Graduate student housing is in smaller off-campus apartment buildings. You can get a list of these facilities on our building search page.
Housing
USC Housing has just under 7,000 undergraduate bed spaces in our inventory and prioritizes those spaces for new freshmen and rising sophomores. However, as of academic year 2021-22, there are over 20,000 undergraduate students enrolled at USC, far more than we can house. The result is that 65% of undergraduate upperclass students live in non-university housing.
USC Housing has just under 1,500 graduate and family bed spaces in our inventory. However, as of academic year 2021-2022 there are over 20,000 graduate students enrolled at USC, more than we can house The result is that over 90% of USC graduate students live in non-university housing.
Where you should live is very much a matter of personal choice. There isn’t an overall “best” housing facility. Look through the descriptions of freshman buildings and see which fit your personal preferences.
While some of our buildings have special interest programs geared toward particular academic fields (such as the Music Floor or Women in Science and Engineering), in general, where you live has little to do with your major. As a freshman, your classes are likely to be spread around campus rather than concentrated in a specific location. The USC campus is relatively small and academic buildings are just a 10 or 15 minute walk from freshman housing.
Since our housing facilities are used year-round, tours of living areas are not possible. Buildings will be pointed out during freshman orientations in the summer. Please check out the individual pages for buildings you are interested in on this website for pictures, descriptions and floorplans.
May 1 is the application deadline for freshmen to be guaranteed a space in housing, but they are not guaranteed a particular space. Assignments are made based on application date, so those students who applied early, well before May 1, had the best chances to get their top preferences.
Returning residents may apply for housing for the upcoming year through our USC Housing Renewal process (UHR). UHR takes place January through March each year. More information about next year’s UHR will be available in December.
Spring 2024 housing applications will be taken beginning July 1, 2024. Check here for more information on spring housing.
While USC Housing strives to offer university housing to as many transferring undergraduates as possible, our large returning student population and limited space prevents us from guaranteeing housing to transfers.
You should sign up for the UHR Wait List. UHR participants on the Wait List will be offered housing during the spring and early summer as spaces become open. For more information on how the Wait List works check here.
Housing contract dates for graduate students are different than those of undergraduates.
- Graduate Academic Year contracts (9 months) begin in early August and end in mid-May when the academic year closes,
- Graduate Full Year contracts (12 months) begin in early August and end in late July.
- All Family housing buildings are on Graduate Full Year contract (12 months), beginning in early August and ending in late July.
- Contracts for Residents of the Law program in Terrace begin in early August and end in mid-May, a few days later than the Academic Year contract term ends.
No. Grads are assigned on a space available basis in the order their housing applications were received.
Yes. USC Housing has partnered with Off-Campus Housing 101 to provide students with listings of available rentals from private landlords in the North University Park area, around the main campus. All their listings are within the USC Department of Public Safety Patrol Zone and they offer customer support services to assist you with obtaining private rental housing
Select apartments in Birnkrant, Cardinal Gardens and Century (Rainbow Floor) are designated for gender-inclusive housing.
New housing applicants should check the gender-inclusive option in the special interest housing step of the online application. Returning residents participating in UHR should request the Special Interest Housing category and check the gender-inclusive option. A supplemental (written) application is also required.
Applications will be reviewed by the Division of Student Life, who will work with applicants regarding their housing needs. If accepted, applicants will be provided with specific instructions regarding how to confirm their assignment.
Yes, but your roommates must have requested, been selected for, and assigned to gender-inclusive housing.
No. Only applicants specifically requesting this housing will be assigned to these spaces.
Undergraduates of all class standings may request this housing. Spaces for freshmen will be limited and eligibility will be determined on a case by case basis.
Please contact the Office for Residential Education at (213) 740-2080.
Yes. Currie Hall, which is located on the Health Science Campus, provides apartments for students attending classes there. Additionally USC Housing has partnered with Off-Campus Housing 101 to provide students with listings of available rentals from private landlords in the North University Park area and near the Health Sciences Campus. All listings are within the USC Department of Public Safety Patrol Zone and they offer customer support services to assist you with obtaining private rental housing.