Quad

South Carolina State University

Orangeburg, SCQuad's selectivityOpen
Known forEconomic diversityApplications grew 4× since fall 2014
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

8 in 10 applicants admitted

South Carolina State admits about 8 in 10 applicants (83%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 39% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

83%

83%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

11,017

Admitted

9,102

Yield

11%

of admits enroll

Applications +278% since fall 2014 · admit rate 85% → 83%Over time

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

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 2,934 undergrads, where 70% receive Pell Grants, a high share compared to other colleges.

2.9K

undergrads · larger than 68% of colleges

Diversity index

0.18

Pell Grant

70%

above the median

First generation

36%

above the median

Distant townNCAA D-I FCS · Mid-Eastern Athletic ConferenceROTCStudy abroad
More diverse · index 0.09 → 0.18 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General (13% of graduates). 19 students for every faculty member, more than at 87% of colleges. 100% of faculty are full-time. Spends $8,130 a year on instruction per student.

19 to 1

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

Most popular major

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General

13% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer and Information Sciences, General

$66.8K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

100%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$8.1K

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 $20,608 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $3.7K less than the national median. The 95% who received grants paid $17,965 on average; the other 5% paid the full sticker price of $30,060 in-state / $40,750 out-of-state.

35%

$20.6K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $3.7K below the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$30,060 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

67%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −20% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $38,262 ten years after enrolling, more than at 11% of colleges; 36% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.2 years of that salary.

36%

36%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$38.3K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$31K

≈ $329/month for 10 years

Retention

56%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 38% → 37% 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 15% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 20%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 278% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 85% to 83%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −20% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +278%

  • Selectivity

    Steady

    admit rate 85% → 83%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.09 → 0.18

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

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2.8K undergrads

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Winston-Salem State University

78% admit · SAT 925 · 4.2K undergrads

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University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla

81% admit · SAT 907 · 1.9K undergrads

Similar selectivityAlso public
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Albany State University

6K undergrads

Also SoutheastAlso public
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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; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

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

  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
    South Carolina State University Common Data Set 2025–26

    South Carolina State University · 2025–26; Fall 2026 cycle · retrieved 2026-10-11

  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
    South Carolina State University (2026)

    South Carolina State University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 218733 · 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