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University of South Carolina-Columbia
University of South Carolina-Columbia says yes to 60.2% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $62,177 median earnings.
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University of South Carolina-Columbia sits in Columbia proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Engineering, where graduates median $109,116 four years out. 19.1% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 29,820 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 92.2% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1180 and 1380 — above the SC middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on University of South Carolina-Columbia's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of South Carolina-Columbia received 46,682 applications and admitted 28,706 (61.5%), with 7,319 enrolling.
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 1180–1380 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, University of South Carolina-Columbia's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 600 | 640 | 690 |
| SAT Math | 580 | 630 | 690 |
| ACT Composite | 26 | 29 | 32 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How University of South Carolina-Columbia compares
| University of South Carolina-Columbia | South Carolina median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 60.2% | 72.5% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $12,688 | $17,440 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $62,177 | $44,354 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors University of South Carolina-Columbia: $62,177 median at year ten, versus $44,354 across South Carolina institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $12,688 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $35,972. For non-residents, University of South Carolina-Columbia's $35,972 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
University of South Carolina-Columbia is a big school: 29,820 undergraduates at last count.
78.8% of University of South Carolina-Columbia students finish a bachelor's within six years — 24 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $12,688 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at University of South Carolina-Columbia
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $109,116 |
| International Business | $107,205 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $100,042 |
| Chemical Engineering | $98,244 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $98,020 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $97,927 |
| Insurance | $96,539 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $94,547 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $92,578 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $91,296 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $86,507 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $84,720 |
| Real Estate | $84,558 |
| Civil Engineering | $84,148 |
| Marketing | $81,945 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $80,768 |
| Economics | $77,536 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $70,527 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $70,284 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $67,705 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $67,202 |
| Political Science and Government | $65,464 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $65,248 |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations | $64,631 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $63,534 |
| Mathematics | $62,278 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $62,214 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $61,423 |
| Geography and Cartography | $59,472 |
| Public Health | $58,715 |
| Biology, General | $58,669 |
| Chemistry | $58,462 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $56,688 |
| Dance | $55,274 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $55,093 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $54,781 |
| Journalism | $53,294 |
| Sociology | $53,293 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $53,247 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $51,090 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $50,847 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $50,447 |
| Social Work | $49,401 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $48,990 |
| Psychology, General | $47,234 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $45,804 |
| History | $45,595 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $45,185 |
| Music | $45,181 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $43,687 |
| Anthropology | $42,758 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $40,962 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $39,517 |
Median earnings for these 53 University of South Carolina-Columbia programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $62,177 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 24 additional University of South Carolina-Columbia programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of South Carolina-Columbia?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1180–1380 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 60.2% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University of South Carolina-Columbia's acceptance rate?
61.5% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 28,706 admitted from 46,682 applicants.
How much does University of South Carolina-Columbia cost?
In-state tuition is $12,688; out-of-state students pay $35,972. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do University of South Carolina-Columbia graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $62,177 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in South Carolina
- University of South Carolina Beaufort — 72.5% admitted
- University of South Carolina-Lancaster — 83.4% admitted
- University of South Carolina Aiken — 78.5% admitted
- University of South Carolina-Salkehatchie — 76% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.