🏠 University of Southern California — Parent Guide

Helping parents understand dorm options, safety, accessibility, and what to expect at University of Southern California.

💡 Tips for parents reviewing dorm options:

🏠 How housing selection works at University of Southern California

The University of Southern California requires all freshmen to live on campus for their first year. USC's serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates across a compact, pedestrian-friendly campus in the University Park area of Los Angeles. Housing is organized into traditional residence halls, , and apartment-style communities.

First-Year Housing (Required):All incoming freshmen are required to live on campus for their first year. Freshmen apply for housing in the spring and rank preferences by type. The main freshman options include: the , the Village at USC, and the USC College. Students indicate room-type preferences and lifestyle options.

:USC structures much of its freshman housing around — each with its own faculty fellow, programming calendar, and community identity. The RCs emphasize academic connection and social integration, and many faculty fellows host dinners and events for their college's residents. has its own dedicated within the system.

College:USC's international-focused in the Parkside international and domestic students together, with language-immersion programming, global cultural events, and dedicated advisors for international students.

Living-Learning Communities:USC embeds several LLCs system, including engineering, business, and identity-based communities. LLC applications are part of the housing application and are competitive.

Upperclass Housing:Returning students apply for on-campus apartments through a continuing-student application with seniority-based priority. Many USC sophomores and upperclassmen live off campus in the neighborhoods surrounding campus — Jefferson Park, Exposition Park, and West Adams — as well as further afield in Koreatown and downtown LA.

As of May 8, 2026

📍 Location

Los Angeles, CA

🏛️ College Type

Private Research University

👥 Enrollment

48,945 total students

🏠 Housing

11 dorm buildings reviewed on DormScouter

📊 Dorm Comparison by Safety & Cleanliness

DormOverall ★Safety ★Cleanliness ★ReviewsFeatures
Birnkrant Residential College 0
McCarthy Honors Residential College 0
Marks Tower 0
New North Residential College 0
Pardee Tower 0
Parkside Arts & Humanities Residential College 0
Parkside International Residential College 0
Cale and Irani Residential College 0
Cardinal Gardens 0
Parkside Apartments 0 🍳 Shared Kitchen
Webb Tower 0 🍳 Shared Kitchen

🔗 More Resources

🔗 USC Housing Services

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🔗 Residence Halls

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🔗 Apply for Housing

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🎓 Class-Year Housing Guides

Year-specific advice for University of Southern California dorms — what changes from freshman to senior year:

🎓 Freshman Guide📚 Sophomore Guide📖 Junior Guide🎉 Senior Guide

🔍 Filter by Amenity

Looking for something specific? Browse University of Southern California dorms filtered by amenity:

❄️ with Air Conditioning🍳 with Shared Kitchen🛗 with Elevator♿ ADA-Accessible🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ Friendly🚿 with Private Bathrooms🛁 with Semi-Private Bathrooms🧼 with Communal Bathrooms♀ All-Female