USC Viterbi - Leading the Computer Science Industry in Media & Business

Just outside of the current top 20 for CS (rank #21 via US News) is the University of Southern California’s program. Tied with Yale and Duke, USC is about half as selective, making it an excellent option for students who want a top-notch education in the field but find the most selective programs to be just slightly out-of-reach.

How does it rank so highly? It all comes down to USC’s savvy departmental structure: they know what they’re great at, and they’ve oriented their offerings to leverage those talents towards some truly best-in-class offerings. Which offerings are those? 

1. BS in Computer Science Games

LA knows how to make multimedia, and oftentimes USC is where they learned how. The Viterbi School knows this and has fully leveraged that capability to make their computer games developer program world-class. They have set up highly collaborative partnerships throughout the university’s different schools, especially with art and design, so students across campus can collaborate to undertake wildly ambitious projects for their portfolios. 

With access to the same infrastructure that trained the likes of George Lucas and titans of industry (like the folks over at Riot Games who made that small indie-hit League of Legends), students will have access to world-class pipelines for all the media and business requirements of professional game development while still in-school! 

The systems are so good that occasionally, games developed by students have been professionally published: the most famous case being “Outer Wilds”, an award-winning RPG with groundbreaking nonlinear narrative gameplay. 

Carnegie Mellon is the only school that can fully rival these offerings for computer games. It’s also arguably the #1 CS program in the country. And, even Carnegie Mellon can’t compete with certain elements of USC’s unique place in industry: the school is located in LA. There are multiple large studios (Activision, Riot, Insomniac, Naughty Dog, EA, etc.) located there, which preferentially hire and give internships to USC students and alumni due to the extensive local networking that the school aggressively maintains. 

So, if you or your child are interested in computer game development, USC is the place to be. Between its Institute for Creative Technologies and Integrated Media Systems Center, the university is leading the way in this $200bn industry.

2. BS in Computer Science and Business Administration

Another field where USC performs exceptionally well is in business and management, ranking #9 in the country overall with a special affinity for technology. That quality is deeply rooted in the synthesis of these fields in the school’s programs and their heavy interreliance. Oftentimes one hears about a school’s “interdisciplinary focus”, but where other schools seek to provide opportunities, USC thrives based on natural synergies. It’s baked into their operating system, so to speak, and that quality shines particularly bright in their CS department. That dynamic characterizes much of the particular strength of USC as a whole. 

While the BS in Computer Science and Business Administration is still technically administered by the CS department, students are able to take full advantage of the offerings in the Marshall School of Business. That’s an extremely enticing way to get one of the best business educations in the country alongside an excellent foundation in computer science.

3. CS, CE, and Data Science Offerings 

Of course, a school as prestigious as USC won’t be limited to several niche offerings: its core Computer Science and Engineering programs are excellent, as is its BA in Data Science. In reality, anyone interested in studying at the forefront of technology will have a world-class education at USC, even if game development or business administration aren’t their main focus. 

Many of the same things that make those programs so excellent are maintained in the core CS curriculum: whether that’s extensive interdepartmental collaborations or excellent networking opportunities leveraged from the university’s pipelines to ‘Silicon Beach’, the host of over 500 major technology companies in Los Angeles. Going to a higher-ranked program might pay its own dividends in the right circles, but relationships are what build careers, and that’s what makes USC such an alluring option for CS. With a culture that is slightly more relaxed and collaborative than the ultra-competitive schools in the top 10, USC positions itself as an idyllic environment to prepare for the most exciting technology careers. 

So Should I Apply?

That depends! Do you have an SAT score nearing 1500? Is your GPA at least a 3.8 unweighted? Do your extracurriculars showcase a wide variety of opportunities related to coding, technology, collaborative skillsets, entrepreneurial instincts, and leadership ability? If so, USC’s Viterbi school might be an excellent fit for you, especially if you foresee any interest in the video game or business industries. 

It can be hard to know for sure which schools are the best fit for your college list. If you have any doubts about your current approach, consider reaching out to Pathivy to see if we can help you form up and execute on your college admissions goals.