Temple vs Southern California - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: Southern California admits 9.8% of applications, Temple admits 80.5%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Southern California: 13.2% of students against 4.4% (Temple).
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Southern California awards international students $25,384 on average, Temple awards $16,607.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Southern California starts at $89,087 against $58,550 and ends at $17,918 against $40,717 (Temple).
The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.
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 80.45% acceptance). Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#401-500 vs #62). Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $64K). Temple has lower sticker-price tuition ($40,144 vs $68,687 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 Temple for: lower tuition.
Choose Southern California for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Southern California is more selective (9.81% vs 80.45% acceptance); Southern California has a higher median SAT (1495 vs 1250).
Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $64K); Southern California has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.8% vs 75%).
Temple has lower sticker-price tuition ($40,144 vs $68,687); Southern California offers a larger average aid package ($71,169 vs $17,833).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Temple | Southern California |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #401-500 | #62 |
| Rank · THE | - | #72 |
| Acceptance rate | 80.45% | 9.81% |
| Yield rate | 15% | 43.3% |
| Median SAT | 1250 | 1495 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.42 | 3.80 |
| Number of applications | 40,817 | 82,027 |
| International students | 4.4% | 13.2% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $64K | $92K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $41K | $59K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $92K | $141K |
| Graduation rate | 75% | 91.8% |
| Retention rate | 83% | 95.6% |
| Median debt | $24,395 | $18,000 |
| Tuition · year | $40,144 | $68,687 |
| Avg. aid package | $17,833 | $71,169 |
| % of need met | 60.5% | 99.3% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $41,808 | $27,678 |
| Application fee | $55 | $85 |
| Enrollment | 29,637 | 46,566 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Temple or Southern California?
It's harder to get into Southern California. Temple accepts 80.45% of applicants, while Southern California accepts 9.81%.
Do Temple or Southern California graduates earn more?
Southern California graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $92K vs $64K.
How much is tuition at Temple vs Southern California?
Sticker-price tuition is $40,144 per year at Temple and $68,687 per year at Southern California.
What SAT score do you need for Temple or Southern California?
The median admitted SAT score is 1250 at Temple and 1495 at Southern California; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Temple or Southern California?
Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #401-500 for Temple vs #62 for Southern California.
Which university offers more financial aid - Temple or Southern California?
The average aid package is $17,833 at Temple and $71,169 at Southern California.
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