School Colors
University of Southern California

University of Southern California
Cardinal and Gold - #990000 #FFCC00

The University of Southern California was founded following the efforts of Judge Robert M. Widney, Ozro Childs, John Gately Downey, and Isaias W. Hellman. The three donated 308 lots of land to establish the campus and provided the necessary seed money for the construction of the first buildings.

When USC opened in 1880, tuition was $15.00 per term and students were not allowed to leave town without the knowledge and consent of the university president. The school had an enrollment of 53 students and a faculty of 10. The city lacked paved streets, electric lights, telephones, and a reliable fire alarm system. Its first graduating class in 1884 was a class of three - two males and female valedictorian Minnie C. Miltimore

The colors of USC are cardinal and gold, which were approved by USC's third president, the Reverend George W. White, in 1895. In 1958 the shade of gold, which was originally more of an orange color, was changed to a more yellow shade.