University of South Carolina
South Carolina's flagship on the historic Horseshoe, known for its honors college and international business.
- Acceptance rate
- 57%
- First-year applicants for fall 2025 (Common Data Set 2025-26)
- Students
- 40,357
- 31,845 undergraduates
- International
- 2%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 19:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $38,098
- 2026-27
About USC
The University of South Carolina was chartered in 1801 as South Carolina College, one block from the State Capitol in Columbia, and its original Horseshoe of federal-style buildings is still the centre of campus. Today the Columbia campus is the flagship of the USC system, with 40,357 students in fall 2025, including 31,845 undergraduates, in colleges ranging from the Darla Moore School of Business and Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing to the Arnold School of Public Health, Nursing, and Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management.
USC is an R1 research university, and two parts of it stand out for undergraduates. The South Carolina Honors College offers nearly 600 honors courses and has its own separate application, and the Moore School is known for its international business programs. USC's own first-year course, University 101, is described by the university as a national model for first-year seminars.
Admission is test-optional through 2027 and weighted towards high school grades, course rigor and class rank. Out-of-state students make up about 40% of undergraduates, drawn by SEC athletics, a lively capital-city setting and large merit scholarships that can reduce nonresident tuition to the in-state rate. It suits applicants with strong grades who want a big-school experience with a small honors or scholars community inside it.
Emollit mores nec sinit esse feros
“Learning humanizes character and does not permit it to be cruel” — university motto
Why students choose USC
Every freshman who applies by December 1 is considered for merit packages worth $6,500 to $30,000 a year for nonresidents, with no separate application.
The South Carolina Honors College offers nearly 600 honors courses, and its Top Scholar awards (Stamps, McNair and Horseshoe) cut nonresident tuition to the in-state rate.
The Darla Moore School of Business has top-ranked international business programs and 12 research centres.
About 96% of first-years live on campus, and Five Points and the Vista, Columbia's nightlife districts, are within walking distance.
Admissions
First-year applicants for fall 2025 (Common Data Set 2025-26)
About 1 in 2 applicants is admitted
33,695 admitted from 59,630 applicants
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
7,818 first-years enrolled. In-state applicants were admitted at about 71% (10,065 of 14,102), out-of-state at about 52% (23,200 of 44,911) and international at about 70% (430 of 617). 8,805 applicants were offered a waitlist place and 293 were admitted from it.
Typical entry requirements
| South Carolina college-prep curriculum | 4 English, 4 math (Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry and a fourth higher unit), 3 lab science, 3 social studies (including US history, economics and government), 2 units of one world language, 1 fine arts and 2 academic electives |
|---|---|
| Top 10% guarantee | South Carolina students ranked in the top 10% of their class (end of junior year) who apply by December 1 and complete the college-prep curriculum with no grade below C are admitted to the Columbia campus |
| South Carolina Honors College | Separate application by November 15; admitted middle 50%: SAT 1410-1500, ACT 32-35, weighted GPA 4.7-5.3, top 1%-4% of class |
| International secondary school record | Official transcripts from all secondary schools, with certified English translations; final transcripts after graduation |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 77 TOEFL iBT 77 (paper-based 550), IELTS 6.5, PTE 53, Duolingo 115, SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 560 or ACT English 22, depending on country of citizenship. Conditional admission is possible through English Programs for Internationals, and the International Accelerator Program is a one-year transition route. |
Deadlines
- Early Action Non-binding Next deadline · In 9 daysOctober 15, 2026
Credentials (including test scores, if used) due November 1; decisions by mid-December.
- Honors College and Top Scholar awards Non-binding In 40 daysNovember 15, 2026
Credentials due December 1; decisions by mid-February for the Honors College and Top Scholar awards (Stamps, McNair and Horseshoe Scholars).
- Regular Decision Non-binding In 56 daysDecember 1, 2026
Credentials due January 15, 2027; decisions by mid-March. Also the deadline for merit scholarship consideration, the Top 10% guarantee and the Gamecock Guarantee.
Dates are from USC's freshman application page for fall 2027 entry (the page lists month and day). Admitted freshmen have until May 1 to enroll. Credentials deadlines are also the last date to change whether your test scores are considered.
How to apply
USC's own application or the Common App; one essay from the prompts provided; activities section (up to 10 activities); unofficial high school transcript upload through junior year; optional SAT or ACT; first and second choice of major; $70 application fee (fee waivers accepted) or $100 for international applicants. Honors College and Top Scholar candidates submit a separate Honors College application.
What admissions looks for
- High school grades in core classes, which USC calls the most important factor.
- Rigor of coursework, including honors, AP, IB and dual enrollment where available.
- Class standing or class rank, if your school provides one.
- Your choice of major, since some majors have limited capacity.
- The essay and up to 10 extracurricular activities, where quality matters more than quantity.
Tips for applying to USC
- 1 Apply Early Action by October 15 for a December decision, or at least by December 1 to be considered for merit scholarships.
- 2 Compare your scores with USC's published admitted-student ranges (SAT 1250-1380 for nonresidents) before deciding whether to have them considered.
- 3 Pick a realistic second-choice major: USC reviews by major and capacity, and a second choice gives you the best chance of admission.
- 4 If you are aiming for Stamps, McNair or Horseshoe awards, submit the separate Honors College application by November 15; finalists attend an interview and Top Scholar Weekend.
- 5 International applicants should budget for the $100 non-waivable fee and check the English requirement for their country.
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for University of South Carolina
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2026-27 · figures in USD
All freshmen who apply by December 1 are considered for merit awards; nonresident Academic Scholar packages range from $6,500 to $30,000 a year, and the Stamps ($25,810 a year), McNair ($24,000) and Horseshoe ($11,000) Scholars Awards also reduce tuition to the in-state rate. National Merit Finalists who list USC first receive $6,000 a year. Low-income, first-generation South Carolinians can receive the Gamecock Guarantee, which covers tuition and fees with at least $5,000 a year. In the latest CDS, 142 nonresident (international) undergraduates received institutional aid averaging $32,670.
- $40,584 / $66,394, including books, personal costs and transportation
- 2026-27 cost of attendance, on campus (resident / nonresident)
- $6,500 to $30,000 per year ($26,000 to $120,000 over four years)
- Nonresident Academic Scholar packages
- 142 students, averaging $32,670
- Nonresident (international) undergraduates receiving institutional aid (CDS 2025-26)
- Tuition, technology and program fees covered; at least $5,000 per year
- Gamecock Guarantee (SC first-generation, low-income)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
International Business (Darla Moore School of Business)
USC describes the Moore School's international business programs as top-ranked, backed by 12 research centres.
South Carolina Honors College
Nearly 600 honors courses, research, service learning and internships, with an admitted middle-50% SAT of 1410-1500.
Hospitality and Tourism Management
A dedicated college covers hospitality, tourism, retail and fashion merchandising alongside sport management.
Public Health (Arnold School)
One of the nation's first schools of public health and the only one in South Carolina.
Education
Teacher education students complete 700 hours of classroom experience in K-12 schools.
Law (Joseph F. Rice School of Law)
One of the nation's oldest law schools; alumni include former governor and US Education Secretary Richard Riley (JD).
Research
- Classified as an R1 university with very high research activity, and a member of the SEC Academic Consortium (SECU).
- In 2009 the Department of Energy chose USC as one of 31 universities to host an Energy Frontier Research Center, a $12.5 million award that was then the largest single award in the university's history.
- The South Caroliniana Library on the Horseshoe, designed by Robert Mills, was the first freestanding academic library in the US.
Schools & faculties
- McCausland College of Arts and Sciences
- Darla Moore School of Business
- Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing
- College of Education
- College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management
- College of Information and Communications
- Joseph F. Rice School of Law
- School of Music
- College of Nursing
- College of Pharmacy
- Arnold School of Public Health
- South Carolina Honors College
College Scorecard: median earnings of $62,177 ten years after entry (and $50,621 six years after entry) for federally aided students.
Student life
Life at USC centres on the Horseshoe and the residence halls around it: almost 96% of first-years live on campus, and living-learning communities group students by academic interest. Greek life is big, with about a quarter of undergraduate men and a third of women joining. Students head to Five Points and the Congaree Vista, both within walking distance, and to Williams-Brice Stadium, about a mile from campus, for SEC football. The Daily Gamecock, founded in 1908, and student television and radio give plenty of media outlets.
- The Gamecocks play in the Southeastern Conference (SEC); the women's basketball team, coached by Dawn Staley, won its first NCAA title in 2017.
- The Horseshoe, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, holds the university's original 1800s buildings.
- University 101, USC's first-year course, is billed by the university as a national model, and its students show higher first-year persistence.
- About 27% of undergraduate men join fraternities and 34% of women join sororities (CDS 2025-26).
Housing. 95.8% of first-year students lived in university housing in fall 2025, with living-learning communities available; many upperclassmen move off campus.
Location
Columbia is South Carolina's capital, and the campus begins a block from the State Capitol. Students go out in Five Points and the Congaree Vista, go boating on Lake Murray and the Saluda, Broad and Congaree rivers, and can reach the coast at Charleston, Myrtle Beach or Hilton Head in about 1.5 to 2 hours. It is a mid-sized, affordable Southern city with a college-town feel on game days.
Nearest airport: Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE)
Notable alumni
- DR Darius RuckerSinger; co-founded Hootie & the Blowfish in 1986 while a student at USC
- LG Leeza GibbonsTelevision host (Entertainment Tonight); summa cum laude journalism graduate
- AW A'ja WilsonWNBA star; led the Gamecocks to their first NCAA women's basketball title in 2017
- JH Jim HoaglandTwo-time Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post foreign correspondent; USC graduate (1961)
- GT Glenn TiltonFormer chairman and CEO of United Airlines; BA in international relations
- LK Larry KellnerFormer CEO of Continental Airlines; accounting graduate (1981)
- RR Richard RileyGovernor of South Carolina and US Secretary of Education; JD from the USC School of Law
- JC Jadeveon ClowneyNFL defensive end and 2014 No. 1 draft pick; played for the Gamecocks
Frequently asked questions
What is the University of South Carolina's acceptance rate?
For fall 2025, USC admitted 33,695 of 59,630 first-year applicants, about 56.5%. Out-of-state applicants were admitted at about 52%.
Is the University of South Carolina test-optional?
Yes, through the fall, spring and summer 2027 terms, for US and international applicants. You choose on the application whether your SAT or ACT scores are considered.
What are USC's application deadlines for fall 2027?
Early Action October 15, 2026; Honors College and Top Scholar awards November 15, 2026; Regular Decision December 1, 2026. Credentials are due about two weeks after each deadline.
How much does USC cost for out-of-state students?
For 2026-27, nonresident tuition is $38,098 plus fees, and the estimated on-campus cost of attendance is $66,394. Merit packages of $6,500 to $30,000 a year are available to nonresidents who apply by December 1.
Is it hard to get into the South Carolina Honors College?
Yes. Admitted Honors College students had a middle-50% SAT of 1410-1500 (ACT 32-35), a weighted GPA of 4.7-5.3 and ranked in the top 1%-4% of their class. It requires a separate application by November 15.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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