USC Marketplace, Scholarships & Grants

Research USC scholarships with a clear shortlist.

Compare USC university-wide scholarships with awards from your school, department or overseas-study program. Keep merit-award applications separate from the steps for need-based University Grant consideration. If you plan to study abroad, review the overseas-study scholarship directory and your specific program's funding rules.

Start with scholarships connected to University of Southern California, then broaden your research to outside awards. Try searches that combine your intended major, degree level, community involvement, career interests and application stage. Keep first-year, transfer, continuing-student and graduate opportunities separate so you can compare relevant requirements.

For every opportunity, save the official application page, deadline, required documents and renewal conditions. Ask whether an award needs an essay, recommendation or separate application. Track what you have submitted and what still needs attention rather than relying on a long list of bookmarked search results.

Explore grants and financial aid before planning your budget.

Use USC's aid application checklist for your student type and academic year. First-year, transfer and continuing-student instructions can differ, including when CSS Profile is needed. Follow the applicable FAFSA or CADAA route and check any separate Cal Grant steps rather than applying a single checklist to everyone.

Documents and application checklist. Monitor the Financial Aid Summary and Tasks portal, or FAST, for requested records. Submit tax, non-filing or other supporting documents only as directed in your checklist, and keep the confirmation of submission. USC's Help & Contact page explains the secure FAST route and the askUSC inquiry process.

The FAFSA is free to submit and is used to consider applicants for federal aid; states and colleges also use its information for their own aid. Review the current official FAFSA guidance and the application instructions for University of Southern California. Check federal, state and campus deadlines separately, and ask which additional forms apply to your situation.

Use the grants directory to research potential sources, then confirm eligibility directly with the provider. An opportunity appearing in a search result does not mean it has been awarded to you. Keep application status and confirmed funding separate in your planning.

Compare education costs beyond the tuition headline.

List tuition, required fees, housing, meals, books, transportation and anticipated additional expenses. When comparing financial aid offers, distinguish grants and scholarships from loans and earnings from work. Subtract offered grants and scholarships from your estimated total costs to compare net price, following Federal Student Aid's aid-offer comparison guidance.

For a prospective USC student, use the same cost categories when comparing campuses. For a continuing student, revisit the plan each semester and check renewal conditions before assuming an award will continue. Ask the financial aid office how an outside award would affect your individual offer.

Research support for books, food, transportation and technology.

Tuition funding is one part of saving on education. Explore the campus savings directory for resources related to course materials, basic needs, transportation, technology and other essentials. Check the official provider's current availability and requirements before depending on a service or including it in your budget.

Create a practical shopping list before the semester starts. Confirm required textbook editions, software compatibility and course equipment with your instructor or department. Compare buying used with borrowing, renting or using an available campus resource so that you pay for what you actually need.

Use USC auctions to stretch your student budget.

Browse local auctions around Los Angeles for used textbooks, furniture, electronics, bikes and other campus essentials. Compare the listing's condition, specifications and asking price with your alternatives. Set a maximum bid that fits your budget, including any transportation needed for pickup. A used item is useful savings only when it meets your needs at a price you are comfortable paying.

Selling items you no longer use can also put money back into your education budget. Create an accurate listing, include clear photos and choose the appropriate campus marketplace. Keep grant applications and marketplace transactions separate: buying, bidding or selling on SaveOnEd does not improve scholarship eligibility or guarantee funding.

Meet in a public place, inspect the item before payment and follow the SaveOnEd safety guide. Savings and sale proceeds depend on the item and transaction.

Build a repeatable education savings routine.

Renewal and keeping your funding. Check the continuing-student aid instructions for the next year and the terms of your particular scholarship. Ask before a change in housing, enrollment, degree program or overseas study, since your aid package may need review. Keep the renewal of institutional funding separate from an outside scholarship provider's rules.

Who to ask at USC. Use askUSC through the Financial Aid Office's Help & Contact page for aid inquiries. Health sciences, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and law students should use the professional-school contacts listed there rather than assuming the undergraduate office handles every program.

Keep one checklist for scholarship and grant applications and another for semester spending. Record provider links, questions for the financial aid office, outstanding documents and upcoming deadlines. Review the checklist regularly, update your budget when confirmed aid changes and compare purchases before bidding.

Ask Apex where to begin or use the Education Savings filters to narrow your research. SaveOnEd helps you discover resources; applications, eligibility decisions and awards remain with the official providers. The goal is to make informed choices about both paying for college and the everyday costs of campus life.