In-state vs. out-of-state tuition at South Carolina
South Carolina charges $12,688 a year in published tuition and fees for South Carolina residents, about $6,344 a semester, and $35,972 a year for students from other states, about $17,986 a semester, a difference of $23,284. About 46% of first-year students came from out of state. You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships. Compare out-of-state tuition at 100 public universities →
How South Carolina's admissions have changed
South Carolina received 59,630 first-year applications for fall 2025, 2.3 times the 26,015 it received for fall 2017. Admitted students grew more slowly, from 18,811 to 33,695, so the acceptance rate fell from 72% to 57%.
USC has published separate rates since fall 2024. It admitted 71.4% of South Carolina residents and 51.7% of out-of-state applicants for fall 2025, and 76.2% and 54.7% for fall 2024. Fall 2024 source
The chart shows the acceptance rate for all first-year applicants: in-state, out-of-state and international together. Fall 2017–2024: IPEDS (first-year applicants and admits). Fall 2025: USC's Common Data Set 2025–26, which may define applicants slightly differently. A falling acceptance rate mostly reflects more applications, not a smaller class. Acceptance rates are a starting point, not a prediction.
What makes South Carolina different
- The Horseshoe. The original campus, a green lined with historic buildings, is still its heart.
- Public health and international business. Public health is its largest major, and the Darla Moore School of Business is known for international business.
- In the capital. Columbia offers internships in state government, health care and business.
What South Carolina students study
The most common bachelor's degrees (class of 2024): public health (402), finance (379), biology (376), psychology (369), nursing (260) and sport management (248). Source: IPEDS Completions, first majors only.
You may thrive at South Carolina if…
- You're interested in public health, business or sport management.
- You'd like a campus in the middle of a capital city.
- You want a big SEC university with many students from out of state.
Worth asking about
- How does the international business program include study abroad?
- What scholarships are available to out-of-state students?
How South Carolina compares with the other SEC schools
South Carolina pairs a historic campus in the state capital with strengths in public health and business. See how the 16 SEC schools differ.
FAQ
What is South Carolina's acceptance rate? 56.5% for fall 2025: 33,695 of 59,630 first-year applicants were admitted, according to its Common Data Set 2025–26. Source For fall 2024 it was 60.2%.
What is South Carolina's out-of-state acceptance rate? 51.7% for fall 2025, compared with 71.4% for South Carolina residents. South Carolina admitted 23,200 of 44,911 out-of-state applicants and 10,065 of 14,102 South Carolina residents, according to USC's Common Data Set for 2025–26. Source International applicants are counted separately. Out-of-state tuition and fees are $35,972 a year before aid; you may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships. Compare out-of-state acceptance rates at public universities →
What is South Carolina known for? Public health, international business and its historic Horseshoe.
How much does South Carolina cost? Published tuition and fees are $12,688 a year in-state and $35,972 out-of-state, before any aid.
How much is South Carolina tuition per semester? About $6,344 a semester for South Carolina residents and $17,986 for out-of-state students, based on published yearly tuition and fees of $12,688 and $35,972 before aid.
Is South Carolina an R1 university? Yes. In the 2025 Carnegie Classifications, the University of South Carolina is an R1 university, the group with the highest research spending and doctoral degrees. What R1 means →
How many students go to South Carolina? About 29,800 undergraduates (fall 2024).
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