Applying for Financial Aid

Prospective Students

Application deadline: May 3, 2024:

Graduate students are encouraged to apply for financial aid soon after applying for admission. Applicants must meet the May deadline and all eligibility requirements to be considered for all types of financial aid.

Applications received after the May deadline are considered for Federal Direct Unsubsidized and Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loans only.

Many certificate programs may be eligible for financial aid funding. Visit the Special Programs page for more information.

  • 1
    • Visit fafsa.gov to submit your 2024-2025 application any time between December, 2023 and the May 3, 2024, deadline.
    • Use your 2022 student income. We recommend using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to automatically import your most recent income tax information into the FAFSA.
    • USC’s Federal School Code: 001328.
  • 2

    You can complete the USC Financial Aid Supplement here.

    Enter the range of academic units for which you will enroll each semester.

    • The total number of units indicated on this form MUST match the number of units you enroll in. Any errors may cause a delay in the disbursement of your financial aid.
    • If you are unsure how many units you will take, please contact your academic advisor for help before submitting this form.
  • 3

    Submit any additional documents to the Financial Aid Office within 10 days.

    Documents submitted to the USC Financial Aid Office become the property of the university and cannot be returned to the student or duplicated for any purpose.

  • 4

    Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
    Unsubsidized Loans are available to students regardless of income. A credit check is not required, although a prior default on a federal student loan will disqualify you from borrowing additional funds.

    Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans
    Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans are available to eligible borrowers who meet the credit requirements.

    • Review the credit requirements at studentaid.gov.
    • Complete the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan Request by visiting studentaid.gov and following the instructions provided.
    • The Department of Education will notify us electronically once you have completed the process.
  • 5

    To be considered for Federal Work-Study, students must:

    • Must be enrolled in in-person classes on one of our campuses. *
    • Submit the FAFSA and Financial Aid Supplement by May 3, 2024.
    • Enroll in 8 or more units per semester.
    • Demonstrate exceptional financial need.

    *Federal Work-Study is not available for students participating in online master’s degree programs.

Current Students

Application deadline: May 3, 2024:

Be sure to meet all deadlines and eligibility requirements to be considered for financial aid for the 2024-25 academic year. Graduate students must meet the FAFSA filing deadline to be considered for all forms of financial aid, including Federal Work-Study. Applications received after this date are considered for Federal Direct and Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loans only.

For information about graduate fellowships, assistantships, and scholarships, please refer to the Gift Aid page.

For more information regarding Certificate Programs, including those eligible for financial aid funding visit the Special Programs page.

  • 1
    • Visit fafsa.gov to submit your 2024-2025 application any time between December, 2023 and the May 3, 2024, deadline.
    • Use your 2022 student income. We recommend using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to automatically import your most recent income tax information into the FAFSA.
    • USC’s Federal School Code: 001328.
  • 2

    You can complete the USC Financial Aid Supplement here.

    Enter the range of academic units for which you will enroll each semester.

    • The total number of units indicated on this form MUST match the number of units you enroll in. Any errors may cause a delay in the disbursement of your financial aid.
    • If you are unsure how many units you will take, please contact your academic advisor for help before submitting this form.
  • 3

    Submit any additional documents to the Financial Aid Office within 10 days.

    Documents submitted to the USC Financial Aid Office become the property of the university and cannot be returned to the student or duplicated for any purpose.

  • 4

    Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
    Unsubsidized Loans are available to students regardless of income. A credit check is not required, although a prior default on a federal student loan will disqualify you from borrowing additional funds.

    Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans
    Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans are available to eligible borrowers who meet the credit requirements.

    • Review the credit requirements at studentaid.gov.
    • Complete the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan Request by visiting studentaid.gov and following the instructions provided.
    • The Department of Education will notify us electronically once you have completed the process.
  • 5

    To be considered for Federal Work-Study, students must:

    • Must be enrolled in in-person classes on one of our campuses. *
    • Submit the FAFSA and Financial Aid Supplement by May 3, 2024.
    • Enroll in 8 or more units per semester.
    • Demonstrate exceptional financial need.

    *Federal Work-Study is not available for students participating in online master’s degree programs.

Keck School of Medicine

Application Deadline: April 1, 2024

Complete these steps to apply for the Federal Direct Loan and Graduate PLUS Loan programs.

Other funding options, such as merit-based scholarships, private financing programs, and a short-term payment plan, are also available.

  • 1

    Complete the FAFSA Application online.

    • Use your 2022 student income. We recommend using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to automatically import your most recent income tax information into the FAFSA.
    • USC’s Federal School Code is 001328.
    • Apply as soon as December 2023 but before the April 1, 2024, deadline
  • 2

    Follow the instructions provided on your Financial Aid Summary and Tasks (FAST) page to complete and submit the Financial Aid Supplement online.

  • 3

    Respond to any requests for additional information within 10 days.

    Important Note: Documents submitted to the USC Financial Aid Office become the property of the university and cannot be returned to the student or duplicated for any purpose.

  • 4

    Admitted and continuing students who meet all requirements will be notified of their financial aid eligibility online.

    You will need to complete additional steps to ensure that your loans are processed and available in time to pay your semester tuition and fees. Read more in the Loans section of this website.