This Popular California College Campus Is Considered The Most Filmed In The World

Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., and ... University of Southern California? If you're already thinking, "One of these Los Angeles locations is not like the other" — not so fast! They all have something major in common: Some of our most beloved movies and TV shows were filmed there.

Los Angeles is home to quite a few popular filming locations. LAX is the most filmed airport in the U.S. and Union Station is the most filmed building in the country — but USC holds the title as the most filmed college campus in the world. Since the 1930s, it has been featured in over 200 different movies, commercials, and television series. Although USC rarely plays itself onscreen, the top-tier college campus is the backdrop for everything from the Harvard Law scenes in "Legally Blonde" to Forrest Gump's graduation from the University of Alabama.

The University of Southern California is just two miles from downtown Los Angeles and about seven miles from Hollywood. Its prime location is super convenient and the stunning campus is a perfect stand-in for other academic institutions. "'How to Get Away with Murder,' 'Scandal,' and 'For the People' all film at USC on a regular basis. The reason: The campus is beautiful, looks like the East Coast and has many different looks," Veronique Vowell, an ABC location manager who works with Shondaland Productions, told USC Today. It has played the part of a government building, a courthouse, and plenty of college campuses over the years. Next time you're watching your favorite movie, take a closer look and you just might notice the iconic University of Southern California campus in the background.

USC welcomes film crews — for the right price, of course. The university benefits financially from its steady stream of lead roles since filming there comes with a hefty price tag. The cost to film in the historic Bovard Auditorium starts at $1,150 per hour, according to the Campus Filming Office website. Filming in the beautiful campus libraries costs $1,200 per hour, or $12,000 for 6-12 hours. A classroom or lecture hall costs $200 per hour. Additional fees are charged for each member of the cast and crew who will be onsite. An insurance policy of $1 – 2 million is also required.

USC has some strict rules when it comes to filming on campus. One major requirement is that the student body and staff are able to access filming locations. "It is essential that the university community has access to all active facilities. Permission to film on campus requires the film crew to maintain access to areas where filming is occurring," the USC Campus Filming Office website states.

Before contracts are signed, the USC Campus Filming Office has to approve of each script. "Scripts may be rejected if they contain content related to drug use, excessive violence, nudity, or any material deemed obscene, overly sexually explicit, or derogatory toward higher education. This includes any negative portrayal of students or faculty," the USC website warns. Even if the script is approved, the university may not want their name to be used, as was the case during the filming of "Legally Blonde". Producers were required to create a fictional university instead of setting parts of the film at USC. Elijah May, campus filming coordinator at USC, told The Los Angeles Times that the decision was due to images of Elle Woods in a sorority and "too much stereotyping going on."

Production teams love using USC as a filming location for college campuses due to its "ivy-league look," according to Torie Daves, director of USC campus filming. In addition to "Legally Blonde" and "Forrest Gump," you'll see campus scenes that were shot at the university in "The Social Network". When Pam attends art school in "The Office," you'll catch glimpses of her in a USC classroom. The Town and Gown Chapel at USC was used in "Gilmore Girls" episodes in which Rory was attending Yale. Similarly, when Mia Thermopolis graduated from Yale in "The Princess Diaries 2," she was filmed at USC.

USC's use as a filming location is certainly not limited to movies and shows in which characters are attending school. "We are able to offer productions such a wide range of venues in which to film, from our traditional brick buildings to athletic venues to art galleries and restaurants, so it makes USC a much sought-after location," Daves explained to USC Today. For example, Dedeaux Field is the perfect spot to get excellent baseball shots. The iconic baseball film "A League of Their Own" shot multiple scenes at the field, as did "For Love of the Game" and "Mr. Baseball."

USC's beautiful Doheny Memorial Library was shown as Matilda Wormwood's local library in "Matilda" and is one of the most frequently used buildings on campus by production crews. So, next time you're in Los Angeles and want to experience a film set, think outside the box and spend some time in USC's library or check out the baseball stadium.

USC is one of the nation's best research institutions and a top place to study international business, technology, and the arts. In 2025, it was rated the number one film school in the United States by The Hollywood Reporter. Over the years, some seriously iconic Hollywood legends have attended the university.

John Wayne, know for his roles in old Western movies, attended USC on a football scholarship. Actor Patrick Schwarzenegger graduated from USC in 2016 and went on to star in Season 3 of "White Lotus". Other on-screen stars who have attended include Sasha Alexander, Macy Gray, Emily Maya Mills, Paula Patton, and Ke Huy Quan.

Some of the most recognizable directors of all time also honed their craft at USC. George Lucas, director of "Star Wars," attended the college back in the 1960's.Shonda Rhimes, the award winning television creator and producer, earned her MFA from USC's School of Cinematic Arts. Her production company, Shondaland, often uses USC as a filming location. It's fun to imagine Rhimes and other celebrities returning to their old university stomping ground after reaching stardom — perhaps that's one of the many reasons it's such a popular place to film movies, shows, and commercials. 

For more Hollywood locations you can see in person, check out the desert landscapes at this well-known California filming location or this stunning beach where many productions have taken place.