collageWould you like to learn about the University of South Carolina, or would you like to know their entry requirements? Whether you want to learn
about the University of South Carolina, or you want to know their entry requirements, you can get all the information you need here.
General Information
- School Type – Public, Coed
- Year Founded – 1801
- Religious Affiliation – N/A
- Academic Calendar – Semester
- Setting – City
- 2016 Endowment – $527.4 million +
About The University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina is a public institution that was founded in 1801. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 25,556, its setting is city, and the campus size is 444 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of South Carolina’s ranking in the 2018 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 103.
The University of South Carolina eases its students into the transition to college life, no matter what year they begin to attend. For freshmen, there is University 101, a first-year program pioneered by the school to help students adjust. (They must also spend the first year living on campus.) For students transferring in from technical schools, the University of South Carolina offers the Bridge Program, an academic support system. The school sports teams, the Gamecocks, compete in the NCAA Divsion I Southeastern Conference. The University of South Carolina’s college town, Columbia, boasts a variety of entertainment, night life and outdoor options for students to check out after class. Other college towns, including Charlotte, North Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina, are both less than two hours away.
The University of South Carolina also offers graduate programs, including the well-regarded Darla Moore School of Business, a law school, medical school, engineering school and College of Education. The Columbia campus is the flagship location of the University of South Carolina system, and the school runs a variety of research centers, including Center for GIS and Remote Sensing, the Center for Colon Cancer Research and the Center for Digital Humanities. The band Hootie and the Blowfish was started at the University of South Carolina when its members were students. Other notable alumni include U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and Gary Parsons, founder of XM Satellite Radio.
Applying
When applying to University of South Carolina, it’s important to note the application deadline is Dec. 1, and the early action deadline is Oct. 15. The application fee at University of South Carolina is $65. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due Feb. 1. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 68 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at University of South Carolina is 18:1, and the school has 36.4 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of South Carolina include: Finance and Financial Management Services; Research and Experimental Psychology; Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences; Biology, General; and Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 88 percent.
Student Life
University of South Carolina has a total undergraduate enrollment of 25,556, with a gender distribution of 47 percent male students and 53 percent female students. At this school, 29 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated or -affiliated housing and 71 percent of students live off campus. In sports, University of South Carolina is part of the NCAA I.
Campus Safety
Campus safety data were reported by the institution to the U.S. Department of Education and have not been independently verified. The numbers for criminal offenses reflect reports of alleged offenses to campus security and/or law enforcement authorities, not necessarily prosecutions or convictions. Experts advise prospective students and their families to do their own research to evaluate the safety of a campus as well as the surrounding area.
Campus Services
University of South Carolina offers a number of student services, including nonremedial tutoring, women’s center, placement service, day care, health service, health insurance. University of South Carolina also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc.). Of the students at University of South Carolina, 32 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at University of South Carolina.
Ranking
University of South Carolina is ranked #106 in National Universities. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.
- #106 (tie) in National Universities
- #68 (tie) in Best Colleges for Veterans
- #145 in Best Value Schools
Notable Alumni
- Andrew Card, BS 1971, U.S. Secretary of Transportation under George H. W. Bush, White House Chief of Staff under George W. Bush
- Rita Cosby, BA 1989, three time Emmy Award winner, special correspondent for Inside Edition
- Lindsey Graham, BA 1977, South Carolina Senator in the United States Senate
- Richard Riley, JD 1959, former Governor of South Carolina, 6th United States Secretary of Education
- Joe Wilson, JD 1972, the U.S. Representative for South Carolina’s 2nd congressional district
- Larry Kellner, BS 1981, former CEO of Continental Airlines, member of the Boeing board of directors
- Alex Molinaroli, President and CEO of Johnson Controls, BS EE 1983, member of Interstate Batteries Board of Directors
- Henry McMaster, JD, current Governor of South Carolina.
- Wade Hampton III, 1836, Governor of South Carolina, United States Senator, and Confederate General.
- John B. Floyd, 1829, Governor of Virginia, United States Secretary of War.
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements For international students
International freshman applicants must be high school graduates (students that have the equivalent of a diploma in the United States).
Admission steps to complete:
Fill out the University’s application form completely.
There is a $100 non-refundable application fee for international students.
Submit your official TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic Test scores.
English proficiency is measured through the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A score of at least 550 on the paper based exam or 77 on the internet based TOEFL is required. USC also accepts the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the PTE Academic Test. Students must score at least a 6.5 on the IELTS, or at least a 53 on the PTE.
Submit official SAT or ACT scores if you are:
- Applying for admissions to the South Carolina Honors College or want to be considered for merit-based scholarships
- Have attended high school in the United States for two years or longer
*The University of South Carolina-Columbia’s SAT code is 5818. For the ACT, it is 3880.
Submit all official (or attested) high school transcripts.
Submit official (or attested copy) transcript(s) from all high school records in their native language. In addition, if your transcript is not in English, you must submit a certified transcript translated into English by a school official.
If you apply for admission before graduating from high school, you must submit an official (or attested copy) of all final transcript(s) and an updated credentials evaluation after you graduate from high school.
Submit a professional credentials evaluation with GPA.
If you have attended any school outside of the United States, you must submit an official professional credentials evaluation. Freshman (first-year) applicants must submit a document-by-document or course-by-course evaluation from a NACES (naces.org) approved company with the GPA included. An admissions decision will not be made until the evaluation and all transcripts are on file.
For more information on their entry requirements, please refer to the school website
Location & Contact
Location
PO Box 889
Lancaster, SC 29721-0889
USA
Contact
Phone: 803-313-7073
Fax: 803-313-7116
Email: jblackmo@mailbox.sc.edu
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