University of South Carolina-Columbia (UofSC) vs South University-Columbia

When it comes to higher education in Columbia, South Carolina, two prominent institutions stand out: the University of South Carolina-Columbia and South University-Columbia. While both offer a diverse range of academic programs and opportunities, they differ in several key aspects. The University of South Carolina-Columbia, a public research university, boasts a significantly higher acceptance rate compared to South University-Columbia, a private institution. In terms of student body demographics, the University of South Carolina-Columbia has a larger and more diverse student population, while South University-Columbia offers a more intimate learning environment with smaller class sizes. Additionally, the two universities vary in their popular majors, with the University of South Carolina-Columbia excelling in fields like business, engineering, and nursing, and South University-Columbia specializing in healthcare, criminal justice, and psychology. To help you make an informed decision about your educational journey, we have compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these differences and more. Explore the table to discover which institution
South University-Columbia logo

South University-Columbia

University of South Carolina-Columbia logo

University of South Carolina-Columbia

Overview

Location Columbia, South Carolina Columbia, South Carolina
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (For Profit) Public
Calendar system Quarter Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 25.0% 87.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate Open Admission 61.6%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $50
SAT range N/A 1150 - 1360
ACT range N/A 26 - 31
Students submitting SAT score 38.0%
Students submitting ACT score 26.0%
Total number of applicants 42,045
Total number of admissions given out 25,884
Admitted students who chose to enroll 6,174
Yield rate 23.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) Not required N/A
High school GPA N/A Required
Recommendation letters N/A Not required
High school transcript N/A Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) N/A Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $33,088
In state: $29,398

Out of state: $50,638
Average net price $19,249 $21,898
Tuition $16,920
In state: $12,288

Out of state: $33,528
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,010

Meal plan: $3,980
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Other alternative tuition plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

80.0%
Average amount $6,127
93.0%
Average amount $7,055
Students receiving federal student loan 60.0%
Average amount $4,278
48.0%
Average amount $5,340
Students taking out private loans 0.0%
Average amount $0
10.0%
Average amount $17,657

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 486
Men 14.2% Women 85.8%
26,864
Men 44.9% Women 55.1%
Graduate students 139
Men 26.6% Women 73.4%
8,607
Men 37.4% Women 62.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 0.5% 4.8%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity N/A 9,377
First year students are required to live on campus? N/A No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Psychology
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Communication and Journalism
Students to faculty ratio 12:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 13.3% 78.2%
Dropout rate 83.3% 5.3%
Transferred out N/A 16.0%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $90,641
  • Year 2: $98,736
  • Year 3: $102,466
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $90,832
  • Year 2: $91,613
  • Year 3: $98,023
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,499
  • Year 2: $66,883
  • Year 3: $71,557
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,002
  • Year 2: $42,799
  • Year 3: $48,444
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,831
  • Year 2: $44,418
  • Year 3: $46,834
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,095
  • Year 2: $43,489
  • Year 3: $45,357
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,629
  • Year 2: $45,207
  • Year 3: $44,849
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,016
  • Year 2: $41,007
  • Year 3: $43,418
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,748
  • Year 2: $39,986
  • Year 3: $42,014
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,224
  • Year 2: $36,598
  • Year 3: $39,039
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $102,315
  • Year 2: $132,531
  • Year 3: $124,225
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $103,612
  • Year 2: $114,145
  • Year 3: $117,580
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $104,414
  • Year 2: $95,102
  • Year 3: $107,403
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,505
  • Year 2: $91,986
  • Year 3: $97,806
International Business (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $82,202
  • Year 2: $90,049
  • Year 3: $93,323
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,370
  • Year 2: $70,680
  • Year 3: $79,846
Public Health (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $77,526
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,229
  • Year 2: $71,854
  • Year 3: $76,713
International Business (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,365
  • Year 2: $70,776
  • Year 3: $73,730
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,632
  • Year 2: $66,670
  • Year 3: $72,857