* Sport: The academic standards vary significantly between sports. Highly competitive sports like football and basketball might have higher GPA expectations than less competitive ones.
* Recruiting Level: A highly recruited athlete with exceptional talent might be offered a scholarship even with a slightly lower GPA than a less-recruited athlete in the same sport.
* Overall Academic Profile: GPA is one factor, but USC also considers standardized test scores (SAT/ACT, though these are becoming less important), course rigor (AP/IB classes), and overall academic performance.
* NCAA Eligibility: The athlete must meet NCAA eligibility requirements, which include minimum GPA and test score standards.
In short, while a high GPA is crucial for any applicant aiming for an athletic scholarship at USC (generally a 3.0 or higher is a common target, but this is not a guarantee), it's only one piece of a much larger puzzle. The best approach is to contact the specific USC athletic department for the sport the athlete is interested in to get the most accurate and up-to-date information.