Is USC Gould a good law school?

Value of a USC Education

The university prides itself on creating a high-touch environment that ensures all students have access to the world's best faculty; academic programs that prepare them for the 21st century; high-value internships and career services; and an exceptional residential college experience.

According to the 2020 Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education survey of more than 800 U.S. colleges and universities, USC ranks 18th nationally and third among the 150 universities surveyed in the western United States.

USC Gould currently ranks 18th according to the U.S. News & World Report survey of 198 law schools, and was 4th in diversity among top 20 law schools for the U S. News & World Report Diversity Index listing. In addition, USC Gould ranked 16th in the National Law Journal's 2020 list of Go-To Law Schools.

Tuition

USC tuition increases (including USC Gould) are at a five-year average low. Over the last six years, the rise of the average net price of a USC education, adjusted for inflation, was just 1 percent. For USC Gould, the low average rise in net price combined with generous merit-based scholarship offerings equated to a net tuition of $30,194 for the class that began Fall 2020.

Financial Aid

USC Gould's increases in scholarship support have consistently outpaced increases in tuition in the past decade. Specifically, Gould's financial aid has increased by 2:1 over the increase in tuition. Nearly all of USC Gould students receive some form of scholarship assistance. A March 2020 article in The National Jurist magazine reported that from 2016 to 2019, the average student loan debt for Gould students decreased by 12%. This is a direct result of the increase in scholarship support.

Supporting Access for Students from Diverse Backgrounds

The law school's need-blind admission process helps identify the best students, regardless of their ability to pay. This helps increase access to the university for students from all backgrounds:

• more than 40 percent are underrepresented minorities;
• 10+ percent come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds; and
• 10+ percent of the law student body are "first-gen," the first in their family to attend college.

USC is among the leading private universities in its generous support for these groups of students.

USC Gould is an elite law school committed to academic excellence. Our success is comprised of a world-class faculty, a close-knit and diverse student body, a well-situated campus, an interdisciplinary curriculum and a supportive alumni network.

The faculty is nationally recognized for its scholarship in many fields, its interdisciplinary focus, public service and leadership in the profession. Our small class size and low professor-to-student ratio create an intimate and collegial learning environment.

Founded in 1900, USC Gould was Southern California's first law school. From the school's earliest days, we enrolled women and students of color. Today we maintain one of the nation's most diverse law student populations and enroll the most international students. This creates an environment that fosters a wide range of perspectives and experiences.

Our location in Los Angeles provides students with vast opportunities in one of the top legal markets and busiest courts in the nation. From Silicon Beach to downtown L.A., USC Gould offers access to clerkships, externships and career options with law and business firms, public interest agencies, and entertainment, media and technology firms. The law school's location on USC's University Park Campus supports numerous opportunities for interdisciplinary education and research among the multitude of renowned schools.

USC pioneered the concepts of interdisciplinary and clinical legal education. The first modern legal aid program grew out of a USC Gould clinic established in 1929. And, in 1965, we became one of the first schools to bring an interdisciplinary focus to the study of law. Today, our curriculum is infused with courses at the intersection of a variety of key disciplines, and we offer 15 dual-degree programs. Through our numerous clinics, practicums and externships, students gain hands-on training in the practice of law, working with real clients.

The law school boasts a supportive and tight-knit alumni population of more than 10,000 professionals around the globe. The Trojan Family is a fiercely loyal and powerful network deeply committed to the success of USC graduates. Our alumni are partners in the world's largest law firms, head major international companies, and serve leadership roles in government and public service organizations. More than 500 USC Gould alumni have served as state or federal judges.

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