USC Summer Programs: A Launchpad for High School Students
For ambitious high school students eager to experience college life and explore potential academic paths, the University of Southern California (USC) offers a range of summer programs designed to provide a taste of university academics and campus life. These programs offer a unique opportunity to connect with USC faculty, earn college credit, and delve into specific fields of interest.
Immersive On-Campus Experience
USC Summer Programs extend a tradition of excellence to outstanding high school students through a diverse offering of four-week courses. The four-week, on-campus program is a unique opportunity to join the Trojan family, connect with USC faculty, and explore a potential major before graduating from high school. This immersive experience allows students to live on campus or commute during a four-week, academically rich summer program. By selecting a college-level course in a single discipline, students can proudly add a USC transcript to their college applications.
Curriculum and Activities
The four-week college immersion program provides high school students with university experience in a subject area of their choice. Depending on the specific course, students can expect group work, hands-on lab experience, field trips, guest speakers, and/or an encompassing final project. Each course requires five to six hours of instruction per day, so students may register for only one course.
Residential Life
Residential students will have a meal plan during their time on campus. The plan will cover three meals a day at a USC campus dining hall. Residential students are not allowed to have a personal vehicle on campus.
A variety of recreational activities are offered in the evenings, created and supervised by the Residential Advisors and program staff, including: ice cream socials, game night, movies on the lawn, scavenger hunts, intramural and field games, talent shows, and dances.
Read also: Summer Biology Opportunities
The program explores local attractions on Saturday trips off campus. Past trips have included: Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm Amusement Park, and Santa Monica Beach and 3rd St. Promenade. Students are required to attend the Saturday trips off campus unless checked out for the day or weekend with an approved Absence Request. On Sundays, students can enjoy a variety of recreational activities created and supervised by the residential staff.
Commuter Options
If a student’s primary residence is in Los Angeles County, CA, or Orange County, CA, they may choose to commute to campus for USC Summer Programs. Commuter students will be required to attend all academic sessions. They are also encouraged to participate in weeknight activities (with parent permission) and weekend excursions. Commuting students are encouraged to participate in the Saturday excursions. Commuter meal plans are not offered. Students can bring cash, cards and apple pay to buy lunch at any of the retail dining and cafes on campus. Additionally, students can bring ATM/debit cards to buy lunch at any of the eateries located within the USC Summer Programs’ Campus Boundaries Map.
Flexible Online Exploration
USC Pre-College online exploration courses empower high schoolers to discover untapped academic passions and learn from USC faculty on their own time. Explore academic interests and passions through flexible, online courses taught by USC Viterbi School of Engineering faculty. Students 14 and older can begin courses year-round and complete coursework at their own pace. Upon successfully finishing a course, students earn a Certificate of Completion that can be added to college applications.
Viterbi School of Engineering Programs
High school students live on campus or commute during a four-week, academically rich summer program, earning college credit from USC Viterbi School of Engineering. All courses are taught by USC Viterbi faculty and industry professionals.
Application Process
Through the application portal, students will submit their application, send requests for letters of recommendation/transcript, upload supporting documents and be prompted to pay fees. To begin, click Create an Account to start a new application. Please use your legal name (as it appears on your passport or birth certificate) with proper capitalization when registering and completing your application. Applications are reviewed as they are submitted, and students are accepted on a rolling basis. Applicants are required to attend starting June 22, 2026.
Read also: Exploring Law in High School
The institution code for USC will result in scores being sent to Undergraduate Admissions. For example, to submit TOEFL scores: log in to the TOEFL system and open the “View Scores” option under the “Scores” menu.
Fees and Expenses
- Tuition: Instructional costs. Four-week course tuition is based on the USC standard tuition rate for the three units of university elective credit awarded.
- Course Materials & Academic Field Trips: This fee will cover the cost of academic field trips, text books, and additional materials requested by academic instructors. These materials and academic field trips are not included in the program fee.
- Program Fee: The program fee will cover the cost of on-campus social activities and off-campus recreational trips. Please note that additional spending money for shopping during off-campus trips is not included in the program fee.
- Room & Board: Room and board fee will cover a shared room in the residence hall, three meals a day in the USC dining hall, meals on academic field trips, and two meals on Saturdays before non-academic field trips. Commuter meals can be purchased a la carte.
- Student Health Center: The student health center fee is mandatory for access to the University Park Student Health Center. A mandatory fee for all on-campus programs. Students who do not submit proof of personal health insurance by the deadline will also be enrolled in and billed for the USC Student Health Insurance Policy (separate from the health center fee). International students, and students currently living abroad, are automatically enrolled in the USC Student Health Insurance Policy for the duration of the program.
Note: Students are required to pay a nonrefundable deposit of $500 to secure their seat in their accepted course. Unfortunately, financial aid or assistance is not offered for USC Summer Programs.
Read also: Summer Programs for High School Students
tags: #usc #summer #programs #for #high #school
