USC Parent FAQ
USC has a lot of offices, and parents often do not know which one owns a problem. This directory pairs each common question with the USC office that handles it, using contact details from USC's own pages.
About this group
Is this the official University of Southern California parent group?
No. Far From Home is an independent parent community supported by College Cubbies. For official information, visit the University of Southern California parent and family page.
Dates and breaks
When is Trojan Family Weekend 2026?
Thursday, October 29 to Sunday, November 1, 2026, centered on Alumni Park. The family tailgate is Saturday, October 31, before the home football game against Ohio State.
When is Thanksgiving break at USC in 2026?
The academic calendar lists Thanksgiving as Wednesday, November 25 to Sunday, November 29, 2026.
When do fall finals end and when does winter break start?
Fall finals run December 9 to 16, 2026, and winter recess runs December 17 to January 10. Residence halls close at 5 p.m. on December 16 and stay closed through January 7, so residence hall students need to be out by 5 p.m. that day.
When is spring break 2027?
Spring recess runs Sunday, March 14 to Sunday, March 21, 2027.
When is USC commencement 2027?
The academic calendar lists Commencement 2027 as Wednesday, May 12 to Saturday, May 15. Check the commencement site for 2027 ceremony details as they are announced.
Travel and where to stay
What airport is closest to USC in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). USC's international office puts it about 15.5 miles from campus, a 20 to 40 minute drive, with rideshare pickup at the LAX-it lot next to Terminal 1.
Can we get from LAX to USC without a car?
Yes. USC Transportation lists the Metro C and K Lines at the LAX/Metro Transit Center and the E Line stops at Expo Park/USC and Jefferson/USC. The LAX FlyAway bus to Union Station is $9.75 one way.
Where can parents park on campus and what does it cost?
Visitor parking in structures such as Downey, Flower, Royal, McCarthy, and Figueroa is $20 a day, paid by Text2Park (plus a one time $0.50 fee) or at a Pay By Plate station (no fee). Some structures limit all day sales on weekdays. The Grand Avenue Structure is $14 a day.
What does parking cost on a USC home football game day?
For the 2026 season, event parking on campus is $50 per vehicle, cashless and first come first served. Prepaid off campus and Exposition Park spaces are sold through JustPark.
Where do parents stay near USC?
The USC Hotel at 3540 S. Figueroa St. is next to campus. USC's Career Center lists the JW Marriott at LA LIVE and Hotel Indigo downtown at about 2.4 miles, and hotels in the downtown core at 3.2 to 3.4 miles.
How do we get football tickets for Trojan Family Weekend?
Buy through the USC Ticket Office, which sells athletics tickets through usctrojans.evenue.net. Phone hours August to May are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.
Move in and move out
When do USC students have to move out in May 2027?
Residence hall contracts end at 5 p.m. on May 12, 2027, or at noon the day after your student's last final if that comes first. Staying later without permission costs $200 a day.
Does USC offer summer storage?
No. USC Housing's spring checkout guide says the university does not have storage facilities and that private storage companies are available in the area.
Can my student leave things in the room over winter break?
Yes. The 2026 to 2027 Living Agreement says residents do not have to remove belongings or return keys during the winter closure. Apartments stay open over the break.
Health, safety and local life
What should my student do if they get sick at night?
Call USC Student Health at (213) 740-9355, which answers 24/7 with advice nurses and counselors. For a life threatening emergency, call 911.
What is the mailing address format for USC housing?
Full name as registered with Housing, building name, room assignment, street address, and ZIP. USC Housing's example: Tommy Trojan, USC Pardee Tower, PTD-901, 614 Hellman Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089.
How can parents get USC emergency alerts?
Text TrojansAlert to 888777 to receive alerts through Nixle. Parent numbers are removed every August 15, so sign up again each year.
USC Parents and Families
Email parentsoftroy@usc.edu to update your contact information, ask a general question, or request disability accommodations for a family event (at least 7 days ahead). The office sends the Trojan Parents & Families newsletter at the start of each month, August to May. Families are added after their student matriculates, typically in the third week of the first semester.
Trojan Family Weekend
Questions go to info@tfw.usc.edu or tfw@usc.edu. Registration runs through USC's Trojan Family Weekend registration page.
USC Housing
Call (213) 740-2546 or (800) 872-4632, or email housing@usc.edu, for contracts, room assignments, move in appointments, winter break rules, and check out. Maintenance problems go to the maintenance hotline at (213) 740-4646. Each building also has its own Customer Service Center line, such as (213) 740-3626 for Pardee/Marks and (213) 764-7904 for McCarthy Honors College.
Financial Aid
The USC Financial Aid Office is at (213) 740-4444, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific on weekdays, with in person help in the John Hubbard Hall lobby. Email questions go through the askUSC portal. The office requires current students to use their usc.edu email for official communication, so expect most conversations to run through your student.
Registration and records
The Office of Academic Records and Registrar handles registration, transcripts, enrollment verification, and diplomas. Registration Services is at (213) 740-8500, and the grades, transcripts, and verifications line is (213) 740-7445.
Health and counseling
USC Student Health and Counseling and Mental Health share one line, (213) 740-9355, answered 24/7, and the email studenthealth@usc.edu.
Campus Wellbeing and Crisis Intervention
DPS lists this office at (213) 740-0411 among its health and wellness resources. It is a good number to pass along if your student is struggling and you are not sure where to start.
Department of Public Safety
Emergency (213) 740-4321. Non emergency (213) 740-6000. Both run 24 hours.
Parking and transportation
USC Transportation, (213) 740-3575, has its main office in the McCarthy Structure at 620 McCarthy Way. It handles visitor parking, permits, and Text2Park questions.
Athletics tickets
The USC Ticket Office sells football and other athletics tickets through usctrojans.evenue.net. Phone hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays from August to May, and the office is no longer open in person on non event days.
Commencement
The commencement site lists acevents@usc.edu as its contact address.
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