As part of USC Academic Programs, Academic Honors and Fellowships coordinates university-wide Commencement Honors for graduating seniors in partnership with USC Schools and faculty committees.

Scholar Distinctions (Renaissance Scholars, Discovery Scholars, and Global Scholars) are academic honors that students may apply for and will receive at the time of graduation. Each year, ten exemplary students from each of the three distinctions are selected for a $10,000 prize either for graduate study or creative projects.

At USC, it is the custom to name one student to serve as the University Valedictorian and one or more students to serve as University Salutatorian. The USC selection process recognizes the very highest levels of academic achievement, but it is also more holistic and takes into consideration service and leadership as well.

The recipients of these awards have attained a perfect 4.0 grade point average for their entire undergraduate course of study at USC.