Early decision program under consideration for some majors
The University may introduce early decision for business and accounting applicants in 2026.
By CHRISTINA CHKARBOUL
USC is considering an early decision program for undergraduate business and accounting majors beginning in the 2026-27 admissions cycle, a University spokesperson told the Daily Trojan Monday morning. The program would allow applicants to the Marshall School of Business and the Leventhal School of Accounting to gain early, binding admission.
Earlier this month, the University notified high school counselors of the potential early decision option. The program is not finalized nor confirmed, the spokesperson said.
About 450 colleges in the United States offer early decision or early action, according to College Board. Early decision admission is binding at most colleges, meaning an admitted student must commit to the school even if they’ve applied or been accepted elsewhere.
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Early decision boasts higher admission rates at some colleges than early action and regular decision tracks, which are both typically non-binding. However, binding offers don’t allow admitted students to compare financial aid packages before committing to a college. Critics say early decision tends to favor wealthier applicants who don’t need to weigh financial aid options as heavily as students from lower-income backgrounds.
The University introduced a non-binding early action program for all first-year applicants for the 2022-23 admission cycle. High schoolers have the option of applying to USC by Nov. 1 ahead of the Jan. 15 regular decision deadline.
USC’s current early admission options have proven popular, with just over half of the 81,800 applicants for the Class of 2028 applying early, either for early action or to qualify for merit scholarship consideration.
The University admitted 11.6% of the Class of 2028’s early action applicants, compared to 8.1% of regular decision applicants. USC deferred 84% of its early action applicants to the regular decision pool that year before making a final decision.
As University officials continue to vet the proposed early decision program, Class of 2029 and 2030 applicants can look to their high school counselors for the latest guidance from USC.
