University of South Carolina-Columbia
PublicColumbia, SC
The University of South Carolina traces its history back more than two centuries to its founding as South Carolina College. It has since grown into a research university comprising more than a dozen colleges and schools, including the Darla Moore School of Business, the Joseph F. Rice School of Law, and the South Carolina Honors College.
Admissions
Test scores for the Fall 2025 entering class come from University of South Carolina-Columbia's own 2025-26 Common Data Set: 32% submitted SAT scores, 15% submitted ACT scores.
Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry
- Early Action: Oct 15, 2026 (passed)
- Regular Decision: Dec 1, 2026
Confirm on University of South Carolina-Columbia's own admissions site before you apply.
Cost & outcomes
Out-of-state students pay $25,812 more per year in tuition and fees (3.0x the in-state rate).
Tuition & fees are University of South Carolina-Columbia's own published 2026-27 rates (source); other figures are from the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Paying less as an out-of-state student
University of South Carolina-Columbia takes part in this regional program, which can cut the out-of-state rate for students from nearby states.
Academic Common Market
Residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia can pay in-state tuition for a specific major that no public college in their home state offers. You need admission to that major and approval from your home state's coordinator.
Where do you stand against University of South Carolina-Columbia's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow University of South Carolina-Columbia weighs your application
From University of South Carolina-Columbia's own Common Data Set, 2025-26, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what University of South Carolina-Columbia weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does University of South Carolina-Columbia look for in applicants?
Per University of South Carolina-Columbia's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates academic GPA as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is University of South Carolina-Columbia's acceptance rate?
University of South Carolina-Columbia in Columbia, SC admits approximately 60% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for University of South Carolina-Columbia?
Per University of South Carolina-Columbia's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1200–1360 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
What ACT score do I need for University of South Carolina-Columbia?
Per University of South Carolina-Columbia's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 26–32 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
How much does University of South Carolina-Columbia cost?
University of South Carolina-Columbia's total cost of attendance is reported at $31,638 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
Does University of South Carolina-Columbia offer reduced tuition for out-of-state students?
Yes -- University of South Carolina-Columbia takes part in the Academic Common Market, a regional program that lets qualifying out-of-state students pay less than the full out-of-state rate. Eligibility depends on your home state, and the school sets its own requirements.
What is out-of-state tuition at University of South Carolina-Columbia?
For 2026-27, University of South Carolina-Columbia's tuition and required fees are $38,800 for out-of-state students and $12,988 for in-state students -- $25,812 more per year for out-of-state students. That's before financial aid, and room and board are extra.
When is the application deadline for University of South Carolina-Columbia?
University of South Carolina-Columbia's deadlines are Early Action Oct 15, 2026; Regular Decision Dec 1, 2026, per its own published admissions calendar.
Does University of South Carolina-Columbia require students to live on campus?
No -- University of South Carolina-Columbia doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
Related reading
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