Master of Accounting Admissions

General 

 • A completed online application 

• Prerequisite coursework (completed and/or in progress) 

• Official academic transcripts 

• GMAT or GRE scores (if applicable) 

• Personal Statement, Optional Essay, and Video 

• A professional resume (typically one page) 

• TOEFL or IELTS scores (if applicable) – This applies to most international applicants (non-U.S. citizen or non-U.S. permanent resident).

Application fee is $90. (waived for current USC students and alumni) For additional information on fee waivers, lease visit Graduate Admission Fee Waivers

Transcript submission is a two-step process: 

Step 1: You must upload scanned copies of official transcripts to the online application. Please note that these must be official transcripts printed on university letterhead. Print-outs from online student portals, screenshots, and photographs of transcripts are not acceptable. 

Step 2: After you submit your application and have received your 10 digit USC ID number, you must also submit (by mail, courier, or electronic service) official transcripts from all colleges, universities, and other post-secondary institutions you have previously attended.

We recommend that you fill out the “College/University Transcript Cover Page” and send it to the registrar’s office of each post-secondary institution you have attended. Although it is not mandatory, including it along with your USC ID number will help us match your transcripts to your file as quickly as possible.

USC now accepts official electronic transcripts from all countries, provided that the transcript originates from a secure site formally linked to the sending institution. 

Please instruct the vendor to email the transcript to etrans@usc.edu. Do not send any other materials or correspondence to this email address yourself. Electronic transcripts e-mailed to any other address will not be downloaded, resulting in a delay of your file review and an extra expense to you because the transcript will need to be re-sent.

If you are a USC degree holder, you must still upload a copy of your official transcript into the online application. However, you do not need to submit USC transcripts to the Office of Graduate Admission. Please be sure to include your USC enrollment in the “Academic Background” section so that we may match your application to the academic records already on file.

International students who have earned their degree outside the United States must check our country-specific requirements to determine if we need original-language copies of their academic records. In such cases, a separate, word-for-word, English-language translation of all academic records must also be submitted. The translation should either be issued directly from the school itself or by a professional, certified translator. It must contain all information shown on the original-language documents and “mirror” them as precisely as possible. Dual-language transcripts are also acceptable.

Please note that USC does not accept or recognize credential evaluation reports from outside agencies (e.g. WES, ECE, etc.) for the purposes of admission review.

Official academic records from all post-secondary schools you have attended should be sent to the addresses provided below.

If sending your transcripts via regular mail, please use the following address:

University of Southern California 

USC Office of Graduate Admission 

3601 South Flower Street, Room 112 

Los Angeles, CA 90089-0915 

If sending your transcripts via courier service, such as DHL or FedEx, please use the following address: 

 University of Southern California 

USC Office of Graduate Admission and Financial Aid 

3601 South Flower Street, Tyler 112 

Los Angeles, CA 90089-0915 

Phone: (213) 740-1111

Transcripts and all other materials submitted for admission consideration become the property of USC. The university does not return or duplicate materials for any reason whatsoever. The information and materials in your submitted application are made available only to the central Office of Admission and the admission committee of the academic department or professional school to which you have applied.

GMAT or GRE Score Report 

The GMAT or GRE is waived for applicants who have or will receive an undergraduate from a 4-year U.S. institution with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or higher. 

TOEFL or IELTS Score Report – All candidates must possess and demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in oral and written English. International applicants (those who are not U.S. citizens or not U.S. permanent residents) whose native language is not English must submit at least one of these test score reports. Marshall, however, does not require the submission of English Proficiency Exam scores by international applicants for the Full-Time MBA program who hold a bachelor’s degree completed in its entirety at an officially recognized non-U.S. university in which English is the language of instruction. In sum, all international applicants whose native language is not English must submit one of the following: 

• Valid, official TOEFL or IELTS test scores; or 

• Documentation demonstrating that English was the language of instruction at the institution at which the applicant completed their bachelor’s degree. 

This documentation can either be: 

• A university transcript that states that the medium of instruction is English (to be uploaded in the transcript section of the USC application); or 

• Another official university document that states that the medium of instruction is English (to be uploaded in the “Optional Documents” section of the “Program Materials” part of the USC application.)

 TOEFL or IELTS exams are valid for 2 years from the date taken. 

• Summer Start – taken on or after June 1, 2021 

• Fall Start – taken on or after August 1, 2021Upload unofficial copies (examinee score report or test-day printout) in the appropriate area below. 

Important: Please register to have the testing service(s) forward USC the official school test report no later than the deadline for the admissions round within which you are applying. Failure to do so will result in your application being shifted to a subsequent admissions round. 

Minimum Scores: 

• TOEFL IBT: 103 - must score no less than 20 on each of the four test components 

• IELTS - 7.5 - must score no less than 6 on each band score. 

• PTE Academic- 73 

Submitting Official Test Scores 

All candidates will need to submit official test scores (provided to USC by the testing service). To save time, applicants should, at the time of test registration, have the testing service(s) forward the official, confidential school report using the following institution codes: 

• GMAT: MAcc: 389-XR-28MBT: 389-XR-07 

• GRE: 4852• TOEFL: 4852 

• IELTS: Choose “University of Southern California, Graduate Programs.” Do not enter the name and contact information of your specific intended graduate department. USC will only accept electronic IELTS scores. Paper scores are not considered official.

Required Essay: Choose from one of three prompts and answer in no more than 2 double-spaced pages. 

• Option #1 – Of al your accomplishments (academic, athletic, volunteer, family, etc.) what are you most proud of and why? 

• Option #2 – Explain how the impact of an event or activity has changed your life or way of thinking. 

• Option #3 – Describe yourself outside your academic or professional accomplishments. What characteristics do you think are your strengths and weaknesses and how have they shaped you into the person you are today? 

Optional Essay: Provide any additional information that is not included elsewhere in your application that you feel is important for the Admissions Office to know.

Applicants will need to create a short introduction video, no more than 1-2 minutes in length. The video should include applicant name, hometown, name of your university, major and an interesting fact about themselves.

Records of your undergraduate degrees 

Applicants must have obtained an equivalent to a 4-year U.S. bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Please review USC’s country guidelines for education requirements.Transcripts from international universities must be submitted in the original language as well as in English. They must be sealed and sent directly from the university. 

Leventhal Policy on English-language proficiency 

International graduate applicants must demonstrate English-language proficiency by submitting either TOEFL or IELTS scores.Exemptions from taking TOEFL or IELTS: 

• You hold a Bachelor’s degree completed in its entirety in the United States or at an officially recognized non-U.S. university in which English is the language of instruction.OR 

• Your native language is English – This applies to native English speakers from countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada (except Quebec), where English is the only official language of the country. 

Proof of Financial Support and Passport Copies 

• All enrolling international students are required to submit: 

1) Proof of financial support; and 

2) Copies of the first two pages of their passport in order to be issued an I-20 or DS-2019. 

While these documents are not required for the review of your application, we strongly encourage you to upload copies of these documents into your application in the “Supporting Information” section. This will reduce the delays in processing the I-20 or DS-2019. If you wish to submit these documents after you submit your application, you may do so. For information, please visit the USC Financial Documentation website.

The number provided below are approximations. Please be aware that living expenses can vary greatly depending on where in Los Angeles you live and your choice of accommodation (in shared housing or on your own).

2023-2024 Estimate of Cost of AttendanceCosts

Summer Term                                                                                               Fall/SpringTuition

(based on 2022-2023 tuition) $12,000                                                             $63,468

USC Central Services and Health Fees $216                                                     $1,258 

MAcc/MBT Program Fee $400                                                                         $650 

Books/Supplies $425                                                                                     $1,200 

Total Living Expenses $4,300                                                                         $17,436 

Total Cost $17,341                                                                                       $84,012

All admitted applicants are considered for Leventhal School of Accounting scholarship opportunities. Applicants are required to answer additional questions within the application. Candidates are informed of the scholarship decision at the time of admission. 

For those interested in scholarships, we recommend applying as early as possible to ensure the most possible funding. 

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

Prospective students are encouraged to search many resources to find additional scholarship opportunities that may potentially help decrease the out-of-pocket cost for their education. 

Here are a few sites to look at but please know that this is not all. Make sure not to limit your search just to these. 

USC Awards and Fellowships Database 

AICPA ScholarshipsCalCPA Scholarship Resource GuideJVS Scholarship Program 

PDF2022 JVS Scholarship Eligibility 2.1 MB 

Discover Accounting - Accounting Degree Specific Scholarships 

Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting (EFWA) - EFWA Video to learn more 

Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program - Veterans entitled to the 100% Post 9/11 benefit rate (based on service requirements) or their designated transferees may receive this funding.

Please visit the USC Student Financial Aid website to inquire about Federal Stafford Loans and other loan options. International students are not eligible to receive federal financial aid, which includes Stafford and Perkins loans. However, international students may qualify for private loans if they have a U.S. co-signer. Additional helpful links include: 

• USC Student Financial Services 

•Federal Stafford Loans 

• USC Tuition Payment Plan 

• Corporate Tuition Reimbursement 

• Sponsor Payments/Agency Billing 

USC is a participant of the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program. Visit the USC Office of Veteran Affairs for more information.