Why University of Southern California?
USC Gould School of Law offers a forward-looking, interdisciplinary legal education with strong clinical programs, situated in the dynamic global hub of Los Angeles.
University of Southern California is a very selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 12.7%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.91 GPA and 168 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.73–3.97 GPA and 165–169 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 223 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in California, New York, and Colorado — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, University of Southern California admitted 20 transfer students into the 2L class, with a median 1L GPA of 3.64 (25th–75th percentile: 3.50–3.75). 7 1Ls transferred out.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- Unranked
- Not numerically ranked by US News
- Median GPA
- 3.91
- 25th–75th: 3.73–3.97
- Median LSAT
- 168
- 25th–75th: 165–169
- Acceptance rate
- 12.7%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 223
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 20
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students University of Southern California admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- 3.50
- Bottom quartile
- Median
- 3.64
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- 3.75
- Top quartile
7 1Ls transferred out of University of Southern California in the same cycle — context for how portable University of Southern California's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.
Top employment markets
- 1California
- 2New York
- 3Colorado
Where the most recent graduating class concentrated employment, per the school's ABA 509 employment summary. Use this as a signal of where the alumni network and OCI recruiting pipeline are strongest.
Signature clinics
Clinical programs that define University of Southern California's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why University of Southern California" essay where they align with your interests.
- Housing Law and Policy ClinicStudents work on actual cases and advocate for clients in housing-related legal issues.
- Immigration ClinicProvides free legal representation to adults and children from around the world in immigration matters.
- International Human Rights Clinic (IHRC)Engages students in projects that advance human rights and justice globally.
- Mediation ClinicStudents gain experience in alternative dispute resolution by mediating real cases.
- Post-Conviction Justice Project (PCJP)Represents clients in state and federal post-conviction proceedings, focusing on wrongful convictions and sentencing.
- Small Business Clinic (SBC)Assists small business owners with legal issues, from formation to intellectual property.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Southern California Law Review— Publishes scholarly articles on a wide range of legal topics and is entirely student-run.
- Southern California Review of Law and Social Justice— Aims to influence legal development to promote positive social change and equal participation.
- Southern California Interdisciplinary Law Journal— Incorporates insights from various fields to assess existing laws and propose reforms.
Faculty highlights
Well-known faculty grouped by primary specialty. If a professor's scholarship aligns with your interests, name them in your essay and reference a specific paper or course.
- Jody David ArmourLaw and Race, Criminal Law
- Jonathan BarnettIntellectual Property, Antitrust, Corporate Law
- Jordan BarryTaxation
- Rebecca BrownConstitutional Law
- Michael ChasalowSmall Business Law, Entrepreneurship
- Niels W. FrenzenImmigration Law
- Aya GruberCriminal Law, Feminism and Criminal Law
- Thomas D. LyonChild Witnesses, Law and Psychology
- Edward McCafferyTax Law, Law and Economics
- Heidi RummelPost-Conviction Justice, Criminal Law
- Dan SimonLaw and Psychology, Criminal Justice
- Angela ZhangChinese Tech Regulation, Data Privacy, Antitrust
What makes University of Southern California distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·Offers a wide array of dual degree programs with other USC schools, including JD/MBA, JD/MPP, and JD/MSW, allowing for interdisciplinary study.
- ·Pioneering and formative role in the interdisciplinary movement in legal scholarship, particularly in law and social sciences.
- ·Located in Los Angeles, providing unique opportunities in entertainment, business, media, technology, and sports law.
- ·Features Progressive Degree Programs, enabling USC undergraduates to begin master's degree work while completing their bachelor's.
- ·A strong emphasis on experiential learning through its seven clinics and extensive externship opportunities.
Using this for your "Why University of Southern California" essay
Strong "Why X Law School" essays are concrete and specific to the school — not interchangeable templates. Use these facts to anchor your essay, then layer on what you've found from the school's own faculty pages, clinical program descriptions, and journal listings.
Important note: admissions committees actively reject AI-written personal statements and "Why X" essays. Use this page as research material to write your own essay — never as a template to copy. Authentic, specific, personally-grounded reasoning is the only thing that wins these essays.
Frequently asked about University of Southern California
What is the median GPA and LSAT at University of Southern California?▾
University of Southern California's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.91 and a median LSAT of 168. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.73–3.97 GPA and 165–169 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is University of Southern California's acceptance rate?▾
University of Southern California's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 12.7%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does University of Southern California offer?▾
University of Southern California's notable clinical programs include: Housing Law and Policy Clinic, Immigration Clinic, International Human Rights Clinic (IHRC), Mediation Clinic, Post-Conviction Justice Project (PCJP). Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does University of Southern California publish?▾
University of Southern California's notable student-edited journals include: Southern California Law Review, Southern California Review of Law and Social Justice, Southern California Interdisciplinary Law Journal.
Where do University of Southern California graduates work?▾
University of Southern California graduates concentrate employment in California, New York, Colorado, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does University of Southern California admit?▾
University of Southern California admitted 20 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, with a median 1L GPA of 3.64.
Schools similar to University of Southern California
Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.
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Try Case Cub free →Sources (5) — verify any fact above
- https://gould.usc.edu/faculty/
- https://gould.usc.edu/academics/journals-and-moot-court/
- https://gould.usc.edu/academics/experiential-learning/clinics-and-practicums/
- https://gould.usc.edu/academics/degrees/dual-degrees/
- https://gould.usc.edu/academics/centers-and-initiatives/
Generated from public sources via search-grounded AI on 4/27/2026. If any fact looks wrong, click through to verify and let us know.