School Profile

University of South Carolina – Columbia

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Columbia, SC

$12,288

Avg in-state tuition

$33,528

Avg out-of-state tuition

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About University of South Carolina – Columbia

School Type: Public

Status: Non-profit

Accreditation: Regional

Religious Affiliation: N/A While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

Military Friendly: YesMilitary-friendly schools are Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges, offer the Yellow Ribbon Program, and have a dedicated point of contact to support veterans, military service members, and their families. Explore our college guide for service members and veterans to learn more.

The University of South Carolina – Columbia is a large public university located on an urban campus in Columbia, South Carolina. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 26,864, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 62%. The university offers 85 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 78%, and a student-faculty ratio of 18:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $12,288, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $33,528.

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Rankings

Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

This school has a high acceptance rate.

This school accepts students at a higher rate than other schools. High acceptance schools welcome 51-100% of all applicants.

62% of students were accepted during the 2021-2022 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

87% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2020 and returned in Fall 2021.

Graduation Rate Insight

78% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2015. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores Considered (not required)

High school transcript Required

High school rank Recommended

Letter of recommendation Not required or recommended

High school GPA Required

Open admission No

Completion of college prep program Required

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Considered (not required)

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Yes

Credit for qualified life experience* Implied no

Advance placement (AP) credits Yes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

ACT 25th-75th Percentile 26-31

SAT 25th-75th Percentile 1150-1360

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of more than 15,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

35k

Students enrolled

56%

Online student enrollment

18:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

Online Check Bold
On-campus Check Bold
Hybrid The program is a combination of on-campus and online learning and varies per program. Check Bold

Demographics

White

71%

Black

10%

Hispanic

5%

Non-U.S. Citizen

5%

Two or more races

4%

Asian

4%

Unknown

1%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Female student population

57%

Socio-economic diversity

19% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

Explore Similar Schools

Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

28

Total Online Enrollment

20,024

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

90% On-campus

10% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

Certificates X Bold Not offered

Associate X Bold Not offered

Bachelor's Check Bold 6% online

Graduate Certificate Check Bold 12% online

Master's Check Bold 15% online

Doctorate Check Bold 6% online

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student Level In-state Out-of-state
Undergraduate $12,288 $33,528
Graduate $13,734 $29,760

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2021–2022 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $1,085
On-campus room and board $10,990
On-campus other expenses $4,386
Off-campus (not with family) room and board $11,239
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses $4,386
Off-campus (with family) other expenses $4,386

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $28,749 $49,989
Off-campus without family $28,998 $50,238
Off-campus with family $17,759 $38,999

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

59%

State Grant Aid

57%

Institution Grant Aid

67%

Pell Grant

19%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $2,332
State Grant Aid $5,342
Institution Grant Aid $3,235
Pell Grant Aid $4,937

Financial Outlook

$22k

Average student debt after graduation

$44k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division I-FBS

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

Men Women
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Beach Volleyball
  • Equestrian
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming Diving
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball
  • All Track Combined

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2021-2022 academic year.

1

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies

BA

MA

DOC

2

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies

BA

MA

DOC

3

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

4

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

5

Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

6

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

7

Education

BA

MA

DOC

8

Engineering Technologies/Technicians

BA

MA

DOC

9

Engineering

BA

MA

DOC

10

Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians

BA

MA

DOC

11

English Language And Literature/Letters

BA

MA

DOC

12

Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics

BA

MA

DOC

13

Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

14

Health Professions And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

15

History

BA

MA

DOC

16

History

BA

MA

DOC

17

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting And Related Protective Services

BA

MA

DOC

18

Legal Professions And Studies

BA

MA

DOC

19

Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities

BA

MA

DOC

20

Library Science

BA

MA

DOC

21

Mathematics And Statistics

BA

MA

DOC

22

Natural Resources And Conservation

BA

MA

DOC

23

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies

BA

MA

DOC

24

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology

BA

MA

DOC

25

Philosophy And Religious Studies

BA

MA

DOC

26

Physical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

27

Psychology

BA

MA

DOC

28

Public Administration And Social Service Professions

BA

MA

DOC

29

Security And Protective Services

BA

MA

DOC

30

Social Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

31

Visual And Performing Arts

BA

MA

DOC

Resource

Financial Aid Overview

Resource

Understanding Grants & Scholarships

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Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2021-2022]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.