USC will discontinue Academic Achievement Award, Exceptional Funding

USC will sunset two tuition benefits that allow qualified undergraduates to enroll in extra courses for free, according to a memo obtained by Morning, Trojan. The changes will only affect incoming students — those entering fall 2025 or later.

The Academic Achievement Award allows students pursuing multiple undergraduate degrees to enroll in up to 21 units at no extra charge. The Exceptional Funding program likewise waives fees for recipients of the prestigious Presidential and Trustee merit scholarships.

“Currently enrolled students may not need to adjust their course plans, as they will remain eligible under the previous criteria,” Vice Provost Andrew McConnell Stott wrote Wednesday to academic advisors.

The decision to end the programs comes as USC orders mass layoffs and budget cuts to address a growing financial crisis, and marks the latest rollback of incentives designed to attract and support exceptional undergraduates.

In December, the university slashed the value of a scholarship for students who earned top scores on their high school PSATs, and in March, it ordered schools to reduce the number of merit scholarships they issue.

The university said it made those cuts to avoid reducing need-based scholarships.

This is not the first time USC has cut the Academic Achievement Award and Exceptional Funding program. In March 2024, the university axed the programs entirely, including for current students.

It later partially, then fully reinstated the awards after receiving student pushback, including a 3,100-signature petition that blasted the “unjust policy change.”

“We just sat down and took a breath and said, ‘Right, this is one of the more important programs,’” former President Carol Folt then told Annenberg Media of the reversal. “I feel really good that we said, ‘In that case, we’re changing our mind.’ We’re not afraid to change our mind.”

Tomo Chien can be reached at [email protected].