About

About University of South Carolina-Columbia

public research universitygamecocks spiritstrong health sciencestest optional admissionssoutheastern flagship university

University of South Carolina-Columbia is a public research university in Columbia, SC, known for its public research university, gamecocks spirit, and strong health sciences. With an acceptance rate of 64%, University of South Carolina is accessible for most qualified applicants, typically enrolling around 6,574 students each year. University of South Carolina is test optional; students who submit scores are typically admitted with SATs between 1190–1350, though many competitive applicants choose not to submit. University of South Carolina offers merit scholarships regardless of financial need, with awards averaging $7,800 per year; the sticker price of $50,389 may look very different from what your family actually pays.

Admissions

University of South Carolina-Columbia acceptance rate and admitted student profile

accessible for most qualified applicants

64%
Overall Accept Rate
3.50
Typical Admitted GPA
1270
Median Admitted SAT
GPATypical admitted range: 3.50 – 3.75 unweighted

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SATSubmitted score range: 1190 – 1350 (test optional)

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ACTScore range: 26 – 32

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Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to University of South Carolina-Columbia

The first 2 tips apply to all applicants. Your personalized strategy requires your profile — build your free list to unlock it.

Application Strategy
Apply to the South Carolina Honors College when you submit your application. Admission is competitive but the benefits are significant, including priority registration, smaller classes, and enhanced scholarship opportunities that can stack with merit aid.
Financial Aid — High Impact
Look closely at the McNair Scholars program and the Carolina Scholarship, which USC awards automatically to eligible South Carolina residents based on GPA and test scores. Even if you are from out of state, USC offers competitive merit scholarships through the Capstone Scholars program worth investigating early.

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Financial Aid & Cost

What University of South Carolina-Columbia actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Family IncomeSticker PriceEst. Net Cost / yr
0-30k~$50k/yr$12.6k
30k-48k~$50k/yr$15.0k
48k-75k~$50k/yr$19.9k
75k-110k~$50k/yr$24.5k
110k+~$50k/yr$28.1k

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Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

78%
6-Year Graduation Rate
$51k
Median Earnings (6 yrs)
18:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
27,141
Undergrad Enrollment
University of South Carolina-Columbia Acceptance Rate & Admissions | SpearMatch