What Is a Good GPA at USC?
A GPA of 3.5 or higher is considered strong at USC, where the average undergraduate GPA sits near 3.5. Dean's List threshold is 3.5 term GPA with a full course load. Latin honors require 3.5 / 3.7 / 3.9 cumulative GPA with a minimum number of graded units in residence.
The average undergraduate GPA at USC sits near 3.50, drawn from the USC registrar policy and aggregated reporting. Enter your courses in the calculator above to see where your cumulative GPA lands relative to that figure.
How to Calculate USC GPA
University of Southern California (USC) uses a 4.0 grade point scale and uses plus/minus modifiers (A-, B+, B-, and so on). The school caps A+ at the same 4.0 value as an A, which matters when converting letter grades from a transcript that records A and A+ separately. Each course's grade points multiply by its credit hours, those quality points sum across all courses, and the total divides by total credits attempted.
USC GPA Formula
GPA = Sum(Grade Points x Credit Hours) / Sum(Credit Hours)
- Grade Points = letter-grade value on the 4.0 scale
- Credit Hours = credit value of the course on the USC transcript
- A+ = 4.0 (same as A on the standard scale)
USC Grading Policy Notes
USC uses the standard 4.0 scale with plus and minus modifiers. A+ records but caps at 4.0. Marshall School of Business and Viterbi School of Engineering each set distinct major-entry GPA requirements.
USC Honors and Recognition
Dean's List at USC
USC lists students with a GPA of 3.50 or higher on the Dean's List. Dean's List is based on cumulative GPA across all completed terms.
Latin Honors at USC
- Summa cum laude: 3.90 cumulative GPA or above
- Magna cum laude: 3.70 cumulative GPA or above
- Cum laude: 3.50 cumulative GPA or above
USC Dornsife College Dean's List requires 3.5+ term GPA with 12+ graded units. Latin honors require 64+ USC graded units and apply across all undergraduate schools.
Academic Standing and Repeat Policy at USC
Academic Probation Threshold
USC places students on academic probation when their cumulative GPA drops below 2.0. Probation usually triggers mandatory advising, restricts course registration, and can affect financial aid or scholarships. Use the calculator to model remaining semesters and see how many A or B grades would lift the GPA back above the 2.0 floor.
Repeating a Course at USC
Under USC's repeat policy, the new grade replaces the old grade in the GPA calculation. This calculator treats every entered row as a distinct graded attempt; if your school replaces the old grade, leave off the original, and if both count, enter both lines. Always confirm the final transcript version with the registrar before relying on a projected GPA.
Grade Forgiveness at USC
No. USC does not offer formal grade replacement. Repeated courses count both attempts in the GPA, though the registrar may grant exceptions for courses where students earned a D or F.
Major GPA Requirements at USC
Most majors require 2.0 minimum cumulative GPA. Marshall admission requires 3.0+ in business prerequisites. Viterbi engineering programs require 2.5+ in technical core.
What Makes USC Grading Distinctive
- Strong arts and entertainment programs alongside research
- Marshall and Viterbi maintain distinct major-entry standards
- Trojan family network influences post-graduation outcomes
How Does USC Calculate GPA
The way USC calculates GPA follows the standard credit-weighted average the registrar publishes. Each letter grade maps to grade points on the 4.0 scale, points get multiplied by the course's credit hours, and the quality points are summed and divided by total credits attempted. Plus/minus modifiers and grade-replacement rules follow the school's repeat policy. The calculator above replicates that arithmetic so the figure matches what your USC transcript will read. For national averages and scale variation context, the National Center for Education Statistics tracks GPA reporting across US institutions.
How Does USC Calculate GPA for Admission
For admission, USC reviews a cumulative undergraduate GPA alongside the transcript, course rigor, and school profile. The GPA figure is built from letter grades on the 4.0 scale multiplied by course credits. The calculator above produces the same cumulative number USC admissions sees after a standard recalculation pass.
How Does USC Calculate High School GPA
When USC recalculates a high school GPA from an applicant transcript, the registrar strips weighted bumps, maps letters to the unweighted 4.0 scale (A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0), and applies credit or Carnegie-unit weights. The calculator above mirrors that same recalculation approach, enter each course with its unweighted letter to see the baseline figure USC admissions would read.
USC GPA Calculator
This USC GPA Calculator handles every course-by-course input the USC registrar would apply, letter-to-point conversion on the 4.0 scale, credit weighting, and Dean's List / probation threshold comparison. Use it the same way you would a degree-audit printout: enter every completed course with its grade and credit load, and the cumulative figure updates as you type.
USC at a Glance
- Institution type
- private research
- Location
- Los Angeles, CA
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 49,500
- Founded
- 1880
- Athletic conference
- Big Ten
- Average undergrad GPA
- 3.50
- Registrar source
- USC official grading policy
Related GPA Tools
To roll this USC GPA into a cumulative figure across multiple semesters, use the cumulative GPA calculator. For a semester-by-semester view with optional prior-GPA import, use the college GPA calculator. To compute individual course grades before they hit your transcript, switch to the grade calculator.
Accuracy Note
This calculator follows the grading policy published by the USC registrar as of 2026-04-18. Policies are reviewed periodically; the "Last verified" date in the footer reflects the most recent confirmation. Always cross-check your final GPA against your official transcript. The tool models the same formulas registrars use but cannot account for grade forgiveness petitions, audit decisions, or exceptions approved by the dean of students.