University of South Carolina-Columbia is a public 4-year college in Columbia, South Carolina with 29,820 undergraduates. It admits 60% of applicants, costs an average of $22,197 a year after grants and graduates 79% of its students.
Figures from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, released October 15, 2026. What each number covers.
University of South Carolina-Columbia acceptance rate and admissions
University of South Carolina-Columbia admitted 60% of applicants for fall 2024. The median acceptance rate at 4-year colleges is 77%.
Test scores: Considered but not required (as reported for fall 2024 admission). That means you can apply without SAT or ACT scores. Check the admissions office for the current policy.
The colored band is the middle 50% of enrolled students in fall 2024 (reading and writing 600 to 680, math 580 to 680). The tick marks the typical 4-year college. Check how your scores fit.
University of South Carolina-Columbia application deadlines 2026-27
| Round | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Early action | Oct 15, 2026 (passed) |
| Regular decision | Dec 1, 2026 |
Next deadline: Regular decision, Dec 1, 2026. Application fee through the Common App: $70 for U.S. applicants ($100 for international applicants). Confirm dates on University of South Carolina-Columbia’s admissions page; see every college on the deadline calendar.
Source: Common App 2026-27 first-year deadlines, fees and requirements grid, updated Sep 25, 2026.
University of South Carolina-Columbia tuition, cost and net price
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $12,688 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $37,376 |
| On-campus housing and food (2025-26) | $16,376 |
| Total cost of attendance (2024-25) | $32,193 |
| Average net price after grants (2024-25) | $22,197 |
Students who get federal aid pay an average of $22,197 a year after grants and scholarships, $9,996 less than the full cost of attendance. This figure covers in-state students.
What families pay, by income
Average yearly cost after grants for aided first-time students paying in-state tuition, by family income (2024-25):
Your own price depends on your family's full situation. Run University of South Carolina-Columbia's net price calculator for a personal estimate, or make a "what it costs us" card.
University of South Carolina-Columbia graduation rate, earnings and debt
- 79% of first-time, full-time students finished within six years (students who started in 2019).
- Former students earned a median of $69,024 a year, 10 years after they started (students who received federal aid and were working).
- Students who completed left with a median of $20,500 in federal student loans.
Earnings compared
Debt compared
Median debt is 30% of median earnings 10 years after entry. Many advisers suggest keeping total student debt below one year of expected pay. See the monthly payment.
University of South Carolina-Columbia majors and what graduates earn
University of South Carolina-Columbia awarded bachelor's degrees in 70 fields recently. The best-paid graduates four years out came from computer engineering ($109,116).
All 70 majors at University of South Carolina-Columbia
| Major | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer engineering | 34 | $72,751 | $109,116 | $20,000 |
| International business | 151 | $72,633 | $107,205 | $23,250 |
| Electrical engineering | 37 | $82,466 | $100,042 | $18,000 |
| Chemical engineering | 38 | $78,869 | $98,244 | $22,250 |
| Business analytics and operations research | 188 | $70,904 | $98,020 | $19,500 |
| Biomedical engineering | 34 | $64,409 | $97,927 | $21,500 |
| Insurance | 62 | $69,288 | $96,539 | $21,000 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | 58 | $65,675 | $94,547 | $22,552 |
| Finance | 493 | $69,692 | $92,578 | $20,500 |
| Mechanical engineering | 124 | $73,872 | $91,296 | $23,250 |
| Accounting | 105 | $64,739 | $86,507 | $20,500 |
| Computer and information sciences | 209 | $69,991 | $84,720 | $23,375 |
| Real Estate | 66 | $63,254 | $84,558 | $20,367 |
| Civil engineering | 72 | $71,556 | $84,148 | $20,897 |
| Marketing | 351 | $59,271 | $81,945 | $20,500 |
| Nursing | 260 | $79,619 | $80,768 | $22,500 |
| Economics | 68 | $53,729 | $77,536 | $17,500 |
| Business administration | 236 | $54,865 | $70,527 | $19,500 |
| Geology and earth sciences | 9 | $45,571 | $70,284 | n/a |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | 248 | $51,485 | $67,705 | $20,500 |
| Biochemistry and molecular biology | 48 | $40,191 | $67,202 | $22,000 |
| Political science | 212 | $42,727 | $65,464 | $19,785 |
| Public relations and advertising | 154 | $49,640 | $65,248 | $20,500 |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations | 147 | $52,597 | $64,631 | $20,012 |
| Physiology | 173 | $34,833 | $63,534 | $20,500 |
| Mathematics | 37 | n/a | $62,278 | $19,687 |
| Radio, TV and digital media | 58 | $44,318 | $62,214 | $22,500 |
| Allied health (PA, radiography, therapy and more) | 14 | $78,261 | $61,423 | n/a |
| Geography | 20 | $49,797 | $59,472 | $17,742 |
| Public health | 402 | $38,470 | $58,715 | $21,437 |
| Biology | 377 | $34,180 | $58,669 | $21,500 |
| Chemistry | 32 | $45,207 | $58,462 | $22,135 |
| Hospitality management | 143 | $46,876 | $56,688 | $20,534 |
| Dance | 13 | n/a | $55,274 | n/a |
| Ecology and evolutionary biology | 37 | $30,066 | $55,093 | $22,425 |
| International relations | 33 | $43,336 | $54,781 | $19,500 |
| Journalism | 55 | $39,037 | $53,294 | $20,500 |
| Sociology | 18 | $36,425 | $53,293 | $18,500 |
| Communication | 89 | $44,648 | $53,247 | $22,000 |
| Research and experimental psychology | 391 | $33,075 | $51,090 | $20,250 |
| Criminal justice | 224 | $40,341 | $50,847 | $20,875 |
| Environmental science | 71 | $37,462 | $50,447 | $19,500 |
| Social work | 33 | n/a | $49,401 | $21,500 |
| Liberal arts and general studies | 123 | $39,605 | $48,990 | $18,500 |
| Teacher education by subject | 21 | $42,832 | $45,804 | $21,500 |
| History | 65 | $33,035 | $45,595 | $19,500 |
| English | 74 | $29,649 | $45,185 | $19,500 |
| Music | 39 | $44,297 | $45,181 | $21,000 |
| Teacher education by grade level | 144 | $42,994 | $43,687 | $23,000 |
| Anthropology | 30 | $36,691 | $42,758 | $18,325 |
| Film and photography | 85 | $26,269 | $40,962 | $21,602 |
| Fine and studio arts | 51 | $34,626 | $39,517 | $20,000 |
| Pharmacy | 72 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Aerospace engineering | 30 | n/a | n/a | $19,000 |
| Area Studies | 28 | n/a | n/a | $18,250 |
| Information science | 27 | $57,165 | n/a | $19,422 |
| Neuroscience | 21 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Statistics | 18 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Romance languages | 14 | $25,592 | n/a | n/a |
| Theater | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Philosophy | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Arts management | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Linguistics | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Religious studies | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Physics | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Security Science and Technology | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Four-year earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Fields with few graduates have no published earnings.
Graduate programs at University of South Carolina-Columbia
127 graduate programs awarded degrees recently. Largest first.
Show 127 graduate programs
Students and location
- 29,820 degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2024)
- 59% women, 41% men
- 19 students for every faculty member
- Setting: midsize city
- Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at University of South Carolina-Columbia?
University of South Carolina-Columbia admitted 60% of applicants for fall 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
How much does University of South Carolina-Columbia cost?
Tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $12,688 for in-state students and $37,376 for out-of-state students. After grants and scholarships, aided students paid an average net price of $22,197 a year in 2024-25.
What SAT score do you need for University of South Carolina-Columbia?
The middle 50% of enrolled students scored 600 to 680 in reading and writing and 580 to 680 in math, and 26 to 32 on the ACT. Scores inside these ranges are typical for admitted students.
Is University of South Carolina-Columbia test-optional?
For fall 2024 admission, University of South Carolina-Columbia reported that test scores were: considered but not required. Policies change, so confirm with the admissions office.
What is the graduation rate at University of South Carolina-Columbia?
79% of first-time, full-time students finished within six years.
How much do University of South Carolina-Columbia graduates make?
Former students who received federal aid earned a median of $69,024 a year 10 years after they started, in 2024 dollars.
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More: all colleges in South Carolina · colleges in Columbia · University of South Carolina-Columbia on the College Scorecard
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, data release of October 15, 2026. What each figure means and the year it covers.