Southern California vs Brandeis - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Southern California admits 9.8% of applicants, while Brandeis admits 40.5%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 19.3% (Brandeis) against 13.2% (Southern California).
Average aid for an international student is $56,730 (Brandeis) and $25,384 (Southern California).
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Southern California: $92K against $77K.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Southern California is the more selective of the two (9.81% vs 40.47% acceptance). Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#62 vs #301-400). Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $77K). Southern California has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,687 vs $70,957 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Southern California for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Brandeis for: lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Southern California is more selective (9.81% vs 40.47% acceptance); Southern California has a higher median SAT (1495 vs 1460).
Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $77K); Southern California has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.8% vs 86%).
Southern California has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,687 vs $70,957); Southern California offers a larger average aid package ($71,169 vs $57,507).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Southern California | Brandeis |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #62 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | #72 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 9.81% | 40.47% |
| Yield rate | 43.3% | 17.5% |
| Median SAT | 1495 | 1460 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.80 | 3.90 |
| Number of applications | 82,027 | 10,462 |
| International students | 13.2% | 19.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $92K | $77K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $59K | $52K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $141K | $117K |
| Graduation rate | 91.8% | 86% |
| Retention rate | 95.6% | 87% |
| Median debt | $18,000 | $25,648 |
| Tuition · year | $68,687 | $70,957 |
| Avg. aid package | $71,169 | $57,507 |
| % of need met | 99.3% | 94.5% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $27,678 | $27,004 |
| Application fee | $85 | $80 |
| Enrollment | 46,566 | 5,205 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Southern California or Brandeis?
It's harder to get into Southern California. Southern California accepts 9.81% of applicants, while Brandeis accepts 40.47%.
Do Southern California or Brandeis graduates earn more?
Southern California graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $92K vs $77K.
How much is tuition at Southern California vs Brandeis?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,687 per year at Southern California and $70,957 per year at Brandeis.
What SAT score do you need for Southern California or Brandeis?
The median admitted SAT score is 1495 at Southern California and 1460 at Brandeis; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Southern California or Brandeis?
Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #62 for Southern California vs #301-400 for Brandeis.
Which university offers more financial aid - Southern California or Brandeis?
The average aid package is $71,169 at Southern California and $57,507 at Brandeis.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern