USC Athletic Scholarship Information
California Assembly Bill No. 2079 requires Colleges and Universities in California to disclose information regarding their policies surrounding athletics scholarships. Should you have any questions, please call the USC Office of Athletic Compliance at (213) 740-6127.
Scholarships
For information regarding the cost of attendance, average stipend amounts received by student-athletes, and costs not covered by an athletic scholarship, please visit the USC Financial Aid Website. Stipends are distributed monthly during the regular academic year and are calculated using the room, board, and miscellaneous costs portions of USC’s Cost of Attendance.
The National Letter of Intent (NLI) program no longer exists – a signed Athletics Financial Aid Agreement is now the binding agreement between a school and a prospective student-athlete. After signing an Athletics Financial Aid Agreement, a prospective student-athlete may no longer be contacted by athletics staff members or boosters of other schools. A prospective student-athlete may request to be released from this contact prohibition by contacting USC’s Office of Athletic Compliance. Please be aware that verbal commitments are not binding on either the student-athlete or the institution.
Per California Code, Education Code (EDC) § 67365, we are required to publish the following statement despite it containing outdated information: “Pursuant to NCAA rules, a verbal commitment is not binding on either the student athlete or the institution. The National Letter of Intent is a binding agreement between a prospective student-athlete and an institution in which the institution agrees to provide a prospective student-athlete (who is admitted to the institution and is eligible for financial aid under NCAA rules) athletics aid for one academic year in exchange for the prospective student-athlete's agreement to enroll at the institution. The National Letter of Intent must be accompanied by an institutional financial aid agreement. If the prospective student-athlete signs the National Letter of Intent but does not fulfill the requirements of that agreement, they may be subject to specific penalties, including loss of a season of eligibility and a mandatory residence requirement.”
Summer School
With limited exceptions, scholarship student-athletes are eligible under NCAA rules for discretionary aid during summer school only if they received aid in a previous academic year or will receive aid for the first time in the next academic year. However, the receipt of a summer scholarship is contingent on Athletic Department approval. Inquiries should be directed to Student-Athlete Academic Services (SAAS) academic councilors or the SAAS Director to initiate the request process. The amount of summer aid that any student-athlete receives will be determined at the discretion of the Athletic Department and SAAS.
Information about summer costs can be found in a summer term’s “Schedule of Classes” page, which can be found here.
Scholarship Duration
The period of award begins when the student-athlete receives any benefits as a part of the student's grant-in-aid and continues until the conclusion of the period set forth in the financial aid agreement. The period of award of a multiyear grant-in-aid may include one or more academic years of no athletically related financial aid after the first academic year in which athletically related aid is provided, including the final year of the award (e.g., 50 percent in year one, zero percent in year two, 50 percent in year three; 50 percent in year one, zero percent in year two, zero percent in year three). An athletics grant-in-aid shall not be awarded in excess of the student-athlete's five-year period of eligibility.
Scholarship Renewal & Non-Renewal
An athletic scholarship may be renewed after the period of the original award if the student-athlete is eligible for continued athletic aid. Notification of an athletic scholarship renewal will be given to the student-athlete on or before July 1st prior to the academic year in which it is to be effective. Notification of non-renewal of an athletic scholarship will also be provided on or before that July 1st deadline if the student-athlete has remaining eligibility in the next academic year.
Per NCAA rules, for a student-athlete who received an athletic scholarship in the academic year of their initial full-time enrollment at USC, that student-athlete’s athletic scholarship will not be non-renewed based on their medical status or athletic performance.
Conditions of Athletic Financial Aid Agreements
USC Policies and Scholarship Cancellation or Reduction
With limited exceptions, an Athletic Scholarship may only be reduced, non-renewed, or canceled during the period of the award or subsequent to the award expiring for those reasons authorized under NCAA rules as set forth in a Student-Athlete's Financial Aid Agreement. These reasons include, but are not limited to, a Student-Athlete rendering himself/herself ineligible, engaging in serious misconduct warranting substantial disciplinary penalty, including, but not limited to a violation of the USC Student Conduct Code and Policies, USC Department of Athletics Alcohol and Drug Policy (policy available upon request). The conditions for a scholarship cancellation, reduction, or non-renewal are listed below.
Student-athletes who are awarded athletic aid after their initial year of full-time enrollment at USC may have their scholarship non-renewed after the period of the award for any reason.
If the Athletic Department approves a reduction, cancellation, or non-renewal of a student-athlete's athletic scholarship, the affected student-athlete shall be notified of the action and shall have the right to appeal that decision in accordance with NCAA rules.
Conditions as of July 1, 2025
Your athletic scholarship may be reduced, cancelled, or not renewed if:
- You become ineligible for intercollegiate competition pursuant to any NCAA Bylaw or Conference rule as written now or in the future (e.g., by carrying less than 12 units, failing an NCAA drug test, not meeting minimum NCAA or USC academic standards);
- You violate the USC Athletic Department’s Drug Screening Policy (policy available upon request);
- You give false information on your application, letter of intent or Financial Aid Agreement or otherwise fraudulently misrepresent yourself to USC;
- You voluntarily withdraw from the team for personal reasons or give written notice that you intend to leave your team;
- You sign a professional sports contract, agree to be represented by an agent (verbally or in writing), or impermissibly accept money based on your athletics ability or reputation (unless your eligibility is exhausted);
- You receive other financial aid that causes you to exceed your individual limit as stipulated in Bylaw 15;
- You exhaust your eligibility in the sport;
- You provide written notification of transfer, per USC policy;
- You qualify for institutional need-based aid, in which case your athletic aid may be reduced, canceled, or nonrenewed to allow the USC Financial Aid Office to coordinate my need-based aid in accordance with federal and state regulations, NCAA and Conference rules, and institutional financial aid policies;
- You successfully complete the requirements of your undergraduate or graduate degree;
- You do not successfully complete the requirements of your undergraduate degree after 8 terms of full-time collegiate enrollment (at any institution);
- You are convicted of any crime (misdemeanor or felony) by a state or federal court of law;
- Any final finding (after all appellate rights have been exhausted) is made by the proper University authority that you violated any USC Student Conduct Code or Policy, including, but not limited to, findings involving academic integrity, sexual harassment, illegal or unauthorized drug or alcohol use or possession, and hazing;
- You intentionally or knowingly violate (or assist another in violating) any NCAA, Conference, or USC rule or regulation;
- You do not complete the NCAA Policy on Campus Sexual Violence questionnaire truthfully any time it is administered, or cooperate fully with any USC requests for additional information;
- Any final finding (after all appellate rights have been exhausted) is made by a proper USC authority (other than the Athletic department) to rescind your athletic scholarship or preclude you from receiving financial aid as a result of an institutional disciplinary process.
Temporary Injury & Illness
The NCAA is explicit that an institution cannot cancel or reduce a student-athlete’s athletically related aid during the period of the award due to an injury or illness that prevents the student-athlete from participating in athletics.
Permanent or Career-Ending Sports-Related Injury & Illness
Student-athletes who have been evaluated by USC medical staff and found to be injured or ill to the point that they will apparently never again be able to participate in intercollegiate athletics could be placed on a non-counting medical athletic scholarship that would be for the identical time frame and financial aid level as the student-athlete’s previous financial aid agreement.
Coaching Change
A student-athlete’s scholarship will not be impacted by a coaching change.
Renewal and Appeals Information
Information regarding scholarship renewals and the appeals process is available upon request.
Transfer Portal & Scholarship Impact
Per NCAA rules, after a student-athlete permissibly initiates a notification of transfer process, USC will enter the student-athlete’s information into the NCAA Transfer Portal within two (2) business days. The Office of Athletic Compliance will accept a completed Student-Athlete Notification of Transfer Form as the sole method of written notification for purposes of initiating the transfer process.
Student-athletes (other than 4-year undergraduate transfers whose first season of competition occurs at USC during the 2023-24 academic year or later) who submit a written notification of transfer may have their scholarship reduced or cancelled beginning in the ensuing term.
4-year undergraduate transfers whose first season of competition occurs at USC during the 2023-24 academic year or later may have their scholarship cancelled after transferring to a different institution.
Medical Expenses
An institution, conference or the NCAA may provide medical and related expenses and services to a student-athlete.
USC Policy on Medical Expenses
The USC Athletic Department will cover medical costs for injuries or illnesses in which the athletic medicine staff coordinates the necessary services, as determined by USC Team Physicians. The student athlete's primary insurance policy will be billed first and all subsequent costs that are not covered by the primary insurance will be paid by the USC Athletic Department. Referrals to outside health care providers without prior approval from the USC athletic medicine staff may not be financially covered. Student athletes should not discontinue their insurance coverage assuming that the USC Department of Athletics will assume financial responsibility for all medical costs. The USC Athletic Department is only responsible for medical costs associated with athletic related injuries or illnesses. The USC Athletic Department is not financially responsible for non-athletic related injuries or illnesses.
All USC Students must show proof of health insurance coverage at the beginning of the academic year. Students who are enrolled in a private health insurance plan may waive enrollment in the USC Student Insurance program by completing the waiver form and providing proof of insurance to the Student Health Insurance Office. A student who does not have health insurance or does not waive out of the USC Student Health Insurance Plan, will be automatically enrolled in that plan. All student athletes must provide their insurance information to the Department of Athletic Medicine prior to participation. This process is the responsibility of the student athletes.
The NCAA has also developed a Catastrophic Injury Insurance Program. The NCAA Catastrophic Injury Insurance Program is an insurance program that covers student-athletes who are catastrophically injured while participating in a covered intercollegiate athletics activity. The policy has a $90,000 deductible and provides insurance in excess of any other valid and collectible insurance. All student-athletes are covered under this policy.
USC's "Student-Athlete Post-Separation Medical Coverage Program" provides for post-separation medical benefits for former student-athletes in accordance with California Education Code Section 67453.
Duration of Benefit
Each student-athlete will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Each case will be reviewed independently.
Second Opinion
Whether or not USC medical policy covers expenses associated with obtaining a second medical opinion for an athletic-related injury, each individual will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis of what is paid for and done within the parameters of the insurance covering each case regarding independent review. Secondary medical opinions from physicians outside the athletic department must be driven by the athletic sports medicine staff, must have previous and ongoing communications regarding such request, and all requests must be approved by USC medical staff before any secondary medical opinion is sought.
