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International Student Proof of Funding Requirements

U.S. immigration regulations require that all international students intending to study on F-1 or J-1 status demonstrate proof of their ability to pay for their education and living expenses in the United States. USC requires a financial statement demonstrating proof of funding before an I-20 or DS-2019 can be issued. Documents can be submitted after an admission decision has been reached and the student has committed to attend USC. It is not necessary to submit proof of financial support or passport copies to be considered for admission to USC.

I-20 Program Cost Requirements

To determine your I-20/DS-2019 cost requirements, please find your program, by degree level, in the drop-down below. These amounts cover estimated, average program expenses and living expenses for one year, as determined by the USC Financial Aid Office.

Please Note: These numbers 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 I-20/DS-2019 costs below cannot be negotiated. For example, you may not subtract living costs if you intend to live with a relative in Los Angeles. For questions on your degree program’s curriculum, units, classes, fees, etc. please contact the admissions office of your program.

PhD/Doctoral Applicants: Since USC provides funding to the majority of PhD candidates, PhD applicants need not submit a personal financial statement unless the university has confirmed that no funding will be provided.

J-1 Students: To be issued a DS-2019 (J-1 Student only) by the Office of Admission, the majority of your funding must be sponsored by a government, university, or other major international organization. Personal funds may not be used unless you have dependent expenses not covered by your scholarship.

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

Program Name Degree Type Tuition Living Total
Undergraduate Fall 2024Bachelor's$69,437$21,484$90,921
Program Name Degree Type Tuition Living Total
Summer 2024 ProgramsMaster's$48,874$24,042$72,916
Fall 2024 ProgramsMaster's$48,874$24,042$72,916
Program Name Degree Type Tuition Living Total
Fall 2024 ProgramsDoctorate$58,171$24,042$82,213
Program Name Degree Type Tuition Living Total
Summer 2024 ProgramsGraduate Certificate$48,874$24,042$72,916
Fall 2024 ProgramsGraduate Certificate$48,874$24,042$72,916

What is an Acceptable Financial Document?

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

How to Submit Your Documents

Financial documents are not required or accepted at the application stage. Please do not send any financial documents while your application is under consideration; they will not be reviewed. It will only be necessary to submit financial documents if you are admitted and you choose to attend USC.

Admitted students who have committed to attend USC may 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 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 for upload.

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