Registration Services

Registration appointment times and permit to register information are available at myUSC. If you do not have a registration appointment time, please email us at ask.usc.edu/s/emailus.

Web Registration is available to most continuing, newly admitted and returning students. Students who have had certain activity restrictions placed on their student accounts may not use Web Registration until the hold is released. Please contact the department that placed the activity restriction on your student record. Limited status, non-admitted students must contact the Registrar’s office for additional information.

International Students

Admitted and Continuing Students

Upon arrival at USC, all new international students must complete Immigration Status Verification (ISV) through the Office of International Services (OIS).

Non-Admitted Students

International students intending to register as limited status students should contact the Registrar’s office to inquire about taking classes at USC and must contact the Office of International Services before registration to obtain permission to study at USC. If the student holds an F-1 visa, USC also requires a letter from the Designated School Official (DSO) at the student’s current institution permitting the student to concurrently register at USC.

Newly Admitted and Returning Students

New undergraduate students register for classes during Welcome Trojans Orientation. To sign up for orientation, watch your USC email for an invitation from the Office of Orientation Programs.

New graduate students should contact their academic advisers for advisement before registering for classes.

Returning students (absent one or more semesters from USC) should contact the Registrar’ Office to obtain a registration appointment. If you declared a Leave of Absence (LOA), your registration appointment will be automatically assigned when the LOA hold is lifted from your record.

Permanent Residents and United States Citizens

Non-Admitted (Limited Status) Students

Individuals who have not applied to and have never attended USC, but who wish to take a course at the university, should contact the Registrar’s office. More information about the Limited Status program is available on the Limited Status Enrollment page.

Individuals who wish to enroll as limited status students in the USC Viterbi School of Engineering Distance Education Network should visit that website for information and to determine eligibility.

Current USC students, please follow the instructions below to update your address:

1. Log in to myUSC.
2. Navigate to “myServices” and click on “Experience USC.”
3. Click on your “Profile” icon in the upper right-hand corner to visit the “My Profile” tab.
4. Verify your current address and permanent address.
5. If the address listed is incorrect, click on “Edit” and enter the correct address.
6. Click on the “Save” button.

Your adviser can assist you with the selection of courses, D-clearances (department clearances) and procedures for registration. Please contact your department or school for the appropriate academic adviser. Refer to the Academic Counselors page for the current listing.

Choose your courses.

Use Web Registration on myUSC to plan your course schedule.

Classification and Numbering of Courses

The first digit of the course number indicates the year level of the course:

000 – Preparatory courses
100 – First undergraduate year
200 – Second undergraduate year
300 – Third and fourth undergraduate years without graduate credit
400 – Third and fourth undergraduate years with graduate credit for graduate students

500 – First graduate year
600 – Second graduate year
700 – Third graduate year

Courses offered in sequence

The lowercase letters a, b, c, d, etc., indicate the semesters for a course that is longer than one semester. In such courses, the “a” semester is usually the prerequisite to the “b” semester, and so on.

Other designations

Courses may also be designated as follows:

L — Indicates that all or part of the work is supervised laboratory or other work.

x — Indicates that the course is restricted in some manner. The course description will specify the restriction.

z — Indicates that the course is repeatable for 0 credit. Two (2) units of tuition are charged.

Undergraduates are expected to give priority to courses that fulfill the general lower-division requirements. It is recommended that students register in courses appropriate to their academic standing, i.e., lower-division students in courses below 300, upper-division students in courses below 500, graduate students in courses numbered 400 or higher.

The following are not available for graduate credit: courses numbered 00-399, courses designated “g” (General Education), Senior Seminar courses, courses designated “x” where the description specifically excludes graduate credit.

Diversity Requirement Courses

Courses with a lowercase “m” for “multiculturalism” following the course number have been approved for credit in fulfilling the university’s diversity requirement for students who began college before 2015.

Preparatory Courses

Preparatory courses (courses numbered below 100) impart the minimum skills required for college-level work. Students completing preparatory coursework may receive unit credit, but do not receive degree credit.

“D” and “R” Designations

Class numbers with an “R” designation are restricted by the size of the classroom. “D” classes are restricted by the department offering the course and require the student to obtain “D-clearance” from the home department prior to registering. Departments reserve the right to change class sections from “R” to “D” at any time.

A university office may place a registration restriction on a student’s account if the student has a pending obligation with the office. Before your registration appointment, you should clear any restriction that prohibits registration. You will not be allowed to register until advisement requirements are cleared.

Activity Restrictions (see the department that owns the hold)

Academic Advisement Requirement (see the department of your major)

Academic Integrity, STU 300, (213) 764-4163, academicintegrity@usc.edu.

Academic Counseling, FIG 107, (213) 740-1196.

Admission, TCC 202, or home department (graduate or international). (These restrictions must be cleared in person.)

American Language Institute, Royal Street Structure 106, (213) 740-0079, askali@usc.edu.

Community Expectations, STU 206, (213) 821-7373.

Collection Restriction, University Collections, Jefferson Boulevard Structure 100, (213) 740-9087, collect@usc.edu.

Dornsife College Advising Office, GFS 320, (213) 740-2534.

Graduate School, STU 301, (213) 740-9033.

USC Housing, McCarthy Way Parking Structure, 620 USC McCarthy Way, (213) 740-2546.

Immunizations, USC Student Health. Contact studenthealth@usc.edu or send a secure message in MySHR to the Immunizations department if you encounter a registration hold due to immunization non-compliance.

International Students. All international students must obtain clearance from the Office of International Services to drop below full-time enrollment. International students must register in a minimum of 12 units as undergraduates, 8 units as master’s degree students and 6 units as doctoral students or as research or teaching assistants. PSD 101, ois@usc.edu.

Leave of Absence (see the department of your major).

Library Hold (see appropriate library).

Prevention Education Modules. Review requirements for prevention education and contact the appropriate program if you have difficulty completing the necessary module to lift a registration hold.

Probation/Academic Counseling, FIG 107, (213) 740-1196.

Registrar, Office of Academic Records and Registrar. Visit ask.usc.edu for more information.

Student Life, STU 201, (213) 740-2421.

Student Financial Services (loan restrictions), Jefferson Boulevard Parking Structure, (213) 740-4077, uscsfs@usc.edu.

Transcripts and Verifications. Visit ask.usc.edu for more information.

Writing Program, JEF 150, (213) 740-1980, writprog@usc.edu.

Registration Assistance

If you are unable to use Web Registration, email the Registrar’s office.

Registration Confirmation Copies

All enrollment, tuition and fee information is available on the “Registration & Fee Summary” found on your myUSC account.

Change of Schedule (Withdraw and Add)

After registering for a course, it is a student’s responsibility to withdraw officially from the course if they decide not to continue. Students must use Web Registration to drop or add courses. If a student encounters an error with Web Registration, they should email the Registrar’s office.

Students can withdraw from a course without academic penalty up until the 80 percent mark of a session. Students may not withdraw from a course after the 80 percent mark. A course dropped up to 45 percent of the session in which the course is offered will not appear on the official transcript with a mark of “W,” but it will appear on the student’s record and STARS report. A refund is not applied in this instance because it is beyond the 20 percent mark of the session. For the specific deadline to change grade options, click the “Calendar” icon next to the course on the Schedule of Classes. All schedule changes must be processed through Web Registration or the Registrar One Stop Center. Failure to withdraw officially will result in the grade of “UW,” which is computed in the GPA as zero (0) grade points. See “Change of Program/Petition Actions” under the Tuition and Fees page, and read about our Withdrawal/Tuition Refund Policy.

Financial aid recipients should consult with a financial aid counselor before withdrawing from courses in order to assess the potential effect on their financial aid eligibility. Additionally, withdrawing from and adding courses may cancel any financial aid deferment previously granted on a student’s account. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Financial Aid Office to have the account re-deferred.

For a detailed guide to registering for classes, please visit our Web Registration page.

All USC ID requests must be made online. Visit USCard Services to request your USC ID. Domestic students may elect to have the USC ID available for pick-up at a Customer Service Center or have it mailed. International students may pick up their USC ID at a Customer Service Center after providing proof that they have completed Immigration Status Verification (ISV) with the Office of International Services.

Your USCard can be used at all USC Hospitality residential and retail venues, USC Bookstores, all print and copy locations across campus, parking gates and more, including select USC Village retailers. The most recent list of locations accepting the USCard can be found on the Accepted Locations page.

On the USCard website, you can change your meal plan and deposit money using your credit card. To manage your account, click “Log in to your USCard” and follow the prompts. From there you can deposit money, view your balance and transactions, and suspend and/or reinstate a lost card.

Student Health Insurance

See studenthealth.usc.edu.

Housing

You may complete an application, or find information regarding housing online at housing.usc.edu. Students with restriction holds on their USC accounts for financial, academic or conduct issues may be unable to apply for housing. Please see the Cashier’s Office or your academic adviser, if necessary.

(213) 740-2546 | housing@usc.edu

Parking Permits at USC

USC Transportation issues parking permits for on-campus lots and structures. Contact the USC Transportation Office for the most current pricing.

McCarthy Way Parking Structure, 620 McCarthy Way.

(213) 740-3575 | usc.edu/parking

El Rodeo (Yearbook)

Students may pre-order and/or purchase copies of El Rodeo using either their USCard discretionary funds or a credit card through the El Rodeo yearbook website.

Graduate portraits are taken each fall, and available to students completing their degree programs. See the yearbook website for information and to schedule an appointment.

Financial aid applicants should satisfy all the disbursement requirements for each program early enough to ensure that their funds will be available by the payment deadline. Visit the Financial Aid Office for detailed information.

Be sure to log in to your USC Financial Aid Summary and Tasks (FAST) portal and check your USC email account regularly to track your status and check for any financial aid-related notices.

In general, for students who have met all disbursement requirements, most financial aid funds will be credited to student accounts 10 days prior to the start of the semester.

Graduate Assistantships

In addition to the paid stipend, graduate assistantships cover a specified amount of tuition plus health center, medical and dental insurance fees. You are responsible for paying any other charges by the settlement deadline.

There are two possible reasons tuition or health-related awards may not appear on the registration confirmation:

• You are not registered for at least 6 graduate units of credit or in a course that confers full-time status (such as GRSC 800 or a 794a-z course). Graduate assistants must be registered for GRSC 800 or a 794a-z course, or a minimum of 6 graduate units for credit.
• The department has not yet entered the health-related award into the Student Information System (SIS). In this case, please contact the department offering you the graduate assistant position as soon as possible.

Please contact your academic department directly if you experience any difficulties with your assistantship.

If your financial aid eligibility includes a Federal Direct Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized Loan, you must complete the application steps detailed on the Financial Aid Loans page to ensure proper receipt of your funds.

If your financial aid eligibility includes a Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL), Loan for Disadvantaged Students (LDS), Primary Care Loan (PCL) or a USC institutional loan, you will receive instructions for completing a Master Promissory Note electronically at your USC email address prior to the beginning of each semester and/or each disbursement. A new promissory note is required for every new disbursement for HPSL, LDS, PCL and USC loans. You will receive an email notification from Heartland/ECSI at the start of each academic year.

If you have any questions regarding these loans, please call the Student Financial Services office at (213) 740-4077.

If you are borrowing a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan to help cover your expenses, you must complete the application steps detailed on the Loans page to ensure proper receipt of your funds. USC processes a separate PLUS loan for each enrolled term. If you wish to borrow the PLUS loan for multiple terms, please submit a separate application for each term. Credit is checked once every 180 days for those with multiple applications.

Please note that Graduate PLUS Loans will not be available to new borrowers after June 30, 2026. Existing borrowers will be able to borrow only up to $20,500 per year. Refer to the Financial Aid Office’s OBBBA web page for more details.

If your parent is borrowing a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan to help cover your expenses, you must complete the application steps detailed on the Loans page to ensure proper receipt of your funds. Credit is checked once every 180 days for those with multiple applications.

Please note that beginning July 1, 2026, new borrowing limits will be placed on Parent PLUS Loans. Refer to the Financial Aid Office’s OBBBA web page for more details.

A new plan is required each term.

The USC Payment Plan allows you to divide your tuition and fees over five monthly payments for one semester (August through December for fall, and January through May for spring). The Payment Plan does not charge interest but there is an application fee to participate. Payment Plan information and an application link are available on the Student Financial Services website. For additional information, contact Student Financial Services at (213) 740-4077. You may access the Payment Plan menu by logging in to myUSC and selecting “Payment Plan.”

Tuition Reimbursement Deferment

For the most up-to-date information on the Tuition Reimbursement/Deferment program, please visit the Student Financial Services website.

You are required to pay 10 percent of your tuition plus 100 percent of all fees, including lab fees, and a non-refundable application fee of $100. If your account is not paid when due, it will be subject to additional finance charges.

Important Dates and Information

Please note: Current dates and deadlines can be found on the Registration Calendar.

Settlement deadline. The settlement deadline fall and spring semesters is 5:00 PM on the Friday before the start of classes. All students must register and settle their bills entirely by this date and time to avoid late fees.

Withdrawal deadline: The last day to withdraw from classes with refund in sessions 001 and 060 is the third Friday of fall or spring semester. For other sessions, refer to the “Withdrawal/Tuition Refund Policy.” Last day to purchase or waive health insurance. Last day to purchase or waive Tuition Refund Insurance.

Note: USC does not mail printed monthly billing statements to students. Students must use USCe.pay to review their monthly statements. For more information, visit the Understand Your Bill page or refer to the Billing Schedule.

You may pay your bill online at USCe.pay, by mail or in person. If you are paying by mail, be sure to mail your payment early enough for the university to receive it by the settlement deadline.

USCe.pay allows you to manage your student account online. You can pay your tuition and fees by transferring funds from your savings or checking account or by wire transfer. You can also print e-receipts and view your billing statements or current account information. In addition, you can set up individual guest-user access for parents or anyone else you choose so they can make payments on your account. For more information, visit USCe.pay. To access your USCe.pay account, log in to myUSC and select the “USCe.pay” link.

For account information or inquiries, please call (213) 740-7471 or email cashier@usc.edu.

More detailed information about student accounts, settlement options and procedures is available at USCe.pay.

Tuition Prepayment Program (TPP)

This option offers individuals the opportunity to stabilize tuition costs by avoiding future tuition increases. Under this plan, the university will accept the prepayment of the student’s total USC tuition plus mandatory fees at the current tuition rate for up to the next four to five years. For further information visit Student Financial Services and click on the “Payment Options” menu, or call at (213) 740-4077. The student must be admitted to the university before a tuition prepayment account may be established.

Refunds

If you have a credit balance on your account, you may be eligible for a refund. eRefund Direct Deposit allows you to receive your refund quickly and easily. Please visit Refunds for more information.

If you are on the USC Payment Plan, you are not eligible for a refund while you are making payments through the Payment Plan. You will have to adjust your payment plan budget amount to reduce or eliminate the credit balance. Please visit Refunds for more information.

1. Students who have not yet completed a bachelor’s degree are not eligible for limited status enrollment if they have been denied admission to USC or if they have been academically disqualified or suspended from any community college, college or university.  
2. To be eligible for limited status at the undergraduate level, a student must be actively enrolled at a different institution. A transient letter from a student’s home institution is required. A transient letter is an official document from a student’s home institution that verifies that credits earned at another institution will be accepted toward their degree.
3. Students admitted to the spring semester are not eligible for limited status enrollment during the fall semester before starting at USC.
4. At the post-baccalaureate level, limited status enrollment is not available to students who have been denied admission to the department offering the course, unless prior approval is granted by the department and the appropriate dean. 
5. Enrollment as a limited status student does not guarantee admission to any degree program at USC. 
6. Students must obtain or maintain academic eligibility in accordance with the requirements of the university and the school or department in which they are enrolled. Academic disqualification may result in revocation of this registration, even if classes have started. 
7. Prior approval of the department offering the course is required for all limited status enrollment. If a limited status student is subsequently admitted to regular standing, no more than the first 16 undergraduate units or the first 12 graduate units taken through limited status enrollment can be applied toward a degree. In very rare situations, individual undergraduate exceptions may be approved by the dean of the degree-conferring unit. For graduate students, the rare exception must be approved by the Vice Provost for Graduate Programs. 

1. Holders of any visa will require additional document review by the USC Office of International Services.
2. Holders of B-1 and B-2 visas are not eligible for limited status enrollment at USC.
3. Applicants for F-1 status on another institution’s I-20 are eligible for limited status enrollment if they will enroll at the I-20 school and USC concurrently. A letter from the international office at the I-20 school verifying enrollment must be submitted along with your limited status application. Applicants for F-1 status not currently maintaining immigration status and/or not enrolling at the I-20 school are not eligible for limited status enrollment at USC.
4. Individuals in other visa categories such as A, E, G, H, I, J, L, O, P, Q, R and TN are eligible for limited status enrollment if they maintain that visa status. A copy of the passport and I-94 card will be required with the limited status application.

• The $100 processing fee is waived for the groups listed above.
• Review the information on the USC employees page for eligibility and requirements.

1. Review the “Registration Calendar” for the term at classes.usc.edu. For fall and spring semesters, requests for limited status enrollment must be received one week prior to the last day to register and settle without a late fee. For summer semester, requests must be received one week prior to the date classes begin for session 050. There are no exceptions to these deadlines. Petitions to add a course late are not allowed.
2. Complete the Limited Status Registration Form. 
3. Contact the department offering the course you wish to take and request permission to enroll. Department phone numbers and/or emails are shown with their course listings in the Schedule of Classes. Department approval is required for all courses. 
4. If the department offering the course approves the applicant’s request to register, the department will submit the “Department Approval” form and the “Limited Status Registration” form to the Office of Academic Records and Registrar.
5. The Registrar’s Office will contact the applicant to schedule an in-person appointment. The applicant must furnish two forms of government-issued identification (e.g., a driver’s license, passport, government identification card, military identification), a Social Security card, and proof of address through a utility bill.   
6. Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. For those who have not yet completed a bachelor’s degree, a transient letter will be required. 
7. If the Registrar’s Office approves the application, the applicant will be registered for the approved courses, and the applicant will be notified by email. The applicant will have one business day to submit tuition payment or enrollment will be canceled.

Once we process your request, we will email you confirmation of your registration. To pay your tuition bill and to activate other student services, please view the post-registration instructions.

University employees should submit the appropriate forms to the Benefits Administration Office before the first day of the semester to avoid late registration fees. Students sponsored by an agency should review the information on the Student Sponsor/Agency Billing website.

Limited Status students do not have access to Web Registration. Should a student need to make changes to their schedule (e.g., add or drop classes, change grading option, remove Tuition Refund Insurance, etc.), they must email our office with the request. If a USC email address is not used to submit the request, a copy of a photo ID (e.g., driver’s license, state ID, etc.) must be attached.