Yes, USC (University of Southern California) is test optional. You can apply without submitting SAT or ACT scores and, according to the university’s own admissions team, you will not be disadvantaged in the selection process. The policy applies to general admission as well as merit scholarship consideration. If you’re looking for the University of South Carolina, that school is also test optional through the fall 2026 term.
How USC’s Test-Optional Policy Works
At the University of Southern California, submitting standardized test scores is entirely your choice. If you choose not to send scores, your application is evaluated on the remaining components: your high school transcript, essays, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and any other supplemental materials you provide. The admissions office has stated directly that students who applied without test scores were not disadvantaged in selection.
This means you won’t see a checkbox that flags your application or routes it to a different review pile. Admissions readers evaluate test-optional applicants using the same holistic process they use for everyone else, simply placing more weight on the academic and personal factors you do submit.
What the Admissions Data Shows
Even though scores are optional, the numbers reveal an interesting pattern. According to the 2024 USC first-year student profile, roughly 36% of all applicants reported an SAT or ACT score. But among students who were admitted, approximately 51% had submitted scores. That gap suggests students with strong test scores are submitting them, and those scores likely reinforce an already competitive application.
This does not mean you need scores to get in. Nearly half of admitted students got in without them. But it does mean that if you have a score you’re proud of, one that sits at or above USC’s middle 50% range, sending it can strengthen your profile. If your score feels like the weakest part of your application, leaving it off lets the admissions team focus on areas where you shine.
Scholarships and Test Scores
USC’s test-optional approach extends to merit scholarships, including its most competitive awards. The admissions office has confirmed that scholarship selection does not penalize applicants who chose not to submit scores. Your academic record, achievements, and personal qualities carry the evaluation. If you do submit a strong score, it becomes one more data point in your favor, but its absence won’t cost you a scholarship you’d otherwise earn.
Homeschooled Applicants
If you’re homeschooled, USC recommends (but does not require) some form of externally graded academic work. That could be SAT or ACT results, but it could also be AP exam scores, SAT Subject Test results, transcripts from college courses, or grades from accredited online programs. The goal is to give the admissions team at least one outside benchmark for your academic preparation. If you have any of these available, submitting them helps round out your application.
Should You Submit Your Scores?
The decision comes down to whether your scores add to your application or distract from it. A useful rule of thumb: if your score falls within or above the middle 50% range for recently admitted students, send it. If it falls below that range, going test-optional lets your transcript, essays, and activities take center stage.
Keep in mind that USC uses superscoring for the SAT, meaning they take your highest section scores across multiple test dates and combine them. If retaking the test could push your superscore into competitive territory, that may be worth considering before deciding to go test-free.
University of South Carolina’s Policy
If your search was about the University of South Carolina in Columbia, that school is also test optional for the spring, summer, and fall 2026 terms. The policy covers general university admission, the South Carolina Honors College, and merit scholarships awarded by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The university has noted that this policy is confirmed only through those terms, so if you’re applying for a later cycle, check for updates before assuming scores are still optional.