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University of South Carolina-Columbia

University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SC · City · 29,820 students
WebsiteCommon AppForbes rankingScorecard
Nov 1 · Early Action · in 30 days
Checked Oct 2026 · sc.edu
$22,811
Average net priceYour net price
In-state · 2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
78%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
70% typical
$62,177
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$63,395 typical
60%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
73% typical · not scored
Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
About

The University of South Carolina in Columbia is a flagship public research institution best known for its top-ranked South Carolina Honors College and the Darla Moore School of Business, which is home to the nation's premier undergraduate international business program. Beyond business, the university earns acclaim for strong offerings in public health, nursing, and sport and entertainment management, alongside an award-winning first-year experience program. Campus life revolves around high-energy SEC athletic traditions—fueled by passionate Gamecock pride—and unfolds across a blend of modern research facilities and the historic, oak-shaded Horseshoe located steps from the state capital's downtown center.

Wikipedia:The University of South Carolina is a public research university in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1801 as South Carolina College, it is the flagship of the University of South Carolina System and the largest university in the state by enrollment. Its main campus is on over 359 acres (145 ha) in downtown Columbia, close to the South Carolina State House. The university is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities with Highest Research Activity". It houses the largest collection of Robert Burns and Scottish literature materials outside Scotland and the world's largest Ernest Hemingway collection.

Location
Columbia, SC, 29208 · City campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
RDU · Raleigh-Durham
182 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$12,688$35,972
Housing & food (on campus)$13,534$13,534
Books & supplies$1,438$1,438
Cost of attendance$31,638$66,394
Average net price$22,811Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$35,972
In-state: $12,688
Housing & food (on campus)$13,534
Books & supplies$1,438
Cost of attendance$66,394
In-state: $31,638
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $22,811
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: sc.edu
How it’s made up · out-of-state, 2026-27
University of South Carolina-Columbia’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.
Tuition$38,098
Housing$11,432
Food$5,902
Books & supplies$1,522
Personal expenses$4,790
Transportation$2,670
Total published by the school$66,394
Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24
$0–30k
$12,634
$30–48k
$14,953
$48–75k
$19,859
$75–110k
$24,478
$110k+
$28,125
Merit aid · 2024-25
Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.
Average award$4,430
First-years who got one2,199
Source: University of South Carolina-Columbia's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
78%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
70%
Back for yr 2
92%
Transferred
15%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
79% graduated · 16% transferred · 5% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$50,621
10 yrs after entry$62,177
Debt
Median at graduation$21,500
Monthly payment$228
Middle 50% owe$8.8k–$27k
90th percentile$32,000
Green marks a figure above the typical Doctoral University: 70% graduate within 6 yrs.
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
60%
Test policy
Test optional
Per College Scorecard
SAT average
1297
R 600–680 · M 580–680
ACT midpoint
29
Comp 26–32 · E 25–34 · M 24–30
SAT middle 50%: 1180–1360
40080012001600
Application deadlines · first-year, fall 2027 entry
Early Action
Nov 1 2026
in 30 days
Not binding: apply early, hear early, and you can still apply elsewhere.
Regular Decision
Jan 15 2027
in 105 days
Not binding: the standard deadline.
Checked Oct 2026 · sc.edu · Confirm on the school's site before you apply.

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Essay prompts
How much essays count at University of South Carolina-Columbia: Considered (one of four levels: very important · important · considered · not considered)
Source: University of South Carolina-Columbia's Common Data Set for 2024-25 — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

If University of South Carolina-Columbia asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 41%Women 59%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
19 : 1
Pell grant
19%
First-gen
20%
Family income
$74,190
Independent
8%
Veterans
0%
Age at entry
20.0
Part-time
3%
Race & ethnicity
White
72%
Hispanic
7%
Black
10%
Asian
4%
Two or more
4%
Non-resident
1%
Unknown
1%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division I-FBS · EADA 2024-25
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Beach Volleyball
    Women's
  • Equestrian
    Women's
  • Football
    Men's
  • Golf
    Men's · Women's
  • Soccer
    Men's · Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Swimming and Diving (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$50,621
After 10 yrs
$62,177
Finance and Financial Management Services597
Public Health435
Research and Experimental Psychology405
Biology, General390
Marketing367
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness296
Business Administration, Management and Operations262
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing241
Computer and Information Sciences, General239
Criminal Justice and Corrections223
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods217
Political Science and Government210
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences190
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication183
International Business175
Mechanical Engineering166
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$777M
Full-time faculty
75%
Faculty salary
$12,414/mo
Teaching spend
$14,139
per student
Federal loans
41%
Classification
Carnegie type
Doctoral University
Research activity
R1 — very high research
$277M research spending · 425 research doctorates a year
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, more selective admissions

Wondering if University of South Carolina-Columbia is the right fit for you?

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Financial aid & net cost estimates
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