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. Its in-state tuition and fees are $12,262 (2017-18); out-of-state tuition and fees are $32,362 (2017-18).

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.

General Information
Public, Coed
SCHOOL TYPE
1801
YEAR FOUNDED
N/A
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION
Semester
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
City
SETTING
$527.4 million +
2016 ENDOWMENT
School Mission and Unique Qualities
Content is provided by the school.
Founded in 1801, the University of South Carolina is located in the heart of Columbia, South Carolina — the No. 3 college town in the country — and centers around the lush, oak-filled… read more

2018 Rankings
University of South Carolina is ranked #103 in National Universities. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.

#103 (tie) in National Universities

#62 (tie) in Best Colleges for Veterans

#142 in Best Value Schools
See all Best Colleges rankings »
See all scores and key indicators.
Read more about how we rank schools.

Other rankings at this school: Online, Graduate, Global
Undergraduate Information
Alumni Starting Salaries
Below are the median starting salaries by major for alumni of University of South Carolina.

Median starting salary of alumni *
$44,800*
By major

Finance and Financial Management Services
Research and Experimental Psychology
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
Biology, General
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
Show All 23 Salaries by Major »
Data provided by . Last updated 2017.
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.

Selectivity
More selective
Fall 2016 acceptance rate
68%
Application deadline
Dec. 1
SAT/ACT scores must be received by
Feb. 1
Priority application deadline
See full Applying details »
Students Also Applied to

Clemson University
#67 in National Universities
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College of Charleston
#12 (tie) in Regional Universities South
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North Carolina State University–Raleigh
#81 (tie) in National Universities
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University of Georgia
#54 (tie) in National Universities
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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.

Class sizes
Classes with fewer than 20 students36.4%
20-4946.7%
50 or more16.9%
Student-faculty ratio
18:1
4-year graduation rate
54%
Total faculty
See full Academic Life details »
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.

Student gender distribution
53%
Female
Total enrollment
34,099
Collegiate athletic association
NCAA I
Full-time degree-seeking students
See full Student Life details »
Cost & Financial Aid
At University of South Carolina, 49 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid, and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $5,148.

Paying for college doesn’t have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs, or use the U.S. News 529 Finder to choose the best tax-advantaged college investment account for you.

Financial aid statistics
In-state tuition and fees
$12,262 (2017-18)
Out-of-state tuition and fees
$32,362 (2017-18)
Room and board
$10,008 (2017-18)
Minimum credits per term a student can take for full-time tuition price
See full Cost & Financial Aid details »
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.

See full Campus Safety details »
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.

Students who have cars on campus
32%
Health insurance offered
Yes
Nearest airports (miles)

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