Applying for Financial Aid

The FAFSA becomes available in the fall. Check back for specific dates.

• Visit fafsa.gov to submit your 2026-2027 application before the appropriate deadline listed above.
• Use your 2024 student income.
• USC’s Federal School Code (OPEID): 001328.

To be considered for the Loans for Disadvantaged Students (LDS), Primary Care Loans (PCL) or Health Professions Student Loans (HPSL) programs, eligible students will need to complete all student, spouse (if applicable) and parent sections of the FAFSA—regardless of your age.

You can complete the “USC Financial Aid Supplement” form via your Financial Aid Summary & Tasks (FAST) portal.

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.

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

To be considered for the Loans for Disadvantaged Students (LDS), Primary Care Loans (PCL) or Health Professions Student Loans (HPSL) programs, students will be required to demonstrate that they meet the financial need criteria by providing federal tax returns. Tax returns will be required from the student, the spouse (if applicable), and the student’s parents.

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.

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.

• Complete the Federal Direct Loan Request form.
• Learn more at studentaid.gov.

Federal student aid programs, including the Federal Direct Loan program, are subject to change based on forthcoming guidance and implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), H.R. 1, 119th Congress, signed into law on July 4, 2025.

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” form by the appropriate deadline listed above.
• Enroll in 4 or more units per semester.
• Demonstrate exceptional financial need.

*Federal Work-Study is not available for students participating in online master’s degree programs. Additionally, due to the rigor of some Health Science programs, some students are discouraged from accepting employment during the academic year.

The FAFSA becomes available in the fall. Check back for specific dates.

• Visit fafsa.gov to submit your 2026-2027 application before the appropriate deadline listed above.
• Use your 2024 student income.
• USC’s Federal School Code (OPEID): 001328.

To be considered for the Loans for Disadvantaged Students (LDS), Primary Care Loans (PCL) or Health Professions Student Loans (HPSL) programs, eligible students will need to complete all student, spouse (if applicable) and parent sections of the FAFSA—regardless of your age.

You can complete the USC “Financial Aid Supplement” form via your Financial Aid Summary & Tasks (FAST) portal.

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.

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

To be considered for the Loans for Disadvantaged Students (LDS), Primary Care Loans (PCL) or Health Professions Student Loans (HPSL) programs, students will be required to demonstrate that they meet the financial need criteria by providing federal tax returns. Tax returns will be required from the student, the spouse (if applicable), and the student’s parents.

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.

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.

• Complete the Federal Direct Loan Request form.
• Learn more at studentaid.gov.

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans
Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans may be 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.

Federal student aid programs, including the Federal Direct Loan program, are subject to change based on forthcoming guidance and implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), H.R. 1, 119th Congress, signed into law on July 4, 2025.

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” form by the appropriate deadline listed above.
• Enroll in 4 or more units per semester.
• Demonstrate exceptional financial need.

*Federal Work-Study is not available for students participating in online master’s degree programs. Additionally, due to the rigor of some Health Science programs, some students are discouraged from accepting employment during the academic year.