USC Beats UCLA in U.S. News & World Report's Annual Rankings of Top American Universities

By Dennis Romero Tue., Sep. 13 2011 at 4:47 PM

It's bad enough for us Bruins to have to endure the constant beat downs by USC in football (even when team's not even post-season eligible).

But these U.S. News & World Report rankings are too much.

Once again USC has edged out UCLA in its list of top-flight national universities, with the Trojans just barely edging out the Bruins.

In fact ...

... the difference is just two places, with USC coming in at No. 23 and UCLA placing 25th.

UCLA (ahem) continues to see impossibly high GPAs for incoming freshman. And, if you take a look at the magazine's breakdown of costs, you might wonder if USC is really the better school after all:

USC Tuition and fees: $42,818 (2011-12)
UCLA
In-state tuition and fees: $11,604 (2011-12)

Would you pay nearly four times as much for a school only (allegedly) a hair better? We think not. Not unless you're a dumb Trojan.

[@dennisjromero/djromero@laweekly.com]

Tags:

college rankings, college rivalry, Los Angeles, u.s. news and world report, ucla, university rankings, usc

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guest

Although tuition is higher at USC, as a perspective student you need to look at the entire financial situation. UCLA was only able to offer me partial financial aid. However, I was able to get a full ride at USC. Private universities traditionally tend to offer more money when it comes to financial aid and/or scholarships. Im not exactly certain whether there is a direct correlation between endowment size and free money. But as a perspective student, you need to look at the entire financial picture before attending a school. Additionally, during these harsh financial times, it is imperative to think years down the line after you graduate from a school. Ask yourself whether you want to be left owing $40,000 after you graduate. As for me, I decided to attend USC and had a total of $7,000 in school debt.

Sadafasf

Dumb Trojans? Haha, UCLA spends millions of dollars on football jerseys to look like pansies and get pounded by USC. That's where your UCLA tuition is going folks. Plus, whoever wrote this article should look at the financial packages that USC gives out. Do your research next time. I don't even go to USC or UCLA and this pure blatant bias is just unprofessional.

Guest

I think the game on last week pretty much speaks for itself concerning this rivalry

Bob

Sorry, the tuition is a "you get what you pay for" deal. It may sound like a lot for four years but, in fact, you need to amortize that cost over a lifetime. The "Trojan Family" network in SoCal is multiple times stronger and deeper than UCLA's alumni network. Your tuition is admission to a very powerful alumni experience that UCLA can only envy from afar.

WalterWhite

I graduated college in 1981. Tuition and books at the University of Florida cost me approximately $1,500 a year. Just 30 years later, UF tuition and books is about the same as it is at UCLA. College has returned to its former self and is out of reach for too many except the privileged. I don't think I could bartend and wait tables these days and afford the absurd cost of an education. The California legislature should be ashamed for cutting funding. Then there are school administrators who make ridiculous paychecks. Please turn out the lights on your way out.

guest

Yes, it is true, USC offers great financial aid packages. I went to both (UCLA undergrad and USC grad). USC people are the ones usually with a chip on their shoulder about the rivalry.

Bob

Funny, I was going to say the opposite about UCLA students. USC folks view their main rival as Stanford, not UCLA. UCLA just happens to be in the same city, thus the friction. If UCLA was in some other city, it would be viewed the same way as Cal.

Guest

True that USC can be more expensive, but it also offers much more scholarship money. For some, it ends up being cheaper to attend SC. I got into both schools, and my decision to go to USC was in large part influenced by the financial aid package I was offered. That's the benefit of going to a private school. In case you missed it, the big story today was that UC tuition could rise by up to 16 percent a year.