CostByCollegePublic, 4-year institution
How much does South Carolina cost
University of South Carolina-Columbia is in Columbia, SC. Total enrollment is 36,579 students, with 28,470 undergraduates.
The total cost for one year at University of South Carolina-Columbia is $31,977 for in state students, living on campus. For out of state students the total is $54,223. Tuition and fees alone come to $12,688 of that total.
The cost breakdown
The total below uses the on campus figures for room, board, and other expenses. Each total is the sum of the rows above it, with nothing added and nothing left out.
| Item | Cost for one year |
|---|---|
| Tuition, in state | $12,288 |
| Required fees, in state | $400 |
| Books and supplies | $1,226 |
| Room and board, on campus | $12,558 |
| Other expenses, on campus | $5,505 |
| Total cost for one year, in state | $31,977 |
Total cost for out of state students
Students from outside South Carolina pay a higher tuition rate at University of South Carolina-Columbia. Every other part of the cost is the same.
| Item | Cost for one year |
|---|---|
| Tuition, out of state | $34,534 |
| Required fees, out of state | $400 |
| Books and supplies | $1,226 |
| Room and board, on campus | $12,558 |
| Other expenses, on campus | $5,505 |
| Total cost for one year, out of state | $54,223 |
Average net price
The average net price at University of South Carolina-Columbia is $26,068 for one year. Net price is the total cost minus grant and scholarship aid, averaged across full time, first time students who received federal student aid and paid the in state or in district rate, for the 2022 to 2023 academic year. It is an average, not a quote. A particular student can pay far less or close to the full published total, depending on family income and the aid the school offers.
That average net price is $8,064 above the average of $18,004 across the pilot schools on this site that publish a net price.
Cost weighed against outcomes
Median earnings ten years after entry are $62,177 a year. That figure covers students who received federal aid, who were working and not enrolled in further study at the ten year mark.
Median debt at graduation is $21,500. That is the median federal loan debt of students who completed a program at this school.
Put together, one year of median earnings at the ten year mark is about 2.9 times the median debt at graduation. That framing is rough. Earnings grow over a career, debt is usually repaid over many years, and both figures are medians across large groups, not a result any one student is promised.
The graduation rate is 78%. It measures the share of a starting cohort that finished within one and a half times the normal program length.
How this school compares
Against its state: That is $1,681 below the South Carolina pilot school average of $33,658.
Against the country: That is $10,686 below the national pilot school average of $42,663.
State and national averages here are simple averages across the pilot schools that publish a total cost, 2 schools in South Carolina and 293 schools nationwide on this site. They describe the schools listed on this site, not every college in the state or the country.
Admissions at a glance
The acceptance rate at University of South Carolina-Columbia is 61.5% for fall 2023, from 46,682 applicants and 28,706 admitted students. Read the acceptance rate page for South Carolina for the full picture, including how the rate compares.
Similar schools to compare
- Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina. Total cost $35,338 for one year.
- Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia. Total cost $31,468 for one year.
- University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California. Total cost $40,306 for one year.
- University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont. Total cost $35,798 for one year.
- Texas A&M University-College Station, College Station, Texas. Total cost $33,507 for one year.
Frequently asked questions
How much does South Carolina cost per year?
The total cost for one year at University of South Carolina-Columbia is $31,977 for in state students, living on campus. It counts tuition, required fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses. For out of state students the total is $54,223.
What is the average net price at South Carolina?
The average net price at University of South Carolina-Columbia is $26,068 for one year, for the 2022 to 2023 academic year. Net price is the total cost minus grant and scholarship aid, averaged across the students described on this page.
What do graduates of South Carolina earn and owe?
Median earnings ten years after entry are $62,177 a year, and median debt at graduation is $21,500, in the College Scorecard data used here. Both are medians across large groups, not a promise for any one student.
What is the graduation rate at South Carolina?
The graduation rate at University of South Carolina-Columbia is 78%, measuring the share of a starting cohort that finished within one and a half times the normal program length.
What is the acceptance rate at South Carolina?
The acceptance rate at University of South Carolina-Columbia is 61.5% for fall 2023, from 46,682 applicants and 28,706 admitted students. The acceptance rate page on this site explains what that figure does and does not mean.
Is South Carolina public or private?
University of South Carolina-Columbia is a public, 4-year institution in Columbia, South Carolina. Total enrollment is 36,579 students.
Sources: the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Scorecard, United States Department of Education. Tuition and cost figures are for the 2023 to 2024 academic year. Admissions figures are for fall 2023. Average net price figures are for the 2022 to 2023 academic year. Earnings and debt figures come from the College Scorecard file dated June 10, 2026. See the methodology page for full detail.