Registration Basic Steps and Instructions
Basic Steps
1. Obtain your registration appointment time on myUSC.
2. Correct or confirm your address and make any necessary changes before attempting to register for classes. You can access your address record through myUSC.
3. Meet with your academic adviser to plan your schedule.
4. Contact your department and arrange for D-clearance and/or prerequisite waivers.
6. Log in to myUSC and use Web Registration (usc.edu/webregistration) to enroll in classes or change program.
9. If your financial aid eligibility includes Federal Direct Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized Loans, and you wish to borrow from these programs, complete the application steps detailed at financialaid.usc.edu/loans.
10. E-sign your Promissory Note for HPSL, LDS, PCL and/or USC institutional loans.
11. Graduate students: Complete the steps necessary to apply for the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan, listed at financialaid.usc.edu/loans if you wish to borrow from this program.
12. Undergraduates: Ensure your parents complete the steps necessary to apply for a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan at financialaid.usc.edu/loans if they wish to borrow from this program.
13. Apply for the USC Payment Plan or Tuition Reimbursement Deferment at Student Financial Services using the e.pay feature.
14. Settle your bill with the Cashier’s Office. All students must register and settle their bills entirely by the settlement deadline to avoid late fees.
Note: Planning your schedule but failing to register for any courses before the tuition and fees payment deadline is not a valid reason to request a waiver of the late registration fee.
Registration Instructions
1. Obtain your registration appointment time on myUSC.
Registration appointment times and permit to register information are available on myUSC. If you do not have a registration appointment time, please contact the Registrar One Stop Center via ask.usc.edu by using the “Email Us” link at the top of the page.
Web Registration is available to most continuing, newly admitted or returning students. Only students who have certain activity restrictions may not use Web Registration. Please contact the department that placed the activity restriction hold on your student record. Limited Status, non-admitted students must contact the Registrar One Stop Center via ask.usc.edu for additional information.
International Students
Admitted and Continuing Students
All new international students must complete Immigration Status Verification (ISV) upon arrival at USC.
Non-Admitted Students
International students intending to register as Limited Status students should contact the Registrar One Stop Center to inquire about taking classes at USC. Limited Status international students must present their passports to the Office of International Services before registration at ois@usc.edu to obtain permission to study at USC. If the student holds an F-1 visa, USC also requires a letter from the Designated School Official (DSO) at the student’s host institution permitting the student to register concurrently at USC.
Newly Admitted and Returning Students
New undergraduate students register for classes during orientation. To sign up for new student orientation, please contact the Office of Orientation Programs at (213) 740-7767.
New graduate students should contact their academic advisers for advisement before registering for classes.
Returning students (absent one or more semesters from USC) should contact the Registrar One Stop Center to obtain a registration appointment.
Permanent Residents and United States Citizens
Non-Admitted (Limited Status) Students
Individuals who have not applied to and have never attended USC, but who wish to take a course at the university may contact the Registrar One Stop Center. More information about the Limited Status program is available on the Registration website.
Individuals who wish to enroll as Limited Status students in the USC Viterbi School of Engineering Distance Education Network should visit gapp.usc.edu/graduate-programs/den for information and to determine eligibility.
2. Correct or confirm your address.
Current USC students, please follow the instructions below to update your address:
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(1) Log in to myUSC.
(2) Go to myServices and click on Experience USC.
(3) Click your profile icon in the upper right-hand corner and go to My Profile.
(4) Verify your current address and permanent address.
(5) If the address listed is incorrect, click Edit and enter the correct address.
(6) Click Save.
3. Meet with your academic adviser to plan your schedule.
Your adviser can assist you with the selection of courses, D-class clearances and procedures for registration. Please contact your department or school for the appropriate academic adviser. See Academic Advisers for a current listing.
Choose Your Courses
Use Web Registration on myUSC to plan your course schedule.
4. Contact your department and arrange for D-clearance and/or prerequisite waivers.
Classification and Numbering of Courses
The first digit of the course number indicates the year level of the course: 000 – preparatory courses, 100 – first undergraduate year, 200 – second undergraduate year, 300 – third and fourth undergraduate years without graduate credit, 400 – third and fourth undergraduate years with graduate credit for graduate students, 500 – first graduate year, 600 – second graduate year, 700 – third graduate year.
The lowercase letters a, b, c, d, etc., indicate the semesters of a course more than one semester in length. In such courses the “a” semester is usually prerequisite to the “b” semester, and so on. Capital L indicates that all or part of the work is supervised laboratory or other work. Courses designated x are restricted in some manner. The course description will specify the restriction. Courses designated with a z are for repeated registrations for 0 credit, for which 2 units of tuition are charged.
Undergraduates are expected to give priority to courses that fulfill the general lower-division requirements. It is recommended that students register in courses appropriate to their academic standing: lower-division students in courses below 300, upper-division students in courses below 500, graduate students in courses numbered 400 or higher.
The following are not available for graduate credit: courses numbered 00-399, courses designated g (general education), Senior Seminar courses, courses designated x where the description specifically excludes graduate credit.
Diversity Requirement Courses
Courses with a lowercase “m” for multiculturalism following the course number have been approved for credit in fulfilling the university diversity requirement for students who began college before 2015.
Preparatory Courses
Preparatory courses (courses numbered below 100) impart the minimum skills required for college-level work. Students completing preparatory course work may receive unit credit, but do not receive degree credit.
“D” and “R” Designations
Class numbers with an “R” designation are restricted by the size of the classroom. “D” classes are restricted by the department offering the course and require the student to obtain “D” class assignments from the home department prior to registering. Departments reserve the right to change class sections from “R” to “D” at any time.
5. Clear any restrictions indicated on the Permit to Register.
A university office may place a registration restriction on a student’s account if the student has a pending obligation with the office. You should clear any restriction that prohibits registration before your registration appointment. You will not be allowed to register until advisement requirements are cleared.
Activity Restrictions (see the department that owns the hold)
Academic Advisement Requirement (see the department of your major)
Academic Integrity, Student Union 301, (213) 764-4163
Academic Review/Disqualification, Figueroa Building 107, (213) 740-1196
Admission, Ronald Tutor Campus Center 202, or home department (graduate or international) (these restrictions must be cleared in person)
American Language Institute, Royal Street Structure 106, (213) 740-0079
Community Expectations, Student Union 206, (213) 821-7373
Collection Restriction, University Collections, Jefferson Boulevard Structure 100, (213) 740-9087
Dornsife College Advising Office, Grace Ford Salvatori Hall 320, (213) 740-2534
Graduate School, Student Union 301, (213) 740-9033
USC Housing/Residence Halls, McCarthy Way Parking Structure, 620 USC McCarthy Way, (213) 740-2546
Immunizations, USC Student Health, contact studenthealth@usc.edu or send a secure message in MySHR to the immunizations department if you encounter a registration hold due to immunization non-compliance.
International Students, 649 West 34th Street (PSD 101), ois@usc.edu
All international students must obtain clearance from the Office of International Services to drop below full-time enrollment. International students must register in a minimum of 12 units as undergraduates, 8 units as master’s degree students and 6 units as doctoral students or as research or teaching assistants.
Leave of Absence (see the department of your major)
Library Hold (see appropriate library)
Prevention Education Modules, review requirements for prevention education and contact the appropriate program if you have difficulty completing the necessary module to lift a registration hold. See sites.usc.edu/pems.
Probation/Academic Review, Figueroa Building 107, (213) 740-1196
Registrar, Office of Academic Records and Registrar, visit ask.usc.edu for more information, (213) 740-8500
Student Life, Student Union 201, (213) 740-2421
Student Financial Services (loan restrictions), Jefferson Boulevard Parking Structure, (213) 740-4077
Transcripts and Verifications, visit ask.usc.edu for more information, (213) 740-7445
Writing Program, Jefferson Building 150, (213) 740-1980
6. Log in to myUSC and use Web Registration to enroll in classes or change program.
Registration Assistance
If you are unable to use Web Registration, contact the Registrar One Stop Center via ask.usc.edu and use the “email us” option.
Registration Confirmation Copies
All enrollment, tuition and fee information is available on the Registration & Fee summary found within your myUSC account.
Change of Schedule (Withdraw and Add)
After registering for a course, it is a student’s responsibility to withdraw officially from the course if the student decides not to continue. Students must use Web Registration to drop or add courses. If a student experiences an error with Web Registration, the student can contact the Registrar One Stop via ask.usc.edu and choose the “email us” option.
Students can withdraw from a course without academic penalty up until the 80 percent mark of a session. No course may be withdrawn after the 80 percent mark. A course dropped up to 45 percent into the session in which the course is offered, will not appear on the official transcript with a mark of “W,” however it will appear on the student’s record and STARS report. A refund is not applied in this instance because it is beyond the 20 percent mark of the session. For the specific deadline to change the grade options, click the Calendar icon next to the course on the Schedule of Classes. All schedule changes must be processed through Web Registration or the Registrar One Stop Center. Failure to withdraw officially will result in the grade of “UW,” which is computed in the GPA as zero (0) grade points. See Change of Program/Petition Actions and Withdrawal/Tuition Refund Policy under Tuition and Fees for additional information.
Financial aid recipients should consult with a financial aid counselor before withdrawing from courses in order to assess the potential effect on the student’s financial aid eligibility. Also, withdrawing and adding courses may cancel any financial aid deferment previously granted on a student’s account. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Financial Aid Office to have the account re-deferred.
7. Obtain a USCard and purchase a parking permit and other services to be charged to your student account.
USCard – mycard.usc.edu
All ID requests must be made online. Visit mycard.usc.edu and request your USC ID. Domestic students may elect to have the USC ID available for pick-up at a Customer Service Center or have it mailed. International students may pick up the USC ID at a Customer Service Center upon providing proof that Immigration Status Verification (ISV) has been completed with the Office of International Services.
Your USCard can be used at all USC Hospitality residential and retail venues, USC Bookstores, all print and copy locations across campus, parking gates and more, including select USC Village retailers. For the most recent list of locations accepting USCard, visit mycard.usc.edu/accepted-locations.
On the USCard website, you can change your meal plan, replace your ID and deposit money using your credit card. To manage your account, click “Log in to your USCard” and follow the prompts. From there you can deposit money, view your balance and transactions and suspend/reinstate your card if you think you’ve lost it.
For more information, call (213) 740-8709, email uscard@usc.edu or visit usc.edu/uscard.
Student Health Insurance
Housing – McCarthy Way Parking Structure, First Floor, 620 McCarthy Way
You may complete an application, or find information regarding housing online at housing.usc.edu. Students with restriction holds on their USC accounts for financial, academic or conduct issues may be unable to apply for housing. Please see the Cashier’s Office or your academic adviser, if necessary.
You may also contact Housing by email at housing@usc.edu or by phone at (800) 872-4632 or (213) 740-2546.
Parking Permits at USC – McCarthy Way Parking Structure, First Floor, 620 McCarthy Way
(213) 740-3575, usc.edu/parking
USC Transportation issues parking permits for on-campus lots and structures.
Contact the USC Transportation Office for the most current pricing.
El Rodeo (Yearbook)
Students may pre-order/purchase copies of El Rodeo using either their USCard discretionary funds or their credit card through the yearbook website.
Graduate portraits are taken each fall, and are available to any student completing his or her degree program. See the yearbook website for information and to schedule an appointment.
8. Log in to your Financial Aid Summary and Tasks (FAST) page to review your Financial Aid Summary.
Financial aid applicants should satisfy all the disbursement requirements for each program as soon as possible to ensure their funds will be available by the payment deadline. Visit financialaid.usc.edu for detailed information.
Be sure to log in to your USC Financial Aid Summary and Tasks (FAST) page and your USC email account regularly to monitor your status and to check for any notices related to financial aid.
In general, for students who have met all disbursement requirements, most financial aid funds will be credited to a student’s account 10 days prior to the start of the semester.
Graduate Assistantships
In addition to a paid stipend, graduate assistantships cover a specified amount for tuition plus health center, medical and dental insurance fees. Depending on the amount of the Graduate Assistantships you receive, it may reduce or remove the Federal Direct Loan amounts. You are responsible for paying any other charges by the settlement deadline.
There are two possible reasons tuition- or health-related awards may not appear on the registration confirmation:
- You are not registered for at least 6 graduate units of credit or in a course that confers full-time status (such as GRSC 800 or a 794a-z course). Graduate assistants must be registered for GRSC 800 or a 794a-z course, or a minimum of 6 graduate units for credit.
- The department has not yet entered the health-related award into the Student Information System (SIS). In this case, please contact the department offering you the graduate assistant position as soon as possible.
Please contact your department if you experience any difficulties with your assistantship.
9. Complete the application steps for Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans.
If your financial aid eligibility includes a Federal Direct Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized Loan, you must complete the application steps detailed at financialaid.usc.edu/loans to ensure proper receipt of your funds.
10. E-sign your Promissory Note for HPSL, LDS, PCL and USC institutional loans.
If your financial aid eligibility includes a Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL), Loan for Disadvantaged Students (LDS), Primary Care Loan (PCL) or a USC institutional loan, you will receive instructions for completing a Master Promissory Note via your USC email address prior to the beginning of each semester and/or each disbursement. A new promissory note is required for every new disbursement of HPSL, LDS, PCL and USC loans. You will receive an email notification from Heartland/ECSI at the start of each academic year.
If you have any questions regarding these loans, please call the Student Financial Services office at (213) 740-4077.
11. Graduate Students: Complete the necessary steps to apply for a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan.
If you are borrowing a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan to help cover your expenses, you must complete the application steps detailed at financialaid.usc.edu/loans to ensure proper receipt of your funds. USC processes a separate PLUS loan for each enrolled term. If you wish to borrow the PLUS loan for multiple terms, please submit a separate application for each term. Credit is checked once every 180 days for those with multiple applications.
12. Undergraduates: Ensure you parents complete the steps necessary to apply for a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan.
If your parent is borrowing a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan to help cover your expenses, you must complete the application steps detailed at financialaid.usc.edu/loans to ensure proper receipt of your funds. Credit is checked once every 180 days for those with multiple applications.
13. Apply for the USC Payment Plan or Tuition Reimbursement Deferment at Student Financial Services.
A new plan is required each term.
The USC Payment Plan allows you to divide your tuition and fees over five monthly payments for one semester. Payments for the spring 2025 semester will start December 11, 2024. The Payment Plan does not charge interest but there is an application fee to participate. Payment Plan information and application link are available on the Student Financial Services website. For additional information, contact Student Financial Services at (213) 740-4077. You may access the Payment Plan option by logging in to myUSC and selecting “Payment Plan.”
Tuition Reimbursement Deferment
For the most up-to-date information on the Tuition Reimbursement/Deferment program, please visit the Student Financial Services website.
You are required to pay 10 percent of your tuition PLUS 100 percent of all fees, including lab fees, plus a non-refundable application fee of $100, prior to the settlement deadline each term. The balance of your tuition will be deferred until April 25, 2025. Interest is not charged during the deferment period. If your account is not paid when due, it will be subject to additional finance charges.
14. Settle Your Bill with the Cashier’s Office.
Important Dates and Information
January 10, 2025, by 5 p.m. – Settlement deadline. All students must register and settle their bills entirely by this date and time to avoid late fees.
January 31, 2025 – Last day to withdraw from classes with refund in sessions 001 and 060. For other sessions, see Withdrawal/Tuition Refund Policy Last day to purchase or waive health insurance. Last day to purchase or waive tuition refund insurance.
Note: USC does not mail printed monthly billing statements to students. Students must use USCe.pay to review their monthly statements. For more information, visit sfs.usc.edu/student-account/your-bill.
You may pay your bill online at (sfs.usc.edu/epay), by mail or in person. If you are paying by mail, be sure to mail your payment early enough for the university to receive it by the settlement deadline.
USCe.pay allows you to manage your student account online. You can pay your tuition and fees by transferring funds from your savings or checking account or by wire transfer. You can also print e-receipts and view your billing statements or current account information. In addition, you can set up individual guest user access for parents or anyone else you choose so they can make payments on your account. For more information, visit sfs.usc.edu/epay. To access your USCe.pay account, log in to myUSC (my.usc.edu) and select the USCe.pay link.
For account information or inquiries, please call (213) 740-7471 or email cashier@usc.edu.
More detailed information about student accounts, settlement options and procedures is available at sfs.usc.edu.
Tuition Prepayment Program (TPP)
This option offers individuals the opportunity to stabilize tuition costs by avoiding future tuition increases. Under this plan, the university will accept the prepayment of the student’s total USC tuition plus mandatory fees at the current tuition rate for up to the next four to five years. For further information, contact Student Financial Services, (213) 740-4077, or visit us at sfs.usc.edu and select “Payment Options.” The student must be admitted to the university before a tuition prepayment account may be established.
Refunds
If you have a credit balance on your account, you may be eligible for a refund. eRefund Direct allows you to receive your refund quickly and easily. Please visit sfs.usc.edu/refunds for more information and forms.
If you are on the USC Payment Plan, you are not eligible for a refund while you are making payments through the Payment Plan. You will have to adjust your payment plan budget amount to reduce/eliminate the credit balance. Please visit sfs.usc.edu/refunds for more information.