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University of South Carolina-Upstate
Most applicants get into University of South Carolina-Upstate — 67.3% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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University of South Carolina-Upstate occupies suburban Spartanburg, SC — a public campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $79,947 four years out. Faculty pay averages $100,944 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. Most of its 4,038 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 69.8% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1000 and 1170 — below the SC middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on University of South Carolina-Upstate's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
University of South Carolina-Upstate is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 1000–1170 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically University of South Carolina-Upstate's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 510 | 550 | 610 |
| SAT Math | 490 | 510 | 560 |
| ACT Composite | 19 | 22 | 25 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of South Carolina-Upstate received 3,557 applications and admitted 2,476 (69.6%), with 674 enrolling.
How University of South Carolina-Upstate compares
| University of South Carolina-Upstate | South Carolina median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 67.3% | 72.5% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $11,588 | $17,440 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $48,587 | $44,354 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of South Carolina-Upstate student earns $48,587 — 10% above the South Carolina median of $44,354 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, University of South Carolina-Upstate prices by residency: $11,588 in-state versus $23,090 out-of-state — a $11,502 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
University of South Carolina-Upstate enrolls 4,038 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs University of South Carolina-Upstate's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
43% graduate within six years. Roughly 57% don't — ask a University of South Carolina-Upstate tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at University of South Carolina-Upstate
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $79,947 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $67,286 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $61,967 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $48,209 |
| Biology, General | $48,139 |
| Political Science and Government | $47,796 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $46,121 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $45,761 |
| Psychology, General | $45,659 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $45,298 |
| Sociology | $43,745 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $42,119 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $36,785 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $36,368 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $35,612 |
Median earnings for these 15 University of South Carolina-Upstate programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $48,587 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 18 additional University of South Carolina-Upstate programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of South Carolina-Upstate?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1000–1170 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 67.3% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University of South Carolina-Upstate's acceptance rate?
69.6% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 2,476 admitted from 3,557 applicants.
How much does University of South Carolina-Upstate cost?
In-state tuition is $11,588; out-of-state students pay $23,090. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do University of South Carolina-Upstate graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $48,587 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in South Carolina
- South Carolina State University — 82.6% admitted
- Coastal Carolina University — 75.3% admitted
- University of South Carolina-Union — 62.2% admitted
- University of South Carolina-Sumter — 74.1% 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.