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USC Alumni, how did you afford/pay for USC?

I’ve heard both sides of the argument: avoiding significant debt for an undergraduate degree, but also the idea that attending your dream school can be worth it for the opportunities and connections. Many alumni say the investment paid off for them, which makes this decision harder.

I was recently accepted into the USC Dornsife College to study political science on a pre-law track. USC has been my dream school for years. However, with the cost of attendance reaching around $106,000 per year, and coming from an upper-middle-class family, I did not receive enough financial aid to make it realistically affordable. I also did not receive any merit scholarships, which I had hoped for.

This leaves me with a difficult question: is USC worth taking on significant financial burden? More specifically, is the political science/pre-law path there worth it if I plan to attend law school afterward?

college spring26 financial-aid lawschool spring2026 prelaw politicalscience usc prelaw-track universityofsoutherncalifornia
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Tom’s Answer

Choosing a mid-level State University for your degree can be just as rewarding as attending an Ivy League school, often without the high costs. Employers often value your coursework and grades more than the name of the school. This approach has worked well for me and many of my friends, and we've achieved similar career success as those who went to Ivy League schools.

When considering whether USC is worth the financial burden, especially for a political science/pre-law path, it's important to weigh the costs. If you plan to attend law school later, the UC route might not offer much more advantage.

One major factor is the potential long-term impact of student loans. Facing large payments for 10 to 20 years can be challenging, especially when starting a career and a family. This is why I chose a mid-level State University over a private college, and I'm really happy with that decision.
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Maggie’s Answer

I would echo was Tom said -- debt is one of the biggest regrets some of my friends and colleagues have after school, and tuition was half or less than half of the USC tuition you listed. As long as you feel like you have a good fit at the cheaper option, there are little to no downsides to going to the cheaper option and doing well there. Thinking about the financial aspect is a very responsible way to go about this, so I want to congratulate you for taking it into consideration.

Best of luck!
Thank you comment icon I appreciate this, thank you for the advice. Rachel
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