University of South Carolina acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
University of South Carolina-Columbia · Public · Columbia, SC · 28,470 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
University of South Carolina admitted 61.5% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 60.6% in 2013. South Carolina residents pay $12,688 in tuition and fees for 2025-26; out-of-state students pay $37,376.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
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| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 60.6% | 23,429 | 14,199 |
| 2014 | 65.2% | 23,342 | 15,219 |
| 2015 | 64.5% | 25,740 | 16,611 |
| 2016 | 68.1% | 25,057 | 17,073 |
| 2017 | 72.3% | 26,015 | 18,811 |
| 2018 | 63.1% | 30,889 | 19,480 |
| 2019 | 68.6% | 31,268 | 21,464 |
| 2020 | 68.4% | 34,957 | 23,894 |
| 2021 | 61.6% | 42,045 | 25,884 |
| 2022 | 64.1% | 42,188 | 27,022 |
| 2023 | 61.5% | 46,682 | 28,706 |
Applications went from 23,429 in fall 2013 to 46,682 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
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| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $13,832 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $14,286 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $17,357 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $23,410 |
| Over $110,000 | $28,504 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $12,688 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $37,376 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $32,193 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $22,197 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid paying the in-state rate, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 32% submitted the SAT, 17% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar public colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| College of Charleston SC | 72.0% | $12,978 in-state |
| Coastal Carolina SC | 80.2% | $11,640 in-state |
| Clemson SC | 38.1% | $15,854 in-state |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
The University of South Carolina admitted 28,706 of its 46,682 applicants for fall 2023, an admit rate of 61.5%.1 In 2013 the rate was 60.6%, so over the decade it is up by only 0.9 percentage points.1 In between it moved around, declining in 5 of the 10 yearly changes and peaking at 72.3% in 2017.1 Applications grew 99% and admitted students grew 102%, so growth in offers kept pace with growth in applications, with admits going from 14,199 to 28,706.1
Test scores are optional, and they came from 32% of enrolled students for the SAT and 17% for the ACT.1 The middle 50% of scores were 600 to 690 on SAT reading and writing, 580 to 690 on math, and 26 to 32 on the ACT.1
In-state tuition and fees come to $12,688 for 2025-26, and out-of-state students pay $37,376.2 The in-state figure is above the $11,670 median of the 12 public bachelor's colleges in South Carolina.2 Average net price in 2024-25 rose with income, from $13,832 for families earning $0 to $30,000 to $23,410 for $75,001 to $110,000 and $28,504 above $110,000.2
Of 2019 entrants, 79% graduated within 6 years, and the state median across 35 bachelor's colleges is 50%.2 Median earnings were $69,024 in 2022-23, and median debt for graduates with federal loans was $20,500.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 46,682 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 28,706 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 7,319 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 28,470 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 600 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 690 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 580 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 690 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 26 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 32 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 32% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 17% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $12,688 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $37,376 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_OUT, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $32,193 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $22,197 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $13,832 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $14,286 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $17,357 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $23,410 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $28,504 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 79% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 92% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 23% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $69,024 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $20,500 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median in-state tuition and fees, public colleges, South Carolina (N = 12) | $11,670 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, public bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, South Carolina (N = 35) | 50% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with University of South Carolina, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page