Do you have California on your mind? Can’t imagine spending your four years of college anywhere but the City of Angels? If you’re an academically ambitious high schooler with dreams of attending a highly selective university, that leaves you with two options: the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Southern California. These world-renowned research universities are excellent choices, and both are incredibly challenging to gain admission to. While plenty of college admissions blogs will break down the facts and figures, Ivy Coach is here to give you behind-the-scenes insight into how these two academic powerhouses shape up against one another.

UCLA: A Brief Overview

UCLA is the most sought-after school in the world. We’re not kidding! For fall 2024, UCLA received 173,651 applications — the most ever received by a four-year institution in the United States. So, what’s all the hype about? Students at UCLA will likely tell you that the school has fantastic weather, a lively social life, a sizable student body in which everyone from every walk of life can find their community, and renowned academics. Moreover, UCLA is a public research university, meaning it’s an affordable option for California residents intent on attending an elite institution.

Located in the gorgeous Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, UCLA is a frequent filming location for Hollywood sets. Its students pride themselves on the easygoing beachiness of campus life, the impressive roster of award-winning faculty who call campus home, and a gag-inducing acceptance rate that recently clocked in at 9% for fall 2023. This Californian collegiate staple is not to be written off, even by its arch-rival neighbor, the University of Southern California!

USC: A Brief Overview

Just due east of UCLA, in the heart of Hollywood, lies the University of Southern California, the Golden State’s oldest university. Home to such famous students as Olivia Rodrigo and flaunting a roster of celebrity alumni such as Judd Apatow and George Lucas, USC is no stranger to the glitz and glamor of the entertainment industry. But don’t let this starry reputation fool you — USC is also home to cutting-edge research facilities, leading undergraduate programs, and a vibrant and diverse student body.

USC has a historical affinity for Hollywood, which is highlighted by the pipeline that shuffles its graduates straight into lucrative careers at major studios. That explains why 82,027 high schoolers applied for only 8,050 slots this past cycle, for an acceptance rate of 9.8% that mimics its rival school, UCLA. USC has roughly 10,000 fewer undergraduates in its student body than UCLA, but at 21,000 heads, the undergraduate community is by no means paltry. Every kind of student from every walk of life can find a home at USC.

The Ultimate Showdown: Ivy Coach’s Take on UCLA Vs. USC

We at Ivy Coach won’t pretend we’re weighing in on this debate without our fair share of bias. As loyal readers of our college admissions blog could tell you, we’re not the biggest fans of the University of Spoiled Children (oops — are we showing our cards?). Why? Not that USC did anything that wrong, but we just don’t appreciate how it is so often equated with an Ivy League school when, in reality, it’s far from it. Take heed, Hollywood royalty: your child is better off at Harvard than at USC! Seriously!

Joking aside, UCLA and USC are quite comparable institutions. From a financial standpoint, both offer considerable financial aid. From a career standpoint, both leave graduates in great shape to tackle the nation’s foremost industries. But from a student life standpoint, we’d have to give it to UCLA. The air has less pomposity at UCLA. The students are more relaxed, less showy, and without the inflated egos of some of their USC counterparts. They’re the type of students to jangle car keys at USC students during highly-anticipated football games to poke fun at the private school’s tendency to take itself very seriously.

Ultimately, you should be very proud of yourself if you’ve earned admission to either school, and if you’re fortunate to choose between the two, contact current undergraduates at both schools to hear first-hand testimony of what life is like on campus. Better yet, plan a visit to each campus. Online research will only get you so far!