University of South Carolina Aiken

Aiken, SC · SoutheastQuad's selectivityAccessible

Known forTest-optional heavy

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

8 in 10 applicants admitted

U. South Carolina Aiken admits about 8 in 10 applicants (79%). That puts it in the "Accessible" tier, more selective than 46% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

79%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityAccessible

Applied

3,005

Admitted

2,360

Yield

28%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

980–1220

8001600

ACT middle 50%

19–26

1836

Applications +43% since fall 2014 · admit rate 65% → 79%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 2,962 undergrads, where 39% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

undergrads · larger than 68% of colleges

Diversity index

0.61

Pell Grant

39%

above the median

First generation

33%

about the median

Large suburbNCAA D-II · Peach Belt ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research

More diverse · index 0.58 → 0.61 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business Administration and Management, General (28% of graduates). 16 students for every faculty member, more than at 72% of colleges. 61% of faculty are full-time. Spends $10,925 a year on instruction per student.

16 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 72% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $15,724 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $8.6K less than the national median. The 93% who received grants paid $12,236 on average; the other 7% paid the full sticker price of $23,836 in-state / $34,294 out-of-state.

35%

$15.7K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $8.6K below the national median

Full price, in-state: $23,836 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes

Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 35% of full price

Federal loans

43%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −28% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $45,603 ten years after enrolling, more than at 26% of colleges; 46% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.4 years of that salary.

46%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$45.6K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$24.3K

≈ $257/month for 10 years

Retention

67%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 39% → 40% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 17% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 28%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 43% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 65% to 79%.

Cost
Falling
−28% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+43%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 65% → 79%
Diversity
More diverse
index 0.58 → 0.61

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Southwestern Oklahoma State University

3.5K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso public

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Winthrop University

79% admit · SAT 1115 · 3.5K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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University of Wisconsin-Parkside

75% admit · 2.8K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public

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Indiana University-South Bend

84% admit · SAT 1070 · 3.9K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso public

Compare side-by-side

Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
University of South Carolina Aiken (2026)
University of South Carolina Aiken · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 218645 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything