University of South Carolina-Columbia
Public four-year university in Columbia, SC that costs an average of $22,197 a year after financial aid, admits 60% of applicants and graduates 79% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$22,197
Acceptance rate
60%
Graduation rate
79%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$69,024
PublicMidsize city29,820 undergraduates
Cost of University of South Carolina-Columbia
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $32,193 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $12,688 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $37,376 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $16,376 |
| Books and supplies | $1,480 |
| Average net price after aid | $22,197 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $13,832 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $14,286 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $17,357 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $23,410 |
| $110,001+ | $28,504 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with University of South Carolina-Columbia's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 60% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,297 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 600–680 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 580–680 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 26–32 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 79% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 92% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $57,672 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $69,024 |
| Rank in South Carolina (earnings) | 6th of 35 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $20,500 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $233 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 23% |
| Students with federal loans | 41% |
Majors and programs at University of South Carolina-Columbia
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (72)
Certificate programs (5)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 4 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 58 | — | — |
| Data Analytics | 19 | — | — |
| Music | 24 | — | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 44 | — | — |
Associate's degree programs (1)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | — | — | — |
Post-baccalaureate certificate programs (10)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | — | $104,543 | $26,865 |
| International Business | — | $75,528 | $19,929 |
| Applied Statistics | — | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | — | — | — |
| Data Analytics | — | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | — | — | — |
| Library Science and Administration | — | — | — |
| Management Information Systems and Services | — | — | — |
| Public Health | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (78)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 352 | $123,739 | $41,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 309 | $111,910 | $60,877 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 85 | $107,832 | $32,943 |
| International Business | 251 | $81,305 | $20,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 132 | $74,538 | $20,500 |
| Public Health | 64 | $64,970 | $43,377 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 33 | $62,122 | $61,211 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 133 | $60,688 | $41,000 |
| Public Administration | 30 | $60,627 | — |
| Journalism | 72 | $60,626 | $20,500 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 35 | $60,350 | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 150 | $60,340 | $81,314 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 133 | $59,256 | $74,859 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 133 | $58,203 | $24,600 |
| Education | 65 | $54,560 | $20,500 |
| Library Science and Administration | 281 | $49,919 | $34,191 |
| Social Work | 313 | $48,567 | $44,621 |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 59 | $47,970 | $52,898 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 88 | $47,963 | $30,750 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 88 | $46,530 | $30,642 |
| Music | 40 | $40,317 | — |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 15 | — | — |
| Anthropology | 6 | — | — |
| Applied Mathematics | — | — | — |
| Applied Statistics | 7 | — | — |
| Biology | 41 | — | — |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 4 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 12 | — | — |
| Business/Commerce | 53 | — | — |
| Chemical Engineering | 6 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 11 | — | — |
| Civil Engineering | 16 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 33 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 4 | — | — |
| Computer Engineering | 5 | — | — |
| Computer Science | 32 | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 24 | — | — |
| Data Analytics | 2 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 13 | — | — |
| Economics | 11 | — | — |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | 13 | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 29 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 6 | — | — |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 15 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 16 | — | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 8 | — | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 2 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 15 | — | — |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations | — | — | — |
| Genetics | 18 | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 9 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 15 | — | — |
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 1 | — | — |
| Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities | 4 | — | — |
| History | 12 | — | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 21 | — | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 3 | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 17 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 49 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 4 | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 37 | — | — |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics | 21 | — | — |
| Nuclear Engineering | 4 | — | — |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | 1 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 1 | — | — |
| Physical Sciences, Other | — | — | — |
| Physics | 6 | — | — |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 53 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 4 | — | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 29 | — | $65,500 |
| Religion/Religious Studies | — | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 2 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 13 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | — | — |
| Social Sciences, Other | — | — | — |
| Sociology | 3 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 20 | — | — |
| Statistics | 5 | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (55)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 33 | $106,626 | $82,685 |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 102 | $81,801 | $58,706 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 53 | $74,919 | $99,362 |
| Music | 40 | $46,123 | — |
| Anthropology | 3 | — | — |
| Biology | 29 | — | — |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 9 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 5 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 10 | — | — |
| Chemical Engineering | 24 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 50 | — | — |
| Civil Engineering | 17 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 12 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 10 | — | — |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 5 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 2 | — | — |
| Computer Engineering | 8 | — | — |
| Computer Science | 15 | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | — | — | — |
| Criminology | 2 | — | — |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 16 | — | — |
| Economics | — | — | — |
| Education | 9 | — | — |
| Education, Other | 77 | — | $61,000 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 13 | — | — |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | 14 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 26 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 17 | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 4 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 4 | — | — |
| History | 3 | — | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 6 | — | — |
| Library Science and Administration | 1 | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 16 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 12 | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 25 | — | — |
| Nuclear Engineering | 2 | — | — |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | 11 | — | — |
| Philosophy | — | — | — |
| Physics | 10 | — | — |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 10 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 4 | — | — |
| Psychology | 4 | — | — |
| Public Health | 40 | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 3 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 3 | — | — |
| Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education | 3 | — | — |
| Social Work | 11 | — | — |
| Sociology | 4 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 4 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 3 | — | — |
| Statistics | 7 | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 13 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 7 | — | — |
Professional degree programs (4)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | 208 | $88,925 | $130,638 |
| Law | 418 | $69,399 | $92,996 |
| Medicine | 368 | $60,322 | $211,759 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 54 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (31)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 29 | $47,973 | — |
| Anthropology | — | — | — |
| Applied Statistics | 5 | — | — |
| Archeology | 2 | — | — |
| Biology | — | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 30 | — | — |
| Civil Engineering | 4 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 2 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 20 | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | — | — | — |
| Data Analytics | 17 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 25 | — | — |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | 8 | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 4 | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 32 | — | — |
| Gerontology | — | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | — | — | — |
| International Business | 149 | — | — |
| Library Science and Administration | 40 | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | — | — | — |
| Management Information Systems and Services | 2 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 320 | — | — |
| Museology/Museum Studies | 5 | — | — |
| Music | 3 | — | — |
| Public Health | 6 | — | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 3 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 25 | — | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 2 | — | — |
| Social Work | 7 | — | — |
| Statistics | — | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 124 | — | — |
Similar colleges in South Carolina
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson University | Clemson | $22,032 | 38% | $79,064 |
| College of Charleston | Charleston | $18,177 | 60% | $63,018 |
| Coastal Carolina University | Conway | $15,287 | 75% | $54,702 |
| University of South Carolina-Upstate | Spartanburg | $15,680 | 67% | $53,988 |
| Winthrop University | Rock Hill | $16,375 | 79% | $49,727 |
| Lander University | Greenwood | $16,659 | 81% | $45,360 |
| University of South Carolina Aiken | Aiken | $14,565 | 79% | $51,703 |
| South Carolina State University | Orangeburg | $18,030 | 83% | $41,531 |
About University of South Carolina-Columbia
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Columbia, SC |
| Setting | Midsize city |
| Undergraduates | 29,820 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 19 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Website | sc.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is University of South Carolina-Columbia's acceptance rate?
University of South Carolina-Columbia admits 60% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,297 on the SAT.
How much does University of South Carolina-Columbia cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $32,193 a year (tuition and fees: $12,688 in-state, $37,376 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $22,197 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $13,832.
How much do University of South Carolina-Columbia graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $69,024 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 6th of 35 similar colleges in South Carolina. The best-paid bachelor's program is electrical, electronics, and communications engineering ($82,466 a year after graduation).
What is University of South Carolina-Columbia's graduation rate?
79% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 92% of first-year students return for a second year.