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Orangeburg , SC
South Carolina State University (SCSU) is a historically black public university located in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Founded in 1896, it is one of the oldest historically black colleges and universities in the country. SCSU is known for its strong academic programs, vibrant campus life, and commitment to providing access and opportunity to underrepresented populations.
SCSU offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs across multiple disciplines, including business, education, engineering, health sciences, humanities, and social sciences. The university is committed to academic excellence and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 18:1, students at SCSU receive personalized attention and support from dedicated faculty members who are experts in their respective fields.
Beyond academics, SCSU offers a range of extracurricular activities and organizations for students to get involved in. The university has a thriving campus life with numerous student clubs and organizations, intramural sports, and cultural events. SCSU is also home to NCAA Division I athletics teams, known as the Bulldogs, who compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The university prides itself on creating a supportive and inclusive environment that fosters personal development and prepares students for successful careers in their chosen fields.
South Carolina State University is a public comprehensive higher education institution located in Orangeburg, SC. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 82%. The freshman retention rate at South Carolina State University is 56% and the six-year graduation rate is 37%.
Learn more about what South Carolina State University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
2,950
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
19:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
37%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to find out as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the university in order to increase your chances of being accepted. How difficult is it to get admitted to South Carolina State University and what are the admission requirements?
In 2025, the school accepted 9,102 new students.
Test Scores
1.25% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 8.16% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 46% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,000 and 1,199, 15% between 800 and 999 and 38% between 600 and 799. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 2, 6 between 24-29, 28 in the range between 18-23, 59 between 12-17, and 5 between 6-11.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.08. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for South Carolina State University was 56%.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 37%.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better understanding of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution had an enrollment of 3,242 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 24% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 2,950, 2 of which were international students. 125 students were accepted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 1,277 male and 1,601 female full-time students in 2025. This school had 48 full-time graduate male and 123 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to expanding the diversity of its student body and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at South Carolina State University.
This school had 6 Asian students and 2,652 Afro-American students in 2025. 3 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 126 as multirace. The school also had 3 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 7 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 100 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this school have.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at South Carolina State University? Here is what you need to know.
Tuition fees for area resident were $9,528, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. Tuition fees were $20,218 for students coming from out of state. For international students, tuition fees at this school stood at $20,218, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $1,532 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $20,218 | $1,532 | $21,750 |
| In-State | $9,528 | $1,532 | $11,060 |
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for room and board?
In 2025, the price of room and board at South Carolina State University was $9,690 per academic year. If you only needed a room on the campus, it cost $6,400 for the 2025 academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 9,528 |
| Room and Board | $ 9,690 |
| Total Expense | $ 19,218 |
Majors
Faculty
19:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2025, this ratio at South Carolina State University was 19:1. That means that there were 19 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 214 faculty members at this school. Out of that number, there were 107 men and 107 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at South Carolina State University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some information about social life at South Carolina State University.
Its campus is 160 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. If you are interested in music, you can join the South Carolina State University band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. Interested in media and communication? South Carolina State University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
South Carolina State University offers a number of services crucial for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of South Carolina State University.
All in all, campus life at South Carolina State University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at South Carolina State University.
Career Counselling
At South Carolina State University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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South Carolina State University is located in Orangeburg, SC.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for South Carolina State University is 82%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for South Carolina State University is 56%.
Contact Information
South Carolina State University
300 College Avenue
Orangeburg , SC
29117-0001
803 536-7000
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.