University of Southern California AI Policy for College Applications
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at University of Southern California?
It depends on your program:
- •General/Undergraduate: No explicit policy (No explicit policy)
- •USC Gould School of Law (JD): AI use prohibited
- •USC Annenberg School (MA, MCG, MS programs): AI use prohibited
- •USC Chan Division of Occupational Science (MA, OTD, PhD): AI use prohibited
Last verified: 2026-02-17 (no change from 2025-09-18) • Confidence: High
What This Means For Your Application
✓Generally Safe
- Grammar and spell-checking tools
- Getting human feedback on drafts
✗Avoid
- Submitting AI-generated paragraphs as your own
💡No explicit policy doesn't mean AI is allowed — err on the side of caution
Policy Evidence
University General Policy
“No explicit undergraduate admissions AI policy found on admissions website or FAQ pages”
— Apply to USC(Verified: Feb 2026)
“We're not panicked about it. We'll see this year in particular what comes from [AI].”
— Balancing the potentials and pitfalls of AI in college admissions(Updated: 2024)
“we always have a sense of healthy, positive skepticism, and we seek more information to know more about the student”
— Balancing the potentials and pitfalls of AI in college admissions(Updated: 2024)
Program-Specific Policies
USC Gould School of Law (JD)
“the use of Artificial Intelligence, including ChatGPT and other similar platforms, is not permitted in the completion of your application”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: application materials, personal statement
USC Annenberg School (MA, MCG, MS programs)
“Avoid using ChatGPT or other generative AI tools or another person to write on your behalf”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: personal statement, writing sample
USC Chan Division of Occupational Science (MA, OTD, PhD)
“The use of generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT) in crafting these materials is not permitted”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: application materials, personal statement
Policy Summary by Program
| Program | AI Allowed? | Disclosure | Enforcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/Undergraduate | No explicit policy | No disclosure required | E1 • Manual review possible |
| USC Gould School of Law (JD) | AI use prohibited | No disclosure required | E2 • Uses screening tools |
| USC Annenberg School (MA, MCG, MS programs) | AI use prohibited | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
| USC Chan Division of Occupational Science (MA, OTD, PhD) | AI use prohibited | No disclosure required | E2 • Uses screening tools |
Sources Verified
All sources checked (15)
Policy Sources:
Additional Sources Checked:
- https://admission.usc.edu/apply/
- https://admission.usc.edu/apply/first-year-students/
- https://admission.usc.edu/faq/
- https://www.admissionblog.usc.edu/
- https://academicintegrity.usc.edu/generative-ai-and-chatgpt-edu/
- https://rossier.usc.edu/news-insights/news/balancing-potentials-and-pitfalls-ai-college-admissions
- https://gould.usc.edu/academics/degrees/jd/application/
- https://annenberg.usc.edu/admissions/graduate-applicants/ma-public-relations
- https://annenberg.usc.edu/admissions/graduate-applicants/mcg-communication-management
- https://annenberg.usc.edu/admissions/graduate-applicants/ms-digital-social-media
- https://annenberg.usc.edu/admissions/graduate-applicants/ms-journalism
- https://chan.usc.edu/education/post-professional-ma/admissions
- https://chan.usc.edu/education/phd/admissions
Policy History
| Date | Permission | Disclosure | Enforcement | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-17 (current) | L0 | D0 | E1 | High |
| 2025-09-18 | L0 | D0 | E1 | High |
Additional Context
USC has no explicit AI policy for undergraduate admissions. The undergraduate admissions site, FAQ, and admissions blog contain no AI-related guidance. VP for Enrollment Management Kedra Ishop stated they are 'not panicked' about AI and use healthy skepticism in review, but this is from a Rossier School editorial, not an official policy. However, multiple graduate/professional programs at USC have explicit AI prohibitions: Gould Law (JD) prohibits AI outright; Annenberg graduate programs say to 'avoid' ChatGPT/generative AI; and Chan OT Division prohibits generative AI with enforcement (application not considered if detected). The top-level classification is L0 because the central undergraduate admissions office has no AI-specific policy. E1 reflects the VP's comments about using skepticism and triangulation in holistic review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does University of Southern California allow ChatGPT for essays?
Do I need to disclose AI use to University of Southern California?
How does University of Southern California check for AI?
Which University of Southern California programs have different AI policies?
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