The University of Southern California (USC) is a leading private research university – emphasis on private, as some students assume is part of the University of California system. It’s not, it’s a private institution with exceptional resources in one of the most exciting cities in the world. USC is at “” of “creativity, diversity and innovation.” Los Angeles isn’t just sunny. It’s also a business, innovation, financial, and of course entertainment global hub. There are 21,000 undergraduate students and a total student population of 47,000.

USC boasts (rightly so) of of integrity; excellence; diversity, equity and inclusion; well-being; open communication; accountability. USC had held these values dear for over a century, after being founded in with 53 students, 10 teachers, and a lack of paved streets. USC is ranked among the research universities in the US for federally-sponsored research. Students have access to amazing research fellowship opportunities as well, such as the Dornsife College Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship which provides fill-time research “in any area of study, on campus, across the country, or around the world, under the direction of USC faculty.” And global learning opportunities take students around the world to on five continents.

What USC offers is world-class and is in high demand. For first-year admission in the fall of 2023, USC received nearly 81,000 applications. Only 8,094 students were offered a spot, for a rate of acceptance of only 10%. Once on campus, they get to pick from more than that make the most of the unique resources Los Angeles has to offer.

If you see yourself at USC, email us. We help top students gain access to exceptional universities.

What do we mean by best major?

First, let’s clarify how we define ‘best major’. Because there are so many majors at USC, and so many exceptional majors at USC, we needed to corral our options for top five with some expectations on our end. When we are assessing a major, we look for four must-have things. There must be exceptional resources available to students inside the classroom and on campus, and around the world. There needs to be both depth and focus. Students should have a lot of avenues to explore, but within a ‘fence’ that defines the major and their perspective on a subject. Students also need to have strong internship and research options, and we expect to see impressive post-graduation outcomes. 

With all of that in mind, here are our best five majors at USC.

Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation, B.S.

This major, the major, builds expertise for students right at the intersection of “human-centered design, technology, business innovation and culture.” This is a major that can really only exist at USC because of how the university is at the heart of each of the focus areas for the program. We love how students in the major get to put their book-learning to work through the Design Strategy and Industry Practicum. These special practicum courses provide students with placements inside industry leaders through programs like shadowing, mentorship, internships, and other professional experiences. The practicums mean that students leave the program not just as experts, but truly prepared to launch their careers. And students also pursue multi-disciplinary courses in related fields, such as product innovation, artificial intelligence, design strategy, and more. Courses like “Cybersecurity, Privacy and Trust in Connective Healthcare” and “Ambient Computing for Fashion” get us wildly excited. Students also have access to courses in “,” named for the semi-mythical garages that have housed early-stage start-ups. The Garage is a collaborative workspace, woodshop, and 3D printing studio that is designed to launch the next innovative idea.

Biopharmaceutical Science, B.S.

USC has a ton of majors in the biological sciences with a medical or pharmaceutical bend, but we love in particular because of the variety of paths it can take you down. Students go on to become doctors, researchers, innovators, financial leaders, legal experts, and policy-influencers. While in the program, students are trained in the “discovery, development, and commercialization of pharmaceutical sciences.” The commercialization, which includes the business and marketing sides of the industry, are a critically important and useful piece of this major that most other universities leave out. They take courses in calculus, statistics, chemistry, and biology, alongside pharmaceutically-focused courses.

Law, History, and Culture, B.A.

The major is specifically geared towards students who are interested in a career in the law and who want to deeply understand the context and history behind the field where they will be making their mark. You don’t need to want to be a lawyer for this major to be your perfect fit, though. We find that students who excel in the program also include those who will work peripheral or in intersection with the legal profession. As a student in the major, your writing, critical thinking, and analysis skills will become exceptional, while you’ll also gain deep expertise in a relevant and recent subject matter that is influencing our daily lives. You’ll take courses in legal reasoning, historical approaches to the law (like “Murder on Trial in America”), as well as on literary, philosophical, and theoretical perspectives on the law through courses like “Los Angeles Crime Fiction” and “History of Islamic Law.” Many students’ favorite courses, though, are in the category of Social Movements and Social Policy. These include classes like “Carceral Geographies,” “Asian Political Thought,” and “Law in Film.”

Real Estate Finance and Development, B.S.

USC has majors in finance and in business, and programs focused on real estate, but the major is really at the top of the pyramid. The program combines the power of Marshall School of Business and the might of the Sol Price School of Public Policy to create one major that hits on everything you need to know to build an empire in real estate from financial valuation and capital markets to development and urban land use. The faculty in the program are the best of the best, and students get not just to learn from them, but also alongside them. Real-world experiential-learning opportunities put students in the major in the midst of multi-million-dollar deals. All students also complete a real estate internship as part of the program. Due to the rigor of the program, most students enter the program as freshman, although you can still complete it if you start sophomore year.

Writing for Screen and Television, B.F.A.

We can’t write a list of the best majors at USC, a top-tier university in Los Angeles, without including an entertainment humanities track. If one is interested in making a living in the entertainment field as a writer, this is the college and the major they should be seriously considering. major is intense, proven, and exclusive. It isn’t as easy as getting into USC and then signing up, though. The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Writing for Screen and Television only welcomes 30 undergraduate writing students each fall. They are selected from a competitive pool to undertake a professional preparation course of student that includes small workshops and seminars. Students also have access to outstanding guest speaker presentations, and high-level industry internships that open doors that otherwise take years to even find. Courses start with “Reality Starts Here,” the literal starting line to entertainment, and progress to big-picture process classes like “Breaking the Story” and focused electives like “Staff Writing the Multi-Camera Television Series” where students literally work on the writing staff for an original multi-camera series and how to executive produce.  

USC and LA are a package deal. Since the 1880s, USC has helped to shape Los Angeles. Today, Los Angeles continues to inform the University of Southern California. Together, they create a unique educational experience that has led many to an exceptional career path.

Getting into USC takes strategy. Lucky for you, we can help.