University of Southern California (USC) Parents & Families Guide

Where your student is

The University of Southern California is in Los Angeles, California, which matters when you search online, because "USC" also points to the University of South Carolina. Most undergraduates live and take classes on the University Park Campus, south of downtown Los Angeles, and the Trojans play home football at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. A second campus, the Health Sciences Campus, has its own student health center and pharmacy.

Getting here

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is where most families land. USC's international office puts it about 15.5 miles from campus, a drive of 20 to 40 minutes depending on traffic, while USC Viterbi's driving directions call it 13 miles. The Metro E Line stops at Expo Park/USC and Jefferson/USC, so a visit without a rental car is possible. Parking in the campus structures runs $20 a day on regular days and $50 on home football Saturdays.

How the year runs

USC uses two semesters. Fall 2026 classes started Monday, August 24, and fall finals run December 9 to 16. Spring 2027 classes start January 11, spring recess is March 14 to 21, and commencement runs May 12 to 15, 2027. Fall recess (October 8 and 9) and Thanksgiving (November 25 to 29) are the two short breaks in the fall.

Trojan Family Weekend

The main family visit is Trojan Family Weekend, October 29 to November 1, 2026, which USC's event listing places at Alumni Park. The family tailgate falls on Saturday, October 31, before the home game against Ohio State at the Coliseum, so that weekend brings game day crowds and game day parking prices. For football tickets, go through the USC Ticket Office.

The residence areas

You will hear housing described by area. USC Village includes McCarthy Honors College, Cale and Irani, McMorrow, Cowlings and Ilium, and Nemirovsky and Bohnett. The main University Park Campus has Pardee and Marks towers, New North Residential College, Birnkrant, the Arts & Humanities Residential College, the International Residential College at Parkside, and University Gateway. North University Park, which uses its own 90007 ZIP code, is served by the Cardinal Gardens, Century, Sierra, and Troy Customer Service Centers. Every building is served by a Customer Service Center (CSC), and most University Park and USC Village buildings have their mail sorted at the CSC or, for USC Village, at the FedEx Center.

The office for families

USC Parents and Families answers questions at parentsoftroy@usc.edu and sends the Trojan Parents & Families newsletter at the start of each month from August to May.

Using this hub

The dates page has the full 2026 to 27 calendar. The travel page covers LAX, Metro, parking structures, and hotels. The move in and move out page walks through USC Housing rules, and the local page lists health, safety, mail, and errands near campus.