University of Southern California
University of Southern California
4.5
About
A major university that has developed into an international center of learning, enrolling more than 28,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students on its two campuses.
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: University Park
How to get there
- Expo/Vermont • 6 min walk
- Expo Park/USC • 8 min walk
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Restaurants
1,975 within 3 miles
Attractions
626 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
339 reviews
Excellent
210
Very good
95
Average
26
Poor
4
Terrible
4
permia
Ireland41,097 contributions
Oct 2019
We spent a tremendous couple of hours exploring the beautiful campus. From its first intake of around 50 students in 1880 it is today ranked as one of the leading academic institutions worldwide.
It was the annual homecoming weekend and there was a palpable atmosphere of celebration and excitement.
A number of exceptionally marvellous buildings were on our itinerary. Doheny Memorial Library is splendid with ornate features and terrific reading rooms.
Further south we visited Mudd Hall, also called Hoose Library of Philosophy. It is delightful, again with great embellishments and a wonderful reading room.
It was the annual homecoming weekend and there was a palpable atmosphere of celebration and excitement.
A number of exceptionally marvellous buildings were on our itinerary. Doheny Memorial Library is splendid with ornate features and terrific reading rooms.
Further south we visited Mudd Hall, also called Hoose Library of Philosophy. It is delightful, again with great embellishments and a wonderful reading room.
Written February 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew Tsui
San Diego, CA275 contributions
Dec 2021
We spent 1-2 hours strolling around campus, seeing how life would be like as a Trojan. It was winter break + raining so of course, there weren't many people out and about. However, we still had a wonderful time walking around campus. There was definitely some great architecture from the late 19th Century, and the statue of a Trojan on one corner of the main square is definitely iconic.
Bookstore/Student Shop was nice too, and they offered a wide assortment of USC memorabilia and goods, both as souvenirs and for students. They do have a strict pet policy, however, and do not allow dogs inside the store.
As the current COVID situation progresses, you'll have to show your COVID vaccine card at any entrance and fill out a self-health form in order to be allowed in, but the process takes only a few minutes and the staff are very approachable.
Bookstore/Student Shop was nice too, and they offered a wide assortment of USC memorabilia and goods, both as souvenirs and for students. They do have a strict pet policy, however, and do not allow dogs inside the store.
As the current COVID situation progresses, you'll have to show your COVID vaccine card at any entrance and fill out a self-health form in order to be allowed in, but the process takes only a few minutes and the staff are very approachable.
Written December 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ambrizt
Los Angeles2 contributions
I'll admit right off the top that I'm an alum of USC. There. I said it. But before I ever attended this university, I grew up in the suburbs just a 20 -30 minute drive from the campus and my family and I used to frequent many of the attractions in the area immediately adjacent to USC. This included taking walks around the campus and seeing the Tommy Trojan statue. You can't beat the variety of attractions within close proximity to USC or just a short drive away (e.g., famous beaches, Downtown LA, theme parks, professional sports teams, concert venues, world class museums, Hollywood, Pasadena, the mountains, etc.), not to mention the world class academics and outstanding sports teams of the university.
As a USC alum, there is something I would like to suggest to anyone who will be attending the university this Fall or anytime in the future. (Now that I think of it, this message applies to all alumni of USC, too.) I wish you much success at USC and beyond, but please don't be an obnoxious, arrogant, pretentious student or alumnus who walks around with a sense of entitlement. Our university, just like any other, does NOT need that type of reputation. Please represent USC well. Do WELL in your chosen profession and do GOOD for humankind. Fight On!
As a USC alum, there is something I would like to suggest to anyone who will be attending the university this Fall or anytime in the future. (Now that I think of it, this message applies to all alumni of USC, too.) I wish you much success at USC and beyond, but please don't be an obnoxious, arrogant, pretentious student or alumnus who walks around with a sense of entitlement. Our university, just like any other, does NOT need that type of reputation. Please represent USC well. Do WELL in your chosen profession and do GOOD for humankind. Fight On!
Written June 25, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
divabo
Marina del Rey, California16 contributions
University set in a terrible area of Los Angeles --and I am a Bruin!
Written December 30, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CaribbeanFan
San Diego, CA1,040 contributions
Sep 2016 • Couples
Bad crime in this neighborhood! I know it's supposed to be a major University but it's really ugly, outdated, and in a very dangerous area!
Written September 16, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pandpCalifornia
Santa Monica, CA550 contributions
Jan 2015 • Family
I have visited and attended as a student. the area is awful, the area is unsafe and why in the world would you bother to go??
Written February 2, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anthony G
61 contributions
Oct 2019
A well established and long tenure as a leading University, USC continues to be at the forefront in medical research and educational benefits. The campus is near many enjoyable sites to visit and explore and boasts a long history of sports dominance and championships.
Written November 10, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pastorbob_12
Sherrill, NY48 contributions
Apr 2018 • Family
Our daughter is interested in studying Film..so we went to USC School of Cinematic Arts....had a great visit and talked to students about their experience....then we went to Main Campus admissions, met two more film students and learned a lot about USC..
Written May 2, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wendler-Philipp
Berlin, Germany1,424 contributions
Jul 2013
I was visiting the USC campus because I'm considering USC as my future college. I was able to talk to an admissions officer. She told me, that the average SAT scores of the attending freshman year 2013-14 was 1,950 to 2,250 which is almost an ivy league required score. In addition the Grade Point Average (GPA) was 4.0 out of a 5-point system. USC is a very competitive and selective school. The faculty student ratio is 9:1 even though they have 40,000 students enrolled out of which 18,000 are undergraduate students. The average class size is 26. The annual tuition fee is $ 48,000. If you apply (using common app) before December, 1st you are automatically considered for the scholarship program. Otherwise the application deadline is January, 15th. The campus is unbelievable! They have a great film school, solid business and engineering programs and an amazing library. USC is, besides UC Berkeley, the oldest school in California; founded in 1880. There are often movie scenes shot on campus. The campus is well maintained and very clean. Great Place!!
Written July 29, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TMACKSTER
Chino Hills, CA46 contributions
Sep 2019
The game day atmosphere on campus is incredible. The tailgating, the food, the obligatory trip into the bookstore, Heritage Hall, the band pregame warm-up, etc
Written December 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Annevet
Orlando, FL25 contributions
What is the best hotel to stay while my son and I fly out to tour USC? We will be there for three nights.
Heather W
Cherry Hill, NJ189 contributions
Can't go wrong at the Ritz Carlton =)
JW Marriott is pretty standard as well.
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Claim your listingUniversity of Southern California - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about University of Southern California
- Hotels near University of Southern California:
- (0.56 mi) USC Hotel
- (1.83 mi) AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles
- (1.83 mi) Moxy Downtown Los Angeles
- (2.16 mi) Downtown Los Angeles Proper
- (2.19 mi) The Hoxton, Downtown LA
- Restaurants near University of Southern California:
- (0.08 mi) Boba Loca Tea and Coffee
- (0.11 mi) Togo's
- (0.27 mi) Panda Express
- (0.29 mi) NHM Grill
- (0.31 mi) Sunlife Organics- USC Village
- Attractions near University of Southern California:
- (0.39 mi) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
- (0.21 mi) McDonalds Swim Stadium
- (0.48 mi) California Science Center
- (0.28 mi) Omar ibn Al-Khattab Mosque
- (1.14 mi) Guideline Tours