University of Southern California 401(k) Review & Grade
Keck Medicine of Usc 401(k) Retirement Plan
Los Angeles, CAEducational Services4,788 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$739Employer $ per active participant
$1,640Employee $ saved per active participant
$0 reportedDirect admin cost, % of plan assets
$186.1MNet plan assets, end of year
$57,250Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity13.6 / 5027th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost12.5 / 25No direct expenses reported, scored neutral
- Employee saving1.8 / 1512th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features0 / 10No auto-enrollment or default investment reported
Total score28 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Educational Services plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (34 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 27th |
| Lower admin cost | neutral |
| Employee saving | 12th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 65% |
Get the monthly 401(k) report card
The best and worst plans, new grades as filings post. One email a month, no spam.
Red flags from the filing
No red flags were reported on this filing's compliance questions.
What to do if you're in this plan
- University of Southern California put in about $739 per active participant, below the typical peer ($1,155). Any match is still an instant return, so contribute enough to get all of it.
- The filing shows total dollars, not the match formula. Ask HR for the Summary Plan Description so you know the exact match and vesting schedule.
- The plan reported no administrative expenses paid from plan assets. The employer may pay them, or the costs may be built into fund fees. Check your 404(a)(5) fee disclosure for each fund's expense ratio.
- Changing jobs? You can usually leave the money in the plan, move it to your new employer's plan, or roll it into an IRA. Don't cash out: you'd owe taxes and possibly a 10% penalty.
The raw numbers from the filing
| Employer contributions | $3,538,669 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $7,852,963 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $2,124,879 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $0 |
| Benefits paid out | $10,459,813 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $162.2M / $186.1M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 3,941 / 5,635 |
| Participants with account balances | 3,251 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Pricewaterhousecoopers LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $24,478 reported compensation |
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $6,962 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251014222320NAL0001838691001, received 2025-10-14, EIN 95-1642394, plan #005, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.