The University of Southern California and Marshall School of Business are pleased to announce an Early Decision (ED) option for first-year admission to its undergraduate business and accounting programs. This initiative responds to the growing demand from students who are confident that USC Marshall is their top choice for undergraduate study and who wish to accelerate the admission process.
Launching Fall 2025 as a two-year pilot and the only Early Decision option at USC, this program will give first-year students the opportunity to gain and accept admission to USC Marshall in December for enrollment in Fall 2026. Note that USC Marshall’s World Bachelor of Business and the Business of Innovation majors are not open to applicants applying ED.
Students wishing to apply in the Early Decision round must submit their applications by November 1 and may not apply ED to any other college or university. Admission decisions will be communicated on December 15. Admitted students must enroll at USC Marshall and withdraw any outstanding applications to other schools.
“As Marshall has become an ever-more attractive destination for some of the most promising students in the world, we would like to offer them an Early Decision option at USC,” said USC Marshall Dean Geoffrey Garrett. “With this ED pilot, students who have Marshall as their clear first choice will have the opportunity to lock in their college choice early.”
This Early Decision program will complement existing Early Action (EA) and Regular Decision (RD) opportunities, offering students a comprehensive set of application options tailored to individual needs. Applicants not admitted via Early Decision will be deferred to the Regular Decision round. No matter which pathway application option they choose, all Marshall students will be eligible for the same need-based financial aid support opportunities. In addition, ED and EA applicants will be considered for USC’s merit scholarships.