University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina · Public, 4-year
At a glance
Average net price
$22,811
In-state, after aid
6-year graduation rate
78.8%
Admission rate
60%
Undergrad size
29,820
In-state tuition
$12,688
Out-of-state tuition
$35,972
Cost of attendance
$31,638
Median earnings (10y)
$62,177
Admissions
- SAT average
- 1,297
- ACT midpoint
- 29
- Retention
- 92.2%
- Locale
- City
Programs breakdown
23 program areas reported · Academic mix is led by business (25%), stem (24%), social sciences (16%).
- STEM24%
- Health12%
- Business25%
- Humanities & arts15%
- Social sciences16%
- Trades & services7%
- Business25.3%~7,553 students/yr · BusinessCompare schools
- Health professions12.3%~3,662 students/yr · HealthCompare schools
- Biological sciences10.7%~3,197 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Communication6.6%~1,959 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Engineering6.1%~1,807 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Psychology6.1%~1,807 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Social sciences5.8%~1,730 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Computer science4.8%~1,440 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~1,214 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- ~1,044 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~990 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- Education2.7%~808 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Liberal arts2.0%~602 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- English1.1%~343 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~343 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- History1.0%~289 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Mathematics0.9%~265 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~215 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~161 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~146 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~98 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~92 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~60 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
Share of all degrees and certificates awarded in each broad CIP-2 program area (U.S. Department of Education, latest reporting year). Estimated students/yr = share × undergrad size.
Specific majors offered
40 specific majors with reported completions. Earnings shown are median annual earnings 1 year after graduation; debt is median student-loan debt at graduation.
| Major | Credential | Grads | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Bachelor's | 1,205 | $53,758 | $25,000 |
| Public Health. | Bachelor's | 873 | $29,317 | $24,958 |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor's | 759 | $24,955 | $24,620 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology. | Bachelor's | 747 | $26,963 | $24,250 |
| Marketing. | Bachelor's | 702 | $47,936 | $23,750 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | Bachelor's | 586 | $38,046 | $25,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor's | 543 | $43,327 | $26,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor's | 473 | $61,735 | $24,250 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor's | 453 | $57,440 | $25,250 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Bachelor's | 445 | $31,800 | $25,000 |
| Law. | First professional | 415 | $51,784 | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | Bachelor's | 415 | $61,685 | $22,922 |
| Political Science and Government. | Bachelor's | 414 | $31,397 | $25,000 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. | Bachelor's | 383 | $36,111 | $24,250 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences. | Bachelor's | 382 | $23,103 | $25,000 |
| Medicine. | First professional | 381 | $54,988 | — |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor's | 349 | $64,632 | $25,000 |
| International Business. | Bachelor's | 347 | $66,365 | $25,174 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master's | 330 | $102,315 | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | Graduate certificate | 329 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master's | 328 | $104,414 | — |
| Social Work. | Master's | 316 | $39,788 | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management. | Bachelor's | 316 | $33,639 | $26,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Bachelor's | 313 | $33,399 | $26,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor's | 294 | $49,131 | $25,826 |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations. | Bachelor's | 284 | $35,741 | $24,979 |
| Library Science and Administration. | Master's | 282 | $41,474 | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Bachelor's | 255 | $30,327 | $26,000 |
| International Business. | Master's | 245 | $82,202 | — |
| Insurance. | Bachelor's | 228 | $53,142 | $25,995 |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. | First professional | 210 | $103,612 | — |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor's | 194 | $28,824 | $25,500 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts. | Bachelor's | 188 | $23,440 | $25,750 |
| Economics. | Bachelor's | 169 | $39,069 | $24,062 |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. | Bachelor's | 159 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Master's | 156 | $50,693 | — |
| Civil Engineering. | Bachelor's | 154 | $60,050 | $27,000 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. | Bachelor's | 153 | $25,473 | $26,300 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. | Bachelor's | 149 | $35,916 | $21,500 |
| Journalism. | Bachelor's | 148 | $30,181 | $26,000 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study. Earnings cover graduates who received federal financial aid and are working / not enrolled. Cells marked "—" are not reported or were suppressed for privacy.
About University of South Carolina-Columbia
University of South Carolina-Columbia is a very large institution located in Columbia, South Carolina, primarily awarding the bachelor's degree. It enrolls roughly 29,820 undergraduate students in a city setting. The most popular fields of study include Business, Health professions, Biological sciences.
Cost & tuition
The average net price at University of South Carolina-Columbia — what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships — is $22,811 per year, which is above the national average compared to other U.S. institutions. Sticker tuition runs $12,688 for in-state students and $35,972 for out-of-state students before aid. Total cost of attendance, including housing, books, and living expenses, comes to about $31,638 annually.
Graduation & earnings outcomes
The 6-year graduation rate is 78.8%, a strong completion outcome. 92.2% of first-time students return for a second year, a useful proxy for student satisfaction and academic fit. Ten years after enrolling, the median graduate earns $62,177 per year according to U.S. Department of Education earnings tracking.
Programs & majors
University of South Carolina-Columbia confers degrees and certificates across 23 broad program areas, with the largest concentrations of completions in Business, Health professions, Biological sciences. Grouped into wider academic categories, the mix is led by business (25% of credentials), stem (24% of credentials), social sciences (16% of credentials), which gives a quick read on the school's overall academic profile. Use the programs breakdown below to see every reported area, an estimated number of students per program per year, and links to compare other U.S. colleges in the same field.
Admissions
University of South Carolina-Columbia accepts 60% of applicants, making it moderately selective. Admitted students have an average SAT score around 1,297. The ACT midpoint for admitted students is roughly 29.
Location & campus
Set in Columbia, South Carolina (city), University of South Carolina-Columbia draws students from across South Carolina and beyond. Prospective students often weigh proximity, cost of living, and local industry demand when choosing between schools in this area.
Frequently asked questions about University of South Carolina-Columbia
Q.How much does University of South Carolina-Columbia cost?
The average net price at University of South Carolina-Columbia is $22,811 per year after grants and scholarships, with total cost of attendance around $31,638.
Q.What is the graduation rate at University of South Carolina-Columbia?
University of South Carolina-Columbia has a 6-year graduation rate of 78.8% according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
Q.How hard is it to get into University of South Carolina-Columbia?
University of South Carolina-Columbia admits 60% of applicants, which is considered moderately selective.
Q.How much do University of South Carolina-Columbia graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of South Carolina-Columbia graduate earns $62,177 per year.
Q.What is tuition at University of South Carolina-Columbia?
Published tuition is $12,688 in-state and $35,972 out-of-state. Most students pay less than the sticker price after financial aid.
Q.Where is University of South Carolina-Columbia located?
University of South Carolina-Columbia is located in Columbia, South Carolina (ZIP 29208).
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS, the federal sources colleges are required to report to. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with University of South Carolina-Columbia at their official website.