Admissions
Getting in, fall 2025
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.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
$65 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 55%, women at 63%.
Where applicants live
South Carolina applicants were admitted at 71%, applicants from other states at 52%, and international applicants at 70%.
All applicants in the same class: 57%
Of those admitted, 41% from South Carolina enrolled, against 16% from other states and 15% from abroad.
Counted by where applicants lived when they applied, which can differ from who qualifies for in-state tuition. A group's rate reflects who applies from there as well as how the college chooses.
Yield
23% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Wait list: 8,805 offered a place, 3,395 accepted, 293 admitted (8.6% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early action (not binding): apply by Oct 15
No early decision plan.
Where you stand
How U. South Carolina-Columbia reads a record
GPA is very important; , class rank, and tests are all important. 48% of first-years had a 3.75 or higher. Scores are optional. 32% of first-years sent an SAT and 15% an ACT. Most first-years were admitted without scores. Of the 63% whose high school reported a rank, 31% were in the top tenth. Requires 4 years of English, 4 of math, 3 of science, and 2 of social studies. See the years by subject
What they look at
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Important | ||||
| Class rank | Important | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Important | ||||
| Essay | Considered | ||||
| Recommendations | Considered | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Not considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Considered | ||||
| Talent or ability | Considered | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Not considered | ||||
| First generation | Not considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Not considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Not considered | ||||
| State residency | Considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Considered | ||||
| Work experience | Considered | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Not considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record considered; college-prep program required; English proficiency test required
Transferring in
65% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 57% of first-year applicants
4,088 applied · 2,666 admitted · 1,664 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall, spring, and summer.
Minimum college GPA: 2.3
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: apply by July 1, decisions on a rolling basis
- Spring entry: apply by November 1, decisions on a rolling basis
- Summer entry: apply by May 1, decisions on a rolling basis
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required of some
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Not required
- Interview
- Not required
- Standardized test scores
- Required of some
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Not required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by December 1 for fall 2026.
- Priority date: December 1. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Decisions are released: Mid March.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1.
- $0 housing deposit.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: By request only, one year from admission..
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Requires a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
| Math | 4 |
| Science (lab: 3) | 3 |
| Foreign language | 2 |
| Social studies | 2 |
| History | 1 |
| Academic electives | 2 |
| Total | 20 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.68
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.015%
- 3.75–3.9933%
- 3.50–3.7428%
- 3.25–3.4915%
- 3.00–3.247%
- below 3.01%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.50–3.99.
All nine bands
| GPA | All |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 15.0% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 33.4% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 28.0% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 15.4% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 6.7% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 1.4% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 0.1% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
31% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 65% in the top quarter, of the 63% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:University of South Carolina-Columbia Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1280 on the SAT, 110 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students entering in fall 2027.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
19% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1400 or higher.
47% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
25% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
19% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
46% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
28% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
Shares of the 32% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 15% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
2,487 studentssubmitted ACT
1,139 studentsRead with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:University of South Carolina-Columbia Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;University of South Carolina-Columbia Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;University of South Carolina-Columbia Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;University of South Carolina-Columbia Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)