Verifying against the live site and live WHOIS/DNS…
Common questions
Is usc.edu legit or a scam?
AboutUs doesn't label sites "legit" or "a scam": this page lists the dated registration, DNS, HTTPS, mail-authentication and safety checks we could verify, each with its source, so you can decide for yourself.
Who owns usc.edu?
Nobody has completed AboutUs's owner verification for usc.edu. That's true of most sites here — it isn't itself a warning sign.
Correct a description, link or other detail. Submissions are reviewed before publication.
3 of 4 safety checks passed (Oct 26, 2026).
Site is live · HTTPS valid
University of Southern California
University of Southern California is a private research university in Los Angeles offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across 23 schools and academic divisions. It serves approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 25,000 graduate and professional students, with two-thirds of undergraduates receiving financial aid.
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AboutUs has not vetted this site. Everything below is what we could measure automatically. Anything you do on the site — paying, sharing personal details, downloading — is between you and the site, not AboutUs.
Current facts
Latest available measurements; dated entries retain their dates. These are measurements, not an endorsement of the site.
not yet retrieved
Registrar and registration date not retrieved yet — we retry on every view.
latest result
HTTPS request succeeded for usc.edu.
checked Sep 29, 2026
The site names University of Southern California as the organisation behind it.
checked Sep 29, 2026
The live front page reads as an education or reference site that is a public service, mainly for students and teachers.
Authority 46/100— ahead of 46% of the August 2026 scored sampleClear
Why this authority score
46 is a percentile: higher than 46% of sites we score.
How it's calculated
Prominence (Tranco rank #2,451)+10
Verified continuity: no corroborating history lines+2
Identity corroboration (capped)+4
Security & email hygiene+5
Calibration adjustment (published map)+4
Model score: 25/99 — what these reason lines add up to.
Published Authority (percentile): 46/100 — this site's rank against the August 2026 scored sample. Public Authority is capped at 99.
What usc.edu said about itself, 2006–2007
Quoted from the site's AboutUs wiki page in each year it changed (2 versions). These are the page's own words at the time, not AboutUs's assessment. New words · dropped words
2006
Being over a century old, USC has had time to create quite a repertoire of fascinating facts. Here are just a few...
2007
The website has a very modern look with use of good graphics and designs. Various sections of information are pretty well laid and separated from each other. Prospective students looking for undergraduate or graduate or post-graduate admission information can click on admission link to get complete information. There are links to faculty, sports, parents, jobs.rewritten
Now
University of Southern California is a private research university in Los Angeles offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across 23 schools and academic divisions. It serves approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 25,000 graduate and professional students, with two-thirds of undergraduates receiving financial aid.
Site history
Dated record — historical facts always carry their date; self-description below is the 2013 record.
2006
First tracked by AboutUs (Jun 21, 2006); profile edited 5 times through 2013.
2013
Self-description at the time:
“USC.edu University of Southern California located in Los Angeles”
No unexpired threat-feed result; name-similarity check available (recorded about 1 days ago); 3/3 transport and email checks available (oldest recorded about 1 days ago). This is evidence coverage, not a probability that a website is safe.
No caution flags in the available scoring observations; this is not a complete safety assessment
AboutUs summary of the current website, Oct 6, 2026.
Lifeline · usc.edu over time
Checked in the last 30 daysOlder, dated recordFrom registration records
On AboutUs since 2006 · one registrar since Jan 6, 2025 · no ownership change on record since 2009 · last checked Oct 25, 2026.
Registration
No registration date on file yet. AboutUs reads it from RDAP when the site is checked.
AboutUs record
AboutUs wiki pageAboutUs wiki pageJun 21, 2006 – Nov 7, 2013An AboutUs wiki page described usc.edu from Jun 21, 2006 to Nov 7, 2013 (5 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023Said about itself in 2006Jul 1, 2006“Being over a century old, USC has had time to create quite a repertoire of fascinating facts. Here are just a few...”Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
Registrar
EducauseJan 6, 2025 – Apr 28, 2025 (latest)Registrar Educause (IANA 365) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for usc.edu, from Jan 6, 2025 to Apr 28, 2025.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Ownership
Ownership recordsJan 3, 2009 – Jun 12, 2026Registration records for usc.edu are held from Jan 3, 2009 to Jun 12, 2026 (687 records). None shows a change of registrant. Privacy-service and redaction changes are not counted.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
No ownership changes recorded, 2009–2026
Zone file
Nameservers: apple.com, dec.com, usc.eduNameservers: apple.com, dec.com, usc.eduJan 3, 2009 – Oct 11, 2018Registration records listed apple.com, dec.com, usc.edu nameservers (kaus.usc.edu, ns1.usc.edu, ns2.usc.edu…) for usc.edu from Jan 3, 2009 to Oct 11, 2018.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)Nameservers: usc.edu
Certificate
Let's EncryptOct 23, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026Let's Encrypt issued 142 certificates for usc.edu from Oct 23, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 24, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)Google Trust ServicesOct 23, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026
2010201520202025Apr ’26← last 12 months, drawn wider
Every dated fact on this lifeline (17)
Jun 21, 2006 – Nov 7, 2013AboutUs record: An AboutUs wiki page described usc.edu from Jun 21, 2006 to Nov 7, 2013 (5 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023
Jul 1, 2006AboutUs record: “Being over a century old, USC has had time to create quite a repertoire of fascinating facts. Here are just a few...”Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
Jul 1, 2007AboutUs record: “The website has a very modern look with use of good graphics and designs. Various sections of information are pretty well laid and separated from each other. Prospective students looking for undergraduate or graduate or…”Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2007
Jan 3, 2009 – Jun 12, 2026Ownership: Registration records for usc.edu are held from Jan 3, 2009 to Jun 12, 2026 (687 records). None shows a change of registrant. Privacy-service and redaction changes are not counted.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Jan 3, 2009 – Oct 11, 2018Zone file: Registration records listed apple.com, dec.com, usc.edu nameservers (kaus.usc.edu, ns1.usc.edu, ns2.usc.edu…) for usc.edu from Jan 3, 2009 to Oct 11, 2018.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Said about itself in 2007
Jul 1, 2007
“The website has a very modern look with use of good graphics and designs. Various sections of information are pretty well laid and separated from each other. Prospective students looking for undergraduate or graduate or…”
Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2007
Current AboutUs recordJun 17, 2026 – Oct 25, 2026 (latest)Authority and Safety last refreshed Oct 25, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks
Nameservers: usc.eduNov 11, 2018 – Apr 24, 2024Registration records listed usc.edu nameservers (ns5.usc.edu, ns6.usc.edu, ns7.usc.edu) for usc.edu from Nov 11, 2018 to Apr 24, 2024.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to usc.eduNov 11, 2018usc.edu's nameservers moved from apple.com, dec.com, usc.edu to usc.edu between Oct 11, 2018 and Nov 11, 2018. Last seen at apple.com, dec.com, usc.edu: Oct 11, 2018 (registration record). First seen at usc.edu: Nov 11, 2018 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Nameservers: CloudflareNameservers: CloudflareMay 27, 2024 – Jun 12, 2026Registration records listed Cloudflare nameservers (ns0037.secondary.cloudflare.com, ns0163.secondary.cloudflare.com) for usc.edu from May 27, 2024 to Jun 12, 2026.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to CloudflareMay 27, 2024usc.edu's nameservers moved from usc.edu to Cloudflare between Apr 24, 2024 and May 27, 2024. Last seen at usc.edu: Apr 24, 2024 (registration record). First seen at Cloudflare: May 27, 2024 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Google Trust Services issued 16 certificates for usc.edu from Oct 23, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 23, 2027.
Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Internet2Oct 23, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026Internet2 issued 5 certificates for usc.edu from Oct 23, 2026, the latest valid until May 11, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
DigiCert IncOct 23, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026DigiCert Inc issued 2 certificates for usc.edu from Oct 23, 2026, the latest valid until May 11, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
AmazonOct 24, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026Amazon issued 3 certificates for usc.edu from Oct 24, 2026, the latest valid until May 11, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Certificate from Let's EncryptOct 14, 2026 – Oct 24, 2026 (latest)Let's Encrypt certificate valid Oct 14, 2026 to Jan 12, 2027, as seen on Oct 24, 2026.Source: TLS check, Oct 24, 2026
Nov 11, 2018 – Apr 24, 2024
Zone file: Registration records listed usc.edu nameservers (ns5.usc.edu, ns6.usc.edu, ns7.usc.edu) for usc.edu from Nov 11, 2018 to Apr 24, 2024.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Nov 11, 2018Zone file: usc.edu's nameservers moved from apple.com, dec.com, usc.edu to usc.edu between Oct 11, 2018 and Nov 11, 2018. Last seen at apple.com, dec.com, usc.edu: Oct 11, 2018 (registration record). First seen at usc.edu: Nov 11, 2018 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
May 27, 2024 – Jun 12, 2026Zone file: Registration records listed Cloudflare nameservers (ns0037.secondary.cloudflare.com, ns0163.secondary.cloudflare.com) for usc.edu from May 27, 2024 to Jun 12, 2026.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
May 27, 2024Zone file: usc.edu's nameservers moved from usc.edu to Cloudflare between Apr 24, 2024 and May 27, 2024. Last seen at usc.edu: Apr 24, 2024 (registration record). First seen at Cloudflare: May 27, 2024 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Jan 6, 2025 – Apr 28, 2025Registrar: Registrar Educause (IANA 365) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for usc.edu, from Jan 6, 2025 to Apr 28, 2025.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Jun 17, 2026 – Oct 25, 2026AboutUs record: Authority and Safety last refreshed Oct 25, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks
Oct 14, 2026 – Oct 24, 2026Certificate: Let's Encrypt certificate valid Oct 14, 2026 to Jan 12, 2027, as seen on Oct 24, 2026.Source: TLS check, Oct 24, 2026
Oct 23, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026Certificate: Let's Encrypt issued 142 certificates for usc.edu from Oct 23, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 24, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Oct 23, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026Certificate: Google Trust Services issued 16 certificates for usc.edu from Oct 23, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 23, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Oct 23, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026Certificate: Internet2 issued 5 certificates for usc.edu from Oct 23, 2026, the latest valid until May 11, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Oct 23, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026Certificate: DigiCert Inc issued 2 certificates for usc.edu from Oct 23, 2026, the latest valid until May 11, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Oct 24, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026Certificate: Amazon issued 3 certificates for usc.edu from Oct 24, 2026, the latest valid until May 11, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)