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Columbia, SC · Conway, SC
| University of South Carolina-Columbia | Coastal Carolina University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $22,811/yr | $13,966/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $12,634/yr | $9,563/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $21,500 | $23,750 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $14,953/yr | $10,292/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $19,859/yr | $12,938/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $24,478/yr | $16,350/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $28,125/yr | $20,219/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $228/mo | $252/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $13,534/yr | $12,146/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $13,594/yr | $10,238/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,438/yr | $1,250/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $4,530/yr | $4,264/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $31,638/yr | $26,692/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $12,688/yr | $11,640/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $35,972/yr | $29,628/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 19% | 26% |
| Students taking federal loans | 41% | 57% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 60% | 75% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1180–1360 | 1050–1220 |
| SAT average | 1297 | 1143 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 26–32 | 21–26 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 25–34 · Math 24–30 | English 20–25 · Math 18–25 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 46,682 | 18,223 |
| Students accepted | 28,706 | 14,613 |
| Students who enrolled | 7,319 | 2,775 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 26% | 19% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 32% | 26% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 17% | 9% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Essay | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 79% | 48% |
| Freshmen who come back | 92% | 77% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $62,177/yr | $47,258/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $41,018–$93,729 | $30,885–$67,776 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 76% | 51% |
| White students graduating | 80% | 53% |
| Black students graduating | 72% | 34% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 74% | 49% |
| Asian students graduating | 86% | 43% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $50,621/yr | $38,070/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 78% | 71% |
| Graduate on time | 70% | 37% |
| Pell students who graduate | 69% | 40% |
| First-gen students who finish | 67% | 46% |
| Low-income students who finish | 65% | 45% |
| Students who transfer out | 15% | 32% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $57,722/yr | $44,747/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 26% · Health Professions 12% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 11% | Business, Management & Marketing 27% · Parks, Recreation & Fitness 13% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 11% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 26% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 27% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Health Professions — 12% of degrees | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 13% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 11% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 11% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Communication & Journalism — 7% of degrees | Psychology — 8% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Psychology — 6% of degrees | Communication & Journalism — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $118,109/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $84,021/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 23% | 16% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 29,820 | 10,377 |
| Students per professor | 19 : 1 | 17 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 8,345 | 537 |
| Average professor pay | $12,414/mo | $9,103/mo |
| Full-time professors | 75% | 100% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $74,190 | $55,786 |
| Setting | City (midsize) | City (small) |
| Location | Columbia, SC | Conway, SC |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1801 | 1954 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 1.2% | 0.9% |
| Men | 41% | 44% |
| Women | 59% | 56% |
| White students | 72% | 74% |
| Black students | 9.7% | 12% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 6.8% | 7% |
| Asian students | 4.3% | 1% |
| Two or more races | 4.4% | 4.2% |
| Other / not reported | 1.2% | 1.4% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 20% | 27% |
| Part-time students | 2.7% | 3.5% |
| Students age 25+ | 2.8% | 3.5% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $14,139/yr | $8,741/yr |
| Endowment | $776.5M | $57.6M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 9,956 | 5,199 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $7,750/yr | $7,340/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $4,808/yr | $5,200/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | No data reported | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Navy, Air Force | Yes — Army |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | Yes |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | No | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I-FBS | NCAA Division I-FBS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 18 | 16 |
| Student athletes | 571 | 467 |
| Athletic scholarships | $13.8M | $10.7M |
| Athletics budget | $203.3M | $47.0M |
| Athletics revenue | $204.6M | $47.0M |
| Recruiting spend | $3.4M | $1.0M |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.