Quad

University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SCQuad's selectivitySelectivefrom South CarolinaVery selectivefrom other states
Known forBig campusTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 10, 2026

  • Fall 2025: 59,630 applied (fall 2024: 52,703)University of South Carolina-Columbia (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: 33,695 admits (fall 2024: 31,701)University of South Carolina-Columbia (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: 57% admitted (fall 2024: 60%)University of South Carolina-Columbia (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Reading & Writing 610–690 (fall 2024: 600–680)University of South Carolina-Columbia Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Entered fall 2024: 92.3% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 92.2%)University of South Carolina-Columbia Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:University of South Carolina-Columbia Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;University of South Carolina-Columbia Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

6 in 10 applicants admitted

U. South Carolina-Columbia admits about 6 in 10 applicants (57%). That puts it in the "Selective in-state, Very selective out of state" tier, more selective than 79% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

57%

57%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivitySelectivefrom South CarolinaVery selectivefrom other states

Applied

59,630

Admitted

33,695

Yield

23%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.68

SAT middle 50%

1200–1360

10001600
ACT middle 50%

26–32

1836
Applications +126% since fall 2014 · admit rate 65% → 60%Over time

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

Students

Who's on campus

A large campus of 29,820 undergrads, where 19% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

29.8K

undergrads · larger than 97% of colleges

Diversity index

0.46

Pell Grant

19%

below the median

First generation

20%

below the median

Midsize cityNCAA D-I FBS · Southeastern ConferenceROTCStudy abroad
More diverse · index 0.39 → 0.46 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Public Health, General (8% of graduates). 19 students for every faculty member, more than at 87% of colleges. 75% of faculty are full-time. Spends $14,139 a year on instruction per student.

19 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 87% of colleges

Most popular major

Public Health, General

8% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Engineering

$109.1K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

75%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$14.1K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $27,484 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $3.2K more than the national median. The 91% who received grants paid $24,488 on average; the other 9% paid the full sticker price of $31,977 in-state / $54,223 out-of-state.

19%

$27.5K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $3.2K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$31,977 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Merit aid
38% · avg $4K
of first-years without need got merit aid
Aid generosity

Limited

grants cover 19% of full price

Federal loans

41%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −6% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $62,177 ten years after enrolling, more than at 72% of colleges; 77% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.8 years of that salary.

77%

77%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$62.2K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$21.5K

≈ $228/month for 10 years

Retention

92%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 73% → 79% 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 4% after inflation, and what the average first-year paid moved with it. Applications rose 126% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 65% to 60%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −6% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +126%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 65% → 60% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.39 → 0.46

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

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42% admit · SAT 1285 · 30.4K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso Southeast
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Clemson University

42% admit · SAT 1325 · 23.3K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso Southeast
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North Carolina State University at Raleigh

41% admit · SAT 1385 · 27.4K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso SoutheastAlso public
Compare side-by-side

University of North Carolina Wilmington

65% admit · SAT 1305 · 14.9K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso Southeast
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. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    University of South Carolina-Columbia Common Data Set 2025–26

    University of South Carolina-Columbia · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; Entered fall 2024; 2025–26 (estimated); 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Fall 2026 cycle; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  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. 13
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    University of South Carolina-Columbia (2026)

    University of South Carolina-Columbia · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 218663 · 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