Total of 8 non-renewable units of Exceptional Funding at the standard undergraduate tuition rate are available to for use towards USC tuition. Units match the undergraduate tuition rate of the merit scholarship.

During Fall and Spring semesters, students who intend to request more than 2 additional units must complete necessary registration steps with their academic advisor.

• Trustee Scholars: Maximum amount of 8 full-tuition units may be funded
• Presidential Scholars: Maximum amount of 8 half-tuition units, or 50% of the cost of each unit, may be funded (NOTE: half-tuition units cannot be combined to fund 100% of tuition).

You must request Exceptional Funding each time you wish to use funding; it is not automatically granted. Once all 8 units have been used, they will not renew.

Exceptional Funding can be used to fund courses that cause enrollment in more than 18 units during the fall or spring semester AND/OR enrollment in up to 8 units during the summer.

Courses cannot be audited. All courses must be taken for a letter grade or pass/no pass. Examples of how to utilize Exceptional Funding:

• Courses that contribute to degree progress or completion of more than one academic program.
• Summer study abroad where USC tuition is charged and USC credit is earned.
• Maymesters (spring) or summer classes at USC including Problems Without Passports.
• Progressive Degree Program (PDP) courses. Exceptional Funding is applied at the standard undergraduate per-unit rate. Exceptional Funding for a PDP student may not exceed the undergraduate tuition rate, even if the student enrolls in a graduate course with a higher per-unit tuition rate. Tuition and fees are published in the Schedule of Classes.

If approved for Exceptional Funding, all course decisions should be made by the Week 3 add/drop deadline. Tuition applied to extra units is non-refundable after this point.

Summer 2025

Exceptional Funding requests will be reviewed after the round 1 deadline and then on a rolling basis every few weeks leading up to the round 2 deadline. Students will be notified of their funding status based on the deadline by which they submit a request (see schedule below).

Summer tuition & fees are assessed at the time of registration with payment due as stated on your billing statement. Applicants may need to pay for tuition up front and receive Exceptional Funding as a reimbursement. View monthly billing schedule here. Additionally, partial funding will not disburse (i.e. if approved for 8 units, must be enrolled in 8 units to see funding on student account). Submit a request that matches your current registration and, if applicable, submit an “Update” request before the request deadline for an increase or decrease in Exceptional Funding.

Students may apply at any time before the final summer deadline at no disadvantage.

[Application Opens] March 7, 2025

[Round 1 Deadline] Friday, March 28, 2025 (Notification of award status by April 11)

[Round 2 FINAL Deadline] Friday, June 13, 2025 (Notification of award status by June 27)

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Fall 2025

Students will be notified of their funding status based on the deadline by which they submit a request (see schedule below). It is recommended that students meet all billing deadlines listed on your student account to avoid late fees.

Only apply for Exceptional Funding when registration exceeds 18 units. Partial funding will not disburse. Students may submit an “Update” requesting an increase or decrease in Exceptional Funding through the add/drop deadline.

[Application Opens] Monday, July 28

[Round 1 Deadline] Monday, August 4, 2025 (Notification of award status by August 15)

[Round 2 FINAL Deadline] Friday, September 5, 2025 (Notification of award status by September 12)

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Spring 2026

Students will be notified of their funding status based on the deadline by which they submit a request (see schedule below). It is recommended that students meet all billing deadlines listed on your student account to avoid late fees.

Only apply for Exceptional Funding when registration exceeds 18 units. Partial funding will not disburse. Students may submit an “Update” requesting an increase or decrease in Exceptional Funding through the add/drop deadline.

[Application Opens] Monday, October 27, 2025 

[Round 1 Deadline] Sunday, December 14, 2025 (Notification of award status by January 2, 2026)

[Round 2 FINAL Deadline] Friday, January 16, 2026 (Notification of award status by January 23, 2026)