Columbia, SC · Public · 29,820 undergraduates · urban
University of South Carolina-Columbia
Moderately selective
South Carolina combines a capital-city campus with especially visible strengths in international business, hospitality, public health and professional education.
Institutional profile
Established Solid in academic standing, and steady in affordability.- Admission
- 61.5% admitted
- Price by income
- Resident and nonresident prices differ
- Completion
- 76.7%
46,682 applicants in the reported year
Compare recent average annual costs by household income
$62,177 median earnings 10 years after enrollment
What sets University of South Carolina-Columbia apart
Academic design
International business, hospitality, public health, engineering and liberal arts sit within a broad flagship curriculum.
Campus pattern
Historic campus blocks blend directly into downtown Columbia and the state-government district.
Career & value signal
Government, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics and business employers are accessible throughout the Columbia region.
Can I get in?
61.5% admitted
Start with the academic record, then make the intended direction and school-specific fit concrete.
Recent applicant pool
46,682About 61 in every 100 applicants were admitted.
Academic range
Of admitted students, 32% submitted an SAT, and 17% submitted an ACT. Treat the ACT range as a guide to the students who submitted that test, not to everyone admitted.
In the season card
Where your GPA sits in the entering class
The full entering-class GPA distribution for University of South Carolina-Columbia, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.
See where I landIn the season card
What University of South Carolina-Columbia weighs when it reads a file
See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Test scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurriculars
- Demonstrated interest
What moves the application
The evidence that separates a strong file
Show preparation for this curriculum
International business, hospitality, public health, engineering and liberal arts sit within a broad flagship curriculum.
Make institutional fit specific
South Carolina combines a capital-city campus with especially visible strengths in international business, hospitality, public health and professional education.
Use the application route carefully
Keep academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.
How to apply
Rounds, route, and required materials
Build the calendar around the earliest realistic application round and assemble each required item once.
Fee waiver: u.s. only
Major and program admission
Some fields have their own entry path.
The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.
Teacher preparationAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
NursingAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Can I afford it?
Compare annual cost by household income.
Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.
College funding
Scholarships and financial aid
Review available aid, application requirements, and renewal terms.
University of South Carolina-Columbia publishes five merit awards, the largest reaching $20,000 a year or more. three require a separate scholarship application. two renew past the first year.
Open across the university · Merit · Competitive
Open across the university · Merit · Competitive
Open across the university · Merit · Competitive
Open across the university · Merit · Guaranteed at a stated threshold · Renews each year
Open across the university · Merit · Competitive · Renews each year
In the season card
These five awards, by name
What each one is called, what it pays, the grades and scores it asks for, and what to send.
- The name of each award
- What it pays
- The grades and scores it asks for
- How to be considered
- What to send, and where
In the season card
Average annual cost by household income at University of South Carolina-Columbia
Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.
- $0–30k
- $30–48k
- $48–75k
- $75–110k
- $110k+
Is it worth it?
Completion, debt, and earnings
Read completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together. One university-wide earnings figure does not describe every student path.
Degree completion across the reported entering cohort
First-year students who return for year two
And what that comes to against what they earn.
Reported 10 years after enrollment
Academic portfolio
Largest bachelor’s fields
How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.
Finance and Financial Management Services
Admits separately
Public Health
Admits separately
Research and Experimental Psychology
Biology, General
Marketing
Admits separately
What is campus life like?
University of South Carolina-Columbia beyond the classroom
Historic campus blocks blend directly into downtown Columbia and the state-government district.
A defining academic feature
International business, hospitality, public health, engineering and liberal arts sit within a broad flagship curriculum.
What shapes an ordinary week
Historic campus blocks blend directly into downtown Columbia and the state-government district.
Where the degree can lead
Government, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics and business employers are accessible throughout the Columbia region.