuition* | Program-specific units |
| SCA Film & Television Production MFA | Graduate | $49,495 first-year tuition* | Program-specific units |
| SCA Interactive Media MFA | Graduate | $60,478 first-year tuition* | Program-specific units |
| SCA Media Arts, Games & Health | Graduate | $49,495 first-year tuition* | Program-specific units |
| SCA Game Design and Development MS | Graduate | $55,230 first-year tuition* | Program-specific units |
| Peter Stark Producing MFA | Graduate | $65,726 first-year tuition* | Program-specific units |
| Writing for Screen & Television MFA | Graduate | $60,478 first-year tuition* | Program-specific units |
*The SCA program-specific figures currently published are for 2025–26, at $2,624 per unit, and should not be treated as 2026–27 tuition. USC states that actual graduate costs vary with required and elected units.
USC also charges mandatory university fees. The 2026 schedule includes student programming, Norman Topping, transportation, health-related and other applicable fees; amounts depend on enrollment and student status.
Funding & Financial Support
- The School of Cinematic Arts offers scholarships and financial aid to undergraduate and graduate students. SCA scholarship applications are incorporated into the SlideRoom admission process and are reviewed separately from admission.
- International students are not eligible for USC need-based financial aid, but may receive merit scholarships or departmental awards. Graduate international students may also have access to certain scholarships, on-campus employment, and limited other financing options.
University Services & Academic Support
SCA provides cross-divisional study opportunities across its cinematic-arts disciplines. Program-specific opportunities include production facilities and resources, faculty supervision, industry connections, internships, mentorship, and collaborative projects. The Peter Stark Producing Program, for example, provides individual mentoring during the final semester and access to SCA resources for selected student productions.
USC also provides international student and immigration support, including services connected with financial documentation and I-20 processing.
Application Requirements
- Common Application for undergraduate applicants
- USC graduate application for graduate applicants
- Official academic transcripts
- Certified English translations where applicable
- One academic recommendation for SCA undergraduate applicants; Writing for Screen & Television BFA prefers two
- Program-specific SlideRoom application
- Personal statement or autobiographical statement where required
- Portfolio or creative work where required
- Writing samples where required
- CV/resume for relevant graduate programs
- Letters of recommendation according to the specific graduate program
- English-proficiency test results for applicable international applicants
- Financial documentation for international applicants
The Film & Television Production BFA, for example, requires a Cinematic Arts Personal Statement and a writing sample as part of its freshman supplemental application.
The Animation + Digital Arts MFA requires a portfolio, while the Writing for Screen & Television MFA requires an autobiographical character sketch, creative writing sample, CV, and creative portfolio list.
How to Apply?
Deadline & Timeline
- Application Opens — Undergraduate: 1 August 2026
- Application Opens — Graduate: 26 August 2026
- Early Decision Deadline — First-Year: 1 November 2026
- Early Action Deadline — First-Year: 1 November 2026
- BFA External Transfer Deadline: 1 December 2026
- BA External Transfer Deadline: 15 February 2027
- Current USC Transfer BFA Deadline: 1 December 2026
- Current USC Transfer BA Deadline: 15 February 2027
- Current USC Transfer Spring BA Deadline: 15 September 2026
- Graduate Fall Deadline — Animation + Digital Arts MFA: 15 November 2026
- Graduate Fall Deadline — Film & Television Production MFA: 15 November 2026
- Graduate Fall Deadline — Peter Stark Producing MFA: 15 November 2026
- Graduate Fall Deadline — Writing for Screen & Television MFA: 15 November 2026
- Graduate Fall Deadline — Cinema & Media Studies MA and PhD: 1 December 2026
- Graduate Fall Deadline — Media Arts + Practice PhD: 1 December 2026
- Graduate Spring Deadline — Film & Television Production MFA: 15 August 2027
- Graduate Fall Admission Notification: By mid-March 2027
Location
University of Southern California — Los Angeles, California, United States
Additional Details
- SCA undergraduate admission requirements are substantially program-specific. Applicants should select the exact intended program because portfolio, writing, creative-work, recommendation, and interview/assessment requirements differ among programs.
- For international applicants, USC requires financial documentation demonstrating the ability to finance the first academic year. This requirement is separate from scholarship eligibility.
- The SCA tuition page currently publishes detailed graduate program tuition using 2025–26 rates, while USC's university pages publish 2026–27 undergraduate costs. The 2026–27 SCA-specific graduate tuition figures should therefore be verified against the current USC tuition schedule before publication or application.