Deals and Discounts at USC

By Camille C.

Starting at USC, I had no idea how many deals and how much money I could save as a student. Living in LA, there are numerous theme parks, theatres, and experiences all at a discounted price to students, alongside subscriptions and streaming services with free extended trials. All discounts are typically available with a valid USC Net ID or USC email. (Information was compiled from Trojan 360)

Theme Parks

Knott’s Berry Farm

Typically, single-day tickets are $46 when bought online ahead of time and $82 when bought at the park. If bought through the USC Ticket Office (January 7-March 28th), a single-day ticket is $45, and (March 29-January 5), $51. If you visit with a group of 15 or more, the tickets are almost half off.

For public transportation (listed through USC resources): walk to the “St. Transitway Station” about 12 minutes from USC, get on the “460 towards 460 - Disneyland,” get off at the “Beach-El Capitan” stop, walk 10 minutes to the park. In total, this trip is roughly 90 minutes.

For Uber/Lyft: the trip is around 40 minutes from USC.

Universal Studios Hollywood

USC Ticket Office offers discounted tickets, though prices depend on the day, with holidays, common school breaks, and weekends costing the most.

For public transportation (listed through USC resources): take the Expo line from the “Expo Park/USC Station” to the 7th St/Metro Center.” Then, transfer to the Red Line until the “Universal City/Studio City” stop. From there, walk 12 minutes to the park. In total, this trip is roughly an hour.

For Uber/Lyft: the trip is around thirty minutes from USC.

I strongly recommend visiting Universal during a holiday special, particularly the Universal Halloween Horror Nights event.

Six Flags

Typically, a single-day ticket costs $59.99 when bought online ahead of time, and $89.99 at the park.

If bought through the USC Ticket Office, a single-day ticket costs $58. You can also get $20 off in-person tickets if you bring a Coke can to the ticket booth. Groups of 10-14 people save $30 per ticket.

For public transport: the travel time lasts around 2 hours.

For Uber/Lyft: the travel time lasts around 1 hour.

Legoland California

Legoland offers discounts according to the USC Ticket Office website, but specific price discounts are not available.

The public transport is estimated to take around 4 hours, and Uber/Lyft takes around 2 hours. With long wait times for public transport and steep prices for rideshare, it’s likely only worth the trip if you have a car available.

Zoos/Aquariums/Parks

Los Angeles Zoo

The Los Angeles Zoo offers discounts according to the USC Ticket Office website, but specific price discounts are not available.

For public transportation: take the line 81 bus and the line 94 bus, which takes around 2 hours and thirty minutes.

For Uber/Lyft: the trip is around 20 minutes.

San Diego Zoo

San Diego Zoo offers discounts according to the USC Ticket Office website, but specific price discounts are not available.

The public transport is estimated to take around 5 hours, and Uber/Lyft takes around 2 hours.

With long wait times for public transport and steep prices for rideshare, it’s likely only worth the trip if you have a car available.

San Diego Safari Park

San Diego Safari Park offers discounts according to the USC Ticket Office website, but specific price discounts are not available.

The public transport is estimated to take around 6 hours, and Uber/Lyft takes around 2 hours. With long wait times for public transport and steep prices for rideshare, it’s likely only worth the trip if you have a car available.

Aquarium of the Pacific

Aquarium of the Pacific offers discounts according to the USC Ticket Office website, but specific price discounts are not available. For public transportation: you are able to take the train with a travel time of around 90 minutes.

For Uber/Lyft: the travel time is around 30 minutes.

Museums (students have free admissions to the following):

La Brea Tar Pits

The only active urban fossil site in the world For public transportation: you are able to take the train with a travel time of around 90 minutes.

For Uber/Lyft: the travel time is around 30 minutes.

California African American Museum

Dedicated to the contributions of African Americans along with works from the African diaspora.

This museum is only a ten minute walk from campus! Natural History Museum One of LA’s oldest cultural institutions containing a wide range of exhibits such as the Age of Mammals, the Dinosaur Hall, and the Gem and Mineral Hall.

This museum is located across the street from campus!

Norton Simon Museum

Holds around 12,000 artistic works from around the world including works by Van Gogh Rembrandt, and a collection of Indian and Southeast Asian sculptures spanning over 2,500 years.

For public transport: the train travel time lasts around 1 hour.

For Uber/Lyft: travel time lasts around 20 minutes.

Subscriptions

HBO Max

After selecting “sign in,” choose “sign in through a TV mobile or provider,” then choose “view all providers” and select “Univ. of Southern California.” You can then use HBO Max for free.

Los Angeles Times and New York Times

With your USC email, you can access free digital subscriptions.

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning is an online training provider that includes more than 8,200 video and audio courses that cover topics from business to technology.

Microsoft Office

With your USC account, you have free access to the latest version of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more).

Adobe Suite (ANNENBERG STUDENTS ONLY)

With an Annenberg major or minor, students have free access to Adobe Suite, which you can use in various design and editing classes.

Theaters

Students can get discounted ticket prices to select theaters if tickets are purchased in-person at the USC Ticket Office on the University Park Campus or on the One Stop at HSC at the following theaters:

AMC Theatres

Cinemark Theatres

Laemmle Theatres

Regal Entertainment Group

With various discounts at local attractions, products, and theatres, USC students have the capability to experience the Los Angeles area at an affordable price.