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Spartanburg , SC
The University of South Carolina Upstate, often referred to as USC Upstate, is a public institution located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Established in 1967, the university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs through its five academic schools: Business and Economics, Education, Health and Human Performance, Arts and Sciences, and Nursing. With a student body of approximately 6,000 students, USC Upstate provides a close-knit and engaging learning environment for students to thrive academically and personally.
USC Upstate is known for its commitment to offering high-quality education at an affordable cost. The university provides numerous scholarships and financial aid options to help students access higher education without a heavy financial burden. Additionally, the university boasts small class sizes, enabling students to receive individualized attention from dedicated faculty members who are experts in their respective fields.
Beyond academics, USC Upstate offers a vibrant campus life with various clubs, organizations, and activities that cater to the diverse interests of students. From athletic teams to cultural groups to professional societies, there are ample opportunities for students to get involved, develop leadership skills, and create lifelong memories. The university's location in the Upstate region of South Carolina provides easy access to outdoor recreational activities, cultural events, and a thriving job market, enhancing the overall college experience for students at USC Upstate.
University of South Carolina Upstate is a public comprehensive higher education institution located in Spartanburg, SC and set in an urban environment. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 81%. The freshman retention rate at University of South Carolina Upstate is 69.85% and the six-year graduation rate is 43%.
Read more about what University of South Carolina Upstate has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
4,478
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
43%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Here are the most relevant data you should know about admission at University of South Carolina Upstate.
According to the newest information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 3,147 in 2025. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
25.2% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 16.5% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 1.6% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 17.8% between 1,200 and 1,399, 40.3% between 1,000 and 1,199, 35.1% between 800 and 999, and 5.2% between 600 and 799. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 4, 21.6 between 24-29, 50.4 in the range between 18-23, and 24 between 12-17.
The average ACT score for all the accepted students in 2025 was 21 while the average GPA was 3.21. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into University of South Carolina Upstate; the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 505 and an average SAT Math score of 517.
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 Upstate was 69.85%.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 43%.
Student Body
Making the choice of which school is the right match for you is not simple. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at University of South Carolina Upstate in 2025 was 4,907.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 5. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 4,478, 60 of which were international students. 703 students were admitted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 1,257 male and 2,416 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
The importance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 116, while the number of African American students was 1,362. 351 undergraduate students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 222 as multirace. The school also had 7 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 9 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 17 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at University of South Carolina Upstate that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for University of South Carolina Upstate is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
For local residents, public county and municipal institutions reported that tuition costs were $11,372. Tuition fees were $23,040 for students coming from out of state. For international students, tuition fees at this school amounted to $23,040, as well. Full-time students in 2025 were required to pay additional fees in the amount of $572.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $23,040 | $572 | $23,612 |
| In-State | $11,372 | $572 | $11,944 |
Books and Supplies
The approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another important financial element. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,600.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for room and board?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at University of South Carolina Upstate was $11,918 in 2025.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 11,372 |
| Room and Board | $ 11,918 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,600 |
| Total Expense | $ 24,890 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial help can be a great deal for most students. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at University of South Carolina Upstate, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 478 freshmen. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $11,750.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet other eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
There were 2,104 students who attained need-based financial aid of any kind. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 2,419. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $11,445,587, and state $9,891,999.
$3,317
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of 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 1,304 students overall (including freshmen) at University of South Carolina Upstate in 2025. 472 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $11,445,587 while the state aid is $3,772. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $760,408. 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
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
In 2025, this ratio at University of South Carolina Upstate was 15:1. That means that there were 15 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 380. Out of that number, there were 153 male and 227 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at University of South Carolina Upstate.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at University of South Carolina Upstate: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some details about students' life at University of South Carolina Upstate.
Its campus spans 330 acres.
Student Organizations
Participating in multiple student organizations can add depth and fulfillment to your educational journey.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 14. That includes sororities and fraternities. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 1.48 and female students 2.8. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is Office of Student Involvement, followed by Club Basketball and Housing and Residence Life. Other popular organizations at University of South Carolina Upstate are Big Green Welcome and Campus Activities Board.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. For students interested in media and communication, University of South Carolina Upstate publishes its own newspaper.
Student Services
University of South Carolina Upstate has a number of services necessary for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. Dormitory entrances at the school are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. There is a health 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 Upstate.
All in all, campus life at University of South Carolina Upstate 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 Upstate.
Career Counselling
At University of South Carolina Upstate, 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. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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University of South Carolina Upstate is located in Spartanburg, SC.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for University of South Carolina Upstate is 81%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for University of South Carolina Upstate is 69.85%.
Contact Information
University of South Carolina Upstate
800 University Way
Spartanburg , SC
29303-4999
864 503-5000
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.