Policy Purpose
This policy governs the administration of scholarships and grants at the University of Southern California (USC). USC provides scholarships and grants to students consistent with donor specifications on the basis of financial need, merit, or both. All funds provided by private and corporate donors, alumni, and university general funds held by USC and its academic units are deemed institutional aid. To be eligible for institutional aid, students must meet enrollment, academic, or other criteria as specified in the scholarship or grant requirements. The total amount of institutional aid to any USC student may not exceed the student’s cost of attendance as determined by the Financial Aid Office.
For undergraduate scholarships, the Enrollment Services Division and collaborating academic units review scholarship strategies and set enrollment planning targets on an annual basis. Institutional scholarship targets are approved by the Admission Office in consultation with the Financial Aid Office. Centralized coordination of scholarships is conducted through the Financial Aid and Admission Offices and applied directly to student accounts. This policy is intended to maximize the use of all university resources for scholarship and grants, and avoid over-award situations resulting in post-notification adjustments.
For graduate scholarships, this policy provides a minimum standard that each awarding unit must meet. Academic and administrative units may supplement the policy as needed to achieve departmental or university goals, provided such goals do not violate any other laws or University policies. The Financial Aid Office will coordinate scholarships to ensure they do not exceed the student’s cost of attendance.
Please view policy to access additional details.