Financial Documentation Requirements

Per U.S. immigration regulations, all international students intending to study on F-1 or J-1 visa status are required to demonstrate proof of their ability to pay for their education and living expenses in the United States.

Before an I-20 or DS-2019 can be issued, USC requires a financial statement demonstrating proof of funding. If you are applying to a graduate program, it is not necessary to submit proof of financial support or passport copies to be considered for admission to USC. Documents can be submitted after an admission decision has been reached and you have committed to attend USC.

If you are applying for an undergraduate program, proof of financial support is required to be considered for admission to USC.

International students admitted to fall 2026 or summer 2026 can use the tables below to look up the total costs for their intended programs of study. Your financial statement will need to demonstrate that you have enough funds to cover the total cost before you can be issued an I-20 from the USC Office of Admission. These estimates have been prepared by USC’s Financial Aid Office and your program. 

Please Note: These amounts are for immigration purposes only. They should not be considered a bill of expense for your program. Your actual expenses may vary based on course load, living situation, special fees, lifestyle, etc. Regardless of your actual expenses, the required amounts cannot be negotiated. For example, you may not subtract living costs if you intend to live with a relative in Los Angeles. For questions about the fees, units and curriculum of your degree program, please contact your program’s admission office. 

If you have dependents (a legal spouse and/or child) who will apply for F-2/J-2 visas, you must show proof of an additional $14,253 for your spouse, and $7,127 for each child. 

J-1 Students Only: To receive a DS-2019, you must provide proof that the majority of your funding is sponsored by a government, university or major international organization. Personal funds may not be used unless you have dependent expenses not covered by your scholarship. 

Instructions: 

• Search the table below for your USC school and degree program. Your financial statement will need to demonstrate funds that meet or exceed the Total amount. 

• If your specific program is not listed in any table or group, use the Total in the Standard Estimate table for your degree level. 

• Undergraduates must use the Bachelor’s Degree Total in the Standard Estimate table. 

• If you are a PhD student funded by USC, you can submit documentation of your PhD/Doctoral award. 

• If a program’s costs are listed as “TBD,” it means that costs are still “to be determined” and will be published later. 

Please visit our USC Guidelines for Acceptable Financial Support Documentation for more information.

Undergraduate students: You must submit your documents when you apply for admission. Please submit them with the Common Application.

Graduate students: We will require financial documentation only if you are admitted to and choose to attend USC. Financial documents for graduate students are not required or accepted when you apply for admission. Please do not send any financial documents while your application is under consideration, as they will not be reviewed.

Admitted students who have committed to attend USC can log in to Trojan International to:

1) Submit their financial statement.

2) Submit their passport copy.

3) Request their I-20.

Please log in with your USC NetID and click on the “Admission” menu to proceed. We also recommend reading the Trojan International Checklist beforehand for guidelines on how to prepare your passport and financial documents.