South Carolina: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially University of South Carolina-Columbia · Columbia, South Carolina · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- Early Action
- 59,630
- Applicants
- 33,695
- Admitted57%
- 7,818
- Enrolled
- 23%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Moderately selective57% admittedRanked #121 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #102 (tie), Business Programs #50 (tie), Computer Science #127 (tie), Nursing #36 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by University of South Carolina-Columbia (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is South Carolina a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places South Carolina against it in about a minute. No account needed.
South Carolina is a public university in Columbia, South Carolina that admits about 57% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $22,811 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Finance and Financial Management Services, Public Health and Biology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 79% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 2.0 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
South Carolina is a public institution located in Columbia, South Carolina with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, South Carolina admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 57%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1280 and an ACT composite around 29. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $22,811 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for South Carolina?
76% of enrolled students at South Carolina had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.68, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Compare South Carolina with the other schools on your list
Open South Carolina in College Search to set it beside up to three other colleges on cost, admission odds and outcomes, and save it to a shortlist when you are ready.
What does South Carolina weight in admissions?
South Carolina reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
1- Academic GPA
Important
3- Rigor of secondary school record
- Class rank
- Standardized test scores
Considered
7- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- State residency
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not Considered
7- Interview
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores South Carolina typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 580–680, with an EBRW midpoint near 630. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 26–32. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 1200 |
| 50th percentile | 1280 |
| 75th percentile | 1360 |
| % submitting SAT | 32% |
| 25th percentile | 26 |
| 50th percentile | 29 |
| 75th percentile | 32 |
| % submitting ACT | 15% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional through fall/spring/summer 2027 terms, for admission and merit scholarships.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on South Carolina's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 31.26% |
| Top 25% of class | 64.82% |
| Top 50% of class | 92.43% |
| % submitting class rank | 63.09% |
How much does South Carolina actually cost?
Published tuition is $12,688 for in-state students and $35,972 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $13,534 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $22,811 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 19% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $12,288 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $38,098 |
| Room and board | $17,334 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $22,811 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 61% |
| Average need-based grant | $14,693 |
| Average merit award, no financial need2,944 first-year students received one | $4,353 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 52% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $34,211 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $65 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for South Carolina
| Regular deadline | 12/1 |
| Notification date | Mid March |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | October 15 |
Will my child graduate from South Carolina?
These predict outcomes at South Carolina better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at South Carolina
The most popular undergraduate programs at South Carolina, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Finance and Financial Management Services, Public Health and Biology, General. Across all programs, South Carolina confers roughly 2,895 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Finance and Financial Management Services program report a median income of about $91,441 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 608 | $91,441 |
| Public Health | 438 | $55,090 |
| Biology, General | 369 | $60,846 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 342 | $48,055 |
| Marketing | 335 | $77,355 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 290 | $63,908 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 281 | $69,907 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 232 | $74,996 |
Is South Carolina safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), South Carolina disclosed 60 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.0 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 3 violent offenses and 32 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at South Carolina?
About 31% of undergraduates at South Carolina live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 27% of men join a fraternity and 34% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in South Carolina parents ask about
Next steps for South Carolina
Common questions parents ask about South Carolina
What GPA do I need for South Carolina?
76% of enrolled students at South Carolina had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.68, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does South Carolina typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 580–680, with an EBRW midpoint near 630. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 26–32.
How much does South Carolina actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at South Carolina after grants and scholarships is $22,811 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $12,688 and $35,972 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is South Carolina realistic for my child?
South Carolina admits 57% of applicants, so 580–680 SAT Math is target range and below 580 is a reach. Then check the $22,811 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at South Carolina?
South Carolina accepts about 57% of applicants out of roughly 59,630 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is South Carolina test-optional?
Yes. South Carolina is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at South Carolina?
About 79% of students at South Carolina graduate within six years, and 71% finish in four years. 92% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does South Carolina look for in applicants?
South Carolina rates GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is South Carolina a public or private school, and where is it located?
South Carolina is a public institution located in Columbia, South Carolina.
What are the most popular majors at South Carolina?
The largest undergraduate majors at South Carolina by annual graduates are Finance and Financial Management Services, Public Health and Biology, General. The school awards about 2,895 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is South Carolina safe? What is its campus crime rate?
South Carolina reported 60 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 2.0 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at South Carolina?
At South Carolina, 31% of undergraduates live on campus, 27% of men are in fraternities, 34% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by University of South Carolina-Columbia, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers