Virginia vs Southern California - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Southern California: 9.8% against 16.8% (Virginia).
The larger international cohort belongs to Southern California: 13.2% of students against 4.9% (Virginia).
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Southern California reports aid for international students ($25,384 on average), Virginia does not.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Southern California starts at $89,087 against $80,859 and ends at $17,918 against $43,736 (Virginia).
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 16.81% acceptance). Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#201-300 vs #62). Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $87K). Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($62,923 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 Virginia for: a higher graduation rate, higher retention, 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 16.81% acceptance); Southern California has a higher median SAT (1495 vs 1470).
Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $87K); Virginia has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.6% vs 91.8%).
Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($62,923 vs $68,687); Southern California offers a larger average aid package ($71,169 vs $37,123).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Virginia | Southern California |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #201-300 | #62 |
| Rank · THE | - | #72 |
| Acceptance rate | 16.81% | 9.81% |
| Yield rate | 40% | 43.3% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1495 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.80 |
| Number of applications | 58,951 | 82,027 |
| International students | 4.9% | 13.2% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $87K | $92K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $59K | $59K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $130K | $141K |
| Graduation rate | 95.6% | 91.8% |
| Retention rate | 97.9% | 95.6% |
| Median debt | $17,500 | $18,000 |
| Tuition · year | $62,923 | $68,687 |
| Avg. aid package | $37,123 | $71,169 |
| % of need met | 100% | 99.3% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $25,137 | $27,678 |
| Application fee | $75 | $85 |
| Enrollment | 26,470 | 46,566 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Virginia or Southern California?
It's harder to get into Southern California. Virginia accepts 16.81% of applicants, while Southern California accepts 9.81%.
Do Virginia or Southern California graduates earn more?
Southern California graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $92K vs $87K.
How much is tuition at Virginia vs Southern California?
Sticker-price tuition is $62,923 per year at Virginia and $68,687 per year at Southern California.
What SAT score do you need for Virginia or Southern California?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Virginia and 1495 at Southern California; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Virginia or Southern California?
Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #201-300 for Virginia vs #62 for Southern California.
Which university offers more financial aid - Virginia or Southern California?
The average aid package is $37,123 at Virginia and $71,169 at Southern California.
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