Colleges by Location
Colleges by Fields of Study
Colleges by Tuition Range
Colleges by GPA Range
College by SAT Range
Colleges by ACT Score
Graduate Schools by Location
Graduate Schools by Fields of Study
Graduate School by Degree Type
Paying for Graduate School
Online Graduate Programs
Test Preparation
Career Planning
College Planning
Graduate School Planning
Applying to Graduate School
- More
Columbia , SC
The University of South Carolina (USC) is a public research university located in Columbia, South Carolina. Founded in 1801, USC is the flagship institution of the University of South Carolina System. It is a renowned institution known for its strong academic programs, vibrant campus life, and dedication to research and innovation. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including business, humanities, science, engineering, and more.
USC boasts a diverse and inclusive community that fosters intellectual curiosity and personal growth. With over 34,000 students from all 50 states and around 100 countries, students at USC have the opportunity to connect with individuals from various backgrounds and cultures. The university's faculty consists of accomplished scholars and professionals who are committed to providing students with a challenging and engaging educational experience.
Being a research-intensive university, USC is at the forefront of groundbreaking discoveries and advancements. With state-of-the-art facilities and research centers, students have the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research projects alongside renowned faculty members. The university particularly excels in fields such as nanotechnology, environmental sciences, healthcare, and social sciences.
With its vibrant student life, rigorous academic programs, and commitment to research and innovation, the University of South Carolina offers students a well-rounded and enriching educational experience. Whether students are interested in pursuing their passions, contributing to society through research, or simply enjoying a diverse and inclusive campus community, USC provides the resources and opportunities to help students achieve their goals and make a meaningful impact in their chosen field.
Located in Columbia, SC and set in an urban environment, University of South Carolina-Columbia is a public university. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 60%. The freshman retention rate at University of South Carolina-Columbia is 92% and the six-year graduation rate is 79%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is December 1. For transfer students, the application deadline is July 1.
Explore this school's profile to find out all the essential things about University of South Carolina-Columbia.
Quick Facts
30,187
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
19:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
79%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to find out as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the institution in order to increase your chances of being accepted. Here are the most essential facts you need to know about admission at University of South Carolina-Columbia.
According to the newest data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 31,701 in 2025. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
29% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 15% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 17% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 57% between 1,200 and 1,399, 25% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 1% between 800 and 999. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 49, 40 between 24-29 and 11 in the range between 18-23.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.69. This implies that you'll probably need a GPA above the average to secure admission.
Deadlines
The cutoff date for submitting applications to University of South Carolina-Columbia is December 1. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is July 1.
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. That information can tell you if the majority of freshmen liked their first year enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for University of South Carolina-Columbia was 92%, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
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 79%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at University of South Carolina-Columbia in 2025 was 38,532.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 40. There was a total of 30,187 undergraduate students, including 371 international students. The school admitted a total of 1,414 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 14,231 male and 20,662 female full-time students in 2025. This school had 738 full-time graduate male and 1,130 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. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at University of South Carolina-Columbia.
This school had 1,287 Asian students and 2,905 Afro-American students in 2025. 2,020 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 1,308 identified with more than one race. The school also had 19 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 44 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 304 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 details you should know about the cost of attendance for University of South Carolina-Columbia.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for University of South Carolina-Columbia is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
If you are an area resident, your tuition was $12,288. For students who don't live in the state in which the university is located, the tuition was $36,976 in 2025. For the students coming from abroad, tuition at this school was $36,976, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students reached $400 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $36,976 | $400 | $37,376 |
| In-State | $12,288 | $400 | $12,688 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,480.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at schools?
In 2025, room and board cost at University of South Carolina-Columbia amounted to $16,376 a year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school came to $10,798, according to the data from 2025.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 12,288 |
| Room and Board | $ 16,376 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,480 |
| Total Expense | $ 30,144 |
Financial Aid
Obtaining some financial support in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be vital for completing your studies. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at University of South Carolina-Columbia, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
The most recent records show that 3,538 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average financial aid package awarded to students reached $17,023.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
10,362 students acquired some form of need-based financial aid. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 12,359. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $40,518,031, and state $45,850,119.
$4,821
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 3,255 students overall (including freshmen) at University of South Carolina-Columbia in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 1,062 full-time freshman. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $40,518,031 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $2,562,074. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $23,014,880. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers.
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 University of South Carolina-Columbia was 19:1. That means that there were 19 times more students than teachers at this school. The faculty of this school consists of 2,403 members, according to the most recent data reported. This number included 1,145 men and 1,258 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at University of South Carolina-Columbia.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at University of South Carolina-Columbia: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some info about students' life at University of South Carolina-Columbia.
Its campus spans 444 acres.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
There are 500 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. This number includes sororities and fraternities. Those who have a talent for music can join the University of South Carolina-Columbia band or chorus. If you're interested in acting, you have the option to join a drama club. Interested in media and communication? University of South Carolina-Columbia publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At University of South Carolina-Columbia, there are many amenities required for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The school's dormitory entrances are operated electronically. There is a 24-hour security patrol. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of University of South Carolina-Columbia.
All in all, campus life at University of South Carolina-Columbia 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 University of South Carolina-Columbia.
Career Counselling
At University of South Carolina-Columbia, 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. There is 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.
Job Placement
Knowing what salary you can expect once you have completed your studies can help you decide if a certain school matches your career goals.
The average base annual starting salary of the students who were employed within six months of graduation at this institution is 53,504 USD.
$53,504
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
-
University of South Carolina-Columbia is located in Columbia, SC.
-
This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
-
According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for University of South Carolina-Columbia is 60%.
-
According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for University of South Carolina-Columbia is 92%.
Contact Information
University of South Carolina-Columbia
1244 Blossom Street
Columbia , SC
29208
803 777-0169
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.
Find the best schools for you.
Need help with choosing grad school? We got you.
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.
