Columbia, SC · 29.8k students
Trajecta score
+1.8 since '20Ranked #187 of 2,375
5-year trend
58.3 · #215
2020
59.7 · #247
2021
59.8 · #244
2022
59.0 · #285
2023
60.1 · #249
2024
Academic Profile
52/ 100
Career Outcomes
68/ 100
Student Success
70/ 100
Affordability
59/ 100
Academic Investment
81/ 100
Access & Equity
24/ 100
Academic Profile
52
Career Outcomes
68
Student Success
70
Affordability
59
Academic Investment
81
Access & Equity
24
AI Fit Analysis
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Cost / Net Price
$32k / $23k
SAT Avg
1,297
Retention
92%
Grad Rate
78%
Admissions
Test Scores
Scores represent the midpoint of enrolled students, not a cutoff.
Finances
Tuition
In-State Tuition
$12,688
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$35,972
per year
Out-of-state premium: +$23,284/yr
Aid & Debt
Pell Grant Share
19%
undergraduates receiving Pell
Federal Loan Share
41%
students borrowing
Median Debt
among completers
$21,500
Admissions Factors
Self-reported by the school in its Common Data Set (section C7) — the school's own statement of which application factors matter in its admissions decisions.
3.69
average high school GPA of enrolled freshmen · 98% reporting
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025, what University of South Carolina-Columbia reports weighing in admissions.
| Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigor of secondary school record | Rigor of secondary school record: Important | |||
| Class rank | Class rank: Important | |||
| Academic GPA | Academic GPA: Very Important | |||
| Standardized test scores | Standardized test scores: Important | |||
| Application essay | Application essay: Considered | |||
| Recommendation(s) | Recommendation(s): Considered | |||
| Interview | Interview: Not Considered | |||
| Extracurricular activities | Extracurricular activities: Considered | |||
| Talent/ability | Talent/ability: Considered | |||
| Character/personal qualities | Character/personal qualities: Not Considered | |||
| First generation | First generation: Not Considered | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | Alumni/ae relation: Not Considered | |||
| Geographical residence | Geographical residence: Not Considered | |||
| State residency | State residency: Considered | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Religious affiliation/commitment: Not Considered | |||
| Volunteer work | Volunteer work: Considered | |||
| Work experience | Work experience: Considered | |||
| Level of applicant's interest | Level of applicant's interest: Not Considered |
Supplemental Essays · 2026-27
school's admissions site ↗University of South Carolina-Columbia publishes its supplemental prompts only inside the application portal.
Drafting these? Write them with AI feedback in Trajecta →
Methodology
The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.
Read the full methodologyMedian earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.
Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.
Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.
Graduation rate and first-year retention.
Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.
Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.
Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.
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