University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SC · Public · www.sc.edu/ ↗

University of South Carolina-Columbia is a public college in Columbia, South Carolina, located in a midsize city. It enrolls 29,820 undergraduate degree-seeking students and mostly awards bachelor's degrees. It also offers graduate degrees. By number of bachelor's degrees awarded, its largest programs are Finance and Financial Management Services, Public Health, and Research and Experimental Psychology.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Compare with similar schools: Public universities in South Carolina

Compare its largest majors across colleges: Finance and Financial Management Services · Public Health · Research and Experimental Psychology

University of South Carolina-Columbia at a glance

Undergraduate enrollment
29,820
Similar schools: 5,632
Average net priceiAverage sticker price minus typical grants and scholarships: the amount most students actually pay out-of-pocket plus loans.
$22,197
Similar schools: $14,226
Admit rateiShare of applicants who get accepted. Lower = more selective.
60.2%
Similar schools: 83.6%
Graduation rate (6 yrs)iShare of full-time students who finished a 4-year degree within 6 years (which is 150% of the standard 4-year time).
78.7%
Similar schools: 51.6%
Median earnings (10 yrs)iMedian earnings of students 10 years after they started college, among those working and not enrolled in further schooling.
$69,024
Similar schools: $59,509
Median debt at graduationiMedian federal student-loan balance carried by students who graduated. Doesn't include Parent PLUS or private loans.
$20,500
Similar schools: $19,500
First-year retentioniShare of first-year students who came back for year two. A baseline measure of student satisfaction.
92.2%
Similar schools: 76.5%

What the data shows about University of South Carolina-Columbia

Comparisons below use the medians for the 595 public schools that mostly award bachelor's degrees in the College Scorecard. Its average net price is $22,197 a year, higher than the $14,226 median for similar schools. It admits 60.2% of applicants, lower than the 83.6% median. 92.2% of first-time, full-time students return for a second year (similar-school median: 76.5%). 78.7% of full-time students finish a four-year degree within six years, higher than the 51.6% median. Ten years after enrolling, former students who are working earn a median of $69,024, higher than the $59,509 median for similar schools. Graduates leave with a median of $20,500 in federal student loans (similar-school median: $19,500).