APPLICATION DEADLINES

The application deadline for Fall 2023 has been extended to February 15, 2023.

SEMESTER	DEADLINE
Spring 2024	September 15, 2023
Fall 2024	December 15, 2023*
* DEN@Viterbi (Online Delivery) Deadline Extension: An application extension for Fall 2024 is available for online DEN@Viterbi applicants who intend to pursue their entire degree program online and do not require a visa sponsorship. Please email den@viterbi.usc.edu to request an application extension. On-campus students who apply by published deadlines will be considered for scholarships if admitted. Online DEN@Viterbi applicants can view the Master's Scholarships (DEN@Viterbi) page for scholarship opportunities.

Visit our Ready to Apply page for more information.

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APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in any engineering or engineering-related disciplines including but not limited to: Civil Engineering and Traffic & Transportation Engineering.

The following materials are required to be included with your online application:

• Transcripts: Upload Electronic Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. A mailed hard copy or official e-transcript is not required for admission to our programs.
  • Submit an electronic copy of official transcripts (.pdf recommended) and other degree related documents through the online graduate application (International applicants, visit USC Graduate Admission’s Country Requirements page for details on required documents)
  • Unofficial transcripts from university student portals are not acceptable
  • If the transcript includes a separate grading scale, make sure it is also uploaded
  • For upload purposes, all transcript related documents for a single school must be submitted as one document
  • If you are admitted, you will be given specific instructions on submitting your hard copy transcripts
    
• Resume/CV
• Personal Statement : The personal statement should describe succinctly your reasons for applying to the proposed program at the Viterbi School of Engineering, your preparation for this field of study, study interests, future career plans, and other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study.
• GRE: General GRE test scores are not required for 2024
• Letters of Recommendation (2 Required): Letters of recommendation should be from faculty or others (supervisors, professional colleagues, etc.) qualified to evaluate your potential for graduate study.

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ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

English Language Proficiency: In addition to application requirements above, international students whose first language is not English are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS. There is no minimum TOEFL or IELTS score required for admission to the Viterbi School. For possible exemption from additional language requirements, you must achieve an Internet Based TOEFL (iBT) score of 90, with no less than 20 on each section or an IELTS score of 6.5, with no less than 6 on each band score. Please review USC Graduate Admission – Proficiency in English.

IMPORTANT: USC does not accept Duolingo and TOEFL Essentials test scores.

APPLY NOW - USC GRADUATE APPLICATION

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The following is an overview of the tuition & fees for graduate engineering students. Both on-campus and DEN@Viterbi students pay the same tuition.

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TUITION

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Academic Year	Per Unit Rate	3-unit Course	4-unit Course
Fall 2023 - Summer 2024*	$2,424	$7,272	$9,696
Fall 2022 - Summer 2023*	$2,309	$6,927	$9,236
* Tuition is the same for on-campus and online students

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MANDATORY STUDENT FEES - 2023/24

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Fee Description	Fee Amount	On-Campus	DEN@Viterbi
Student Health Center Fee	$600/semester
Norman Topping Student Aid Fee	$11/semester
ENGR Student Programming Fee (On-Campus students)	$40/semester
ENGR Student Programming Fee (DEN@Viterbi students)	$20/semester
Exam Proctoring	$40 - $100 per course
Transportation Fee	$93/semester
Health Insurance (U.S.-based health insurance is required, but it does not have to be through USC)	Fall 2023: $948 Spring 2024: $1,765

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ESTIMATED COST OF ATTENDANCE - 28 UNIT PROGRAM

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This downloadable Cost of Attendance document breaks down the tuition and fees by semester. Although the actual number of courses taken each semester may vary by student as can the amount of time taken to complete the program, it can be submitted to banks and scholarship institutions.

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PAYMENT

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USC students may pay their tuition and fees online, via wire transfer or using a payment plan. Details can be found on the USC Student Financial Services Payment Options page. You can check your account balance through the On-line Academic Student Information System (OASIS). Log into OASIS through MyUSC.

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USC also provides a Tuition Refund Insurance option that enables students to receive a 100% refund of term tuition and fees if they are are forced to withdraw for medical reasons.

   DAVID CORONA

What were the main reasons you chose to pursue this graduate program at USC?
As I was researching Masters programs for Transportation, USC came up as one of the most renowned graduate schools for Civil Engineering in the country. With the university's emphasis on research and reputation in the transportation sector, I wanted to challenge myself from the work I became accustomed to in my undergraduate studies. As I am striving towards working for companies like the Department of Transportation or CalTrans, USC was perfect for me given its location in the City of Los Angeles as well as the many networking opportunities with professors, organizations, alumni, and even fellow students.

Tell us about an exciting and unforgettable experience from your time so far at USC.
Definitely, the first time I walked into the Memorial Coliseum for the first football game of the Fall semester, I was in awe at the excitement and level of school spirit around me, something I hadn't felt since my high school years. To have the chance to share that experience with some of the friends I made in the first short weeks of going into graduate school, to me it was truly an unforgettable experience.

What are some personal achievements or experiences you’d like to share?
My most recent personal achievement was having the chance to present research I conducted to the Transportation Research Board. I was given the opportunity to present my findings on efficient forms of concrete paving methods to board members and engineers across the country.

What advice would you give future Viterbi students?
One word: balance. When you're in graduate school, it's important to always stay ahead of your work, to get to know your fellow classmates, and to not be afraid to ask questions to your professors. At the same time, you'll want to take a moment every now and again for yourself, whatever that may be. There were times when I felt that my research would get the better of me, but after spending a day with friends or going out for a hike, I felt refreshed and ready to tackle the next task in my work. Work-life balance is important for a healthy lifestyle.

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   ZHENLU HUANG

What attracted you to civil, and more specifically, transportation engineering?
Civil Engineering was a popular major when I started university, so my parents and I decided to choose civil engineering as my major. There are also many sub-majors under civil engineering. I chose transportation because it is the most related to people’s daily life — it influences people’s decisions of their living place, workplace, travel routes, travel mode and many others. I hope to improve the people’s travel experience in the future. 

Why did you choose USC for your graduate studies?
I chose USC based on the US News and QS university rankings, because it ranks in the top 30 for both, which means it has high-quality education resources. The major I was admitted under was transportation engineering, which focuses on the planning, management, and performance of transportation systems. It was the closest to what I was most interested in learning. Additionally, I knew the students in this major have many opportunities to participate in the local professional society, which would have great benefit on my career development. 

What classes, professors, or research during your time at USC had the biggest impact on you?
USC provides students with precious academic resources, and we learn so much knowledge both in class and out of class. Professors are knowledgeable and well-prepared. They also encourage the students to join professional organizations and sponsor them for some activities, which are useful to connect with professionals and to explore our career interests. Professor James Moore and the transportation center METRANS had a great impact on my career development. I learned about METRANS events in my first year of studying at USC, and I found them very helpful for learning what is happening in the transportation area. I not only attended METRANS events but also contributed by volunteering at several seminars. I am grateful for the opportunities METRANS events give students studying in the transportation field to learn new transportation technologies and get in contact with professionals. I also joined the METRANS Mentor Program, which helped her learn more about transportation organizations like ITS and WTS Orange County Chapter. 

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  YI LI

How has your degree program impacted your your career?
I learned several technical tools in USC that really helps me to land the job, for example, ArcGIS, data analysis skills, some programming languages. When attending interviews, the employer highlighted these skills. USC has equipped lots of excellent courses. As I know, our MSCE program also has some courses which combines the frontier skills into our Transportation study, which is super helpful in my career.

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  ZESHENG ZHANG

How has your degree program impacted your your career?
MSCE is not only great advancement in learning theoretical knowledge but also in line with industry reality. The software we learned in class is also very normal in the market. Many professors are also experts in the industry, and they know the current needs of the industry. That really helped me get a good job.

Alumni Employment

• BCC Engineering - Transportation Planner
• BTI Smart Tech Co., Ltd. - Project Manager
• Burns & McDonnell - Associate Civil Engineer
• Google - Software Engineer
• Linscott, Law & Greenspan, Engineers - Transportation Engineer
• Toole Design Group - Civil Engineer
• University of Southern California

Internships

• CETP

This program is not available via DEN@Viterbi.

• For courses within this program that may be online, please visit the USC Schedule of Classes (courses will have a DEN@Viterbi section)
• For a full list of the 40+ engineering graduate programs available online, please visit Online DEN@Viterbi Offerings

Please complete the following form for more information.