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Summary
University of South Carolina is a public institution that was founded in 1801. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 21,383, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 438 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of South Carolina's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 111. Its in-state tuition and fees are $10,168 (2011-12); out-of-state tuition and fees are $26,352 (2011-12).
The University of South Carolina eases its students into the transition to college life, no matter what year they begin to attend. For freshmen, there is University 101, a first year program pioneered by the school to help students adjust. (They must also spend the first year living on campus.) For students transferring in from technical schools, the University of South Carolina offers the Bridge Program, an academic support system. The school sports teams, the Gamecocks, compete in the NCAA Divsion I Southeastern Conference. The University of South Carolina’s college town, Columbia, boasts a variety of entertainment, night life, and outdoor options for students to check out after class. Other college towns, including Charlotte, N.C., and Charleston, S.C., are both less than two hours away.
The University of South Carolina also offers graduate programs, including the well-regarded Darla Moore School of Business, a law school, medical school, engineering school, and college of education. The Columbia campus is the flagship location of the University of South Carolina system, and the school runs a variety of research centers, including Center for GIS and Remote Sensing, the Center for Colon Cancer Research, and the Center for Digital Humanities. The band Hootie and the Blowfish was started at the University of South Carolina when its members were students. Other notable alumni include U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham and Gary Parsons, founder of XM Satellite Radio.
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Top-rated International Business program. Nearly 80 majors. Study abroad, undergraduate research, service learning opportunities available. Nationally recognized Honors College. |
General Information
| School type | public, coed college |
| Year founded | 1801 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | urban |
| 2010 Endowment | $344,384,008 |
Applying
When applying to University of South Carolina, it's important to note the application deadline is December 1, and the early action deadline is October 15. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due February 1. The application fee at University of South Carolina is $50. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 69.9 percent and an early acceptance rate of 58.4 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | more selective |
| Fall 2010 acceptance rate | 70% |
| Application deadline | December 1 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | February 1 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at University of South Carolina is 19:1, and the school has 38.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of South Carolina include: Health and Physical Education/Fitness; Research and Experimental Psychology; Biology, General; Business Administration, Management and Operations; and Finance and Financial Management Services. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 86.8 percent.
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| Student-faculty ratio | 19:1 | ||||||||||
| 4-year graduation rate | 46% - Medium | ||||||||||
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Student Life
University of South Carolina has a total undergraduate enrollment of 21,383, with a gender distribution of 46.5 percent male students and 53.5 percent female students. 36.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 64.0 percent of students live off campus. University of South Carolina is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.
| Total enrollment | 29,597 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA I |
Campus Info & Services
University of South Carolina offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. University of South Carolina also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at University of South Carolina, 90 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at University of South Carolina.
| Students who have cars on campus | 90% - High |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At University of South Carolina, 47.7 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $5,027.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| In-state tuition and fees | $10,168 (2011-12) |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $26,352 (2011-12) |
| Room and board | $8,026 (2011-12) - Medium |
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* Overview details based on 2010 data
