Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at University of South Carolina-Columbia, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 35% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 84th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (SC wage index 0.81). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at University of South Carolina-Columbia
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $73,982 | $109,116 | +0% | #83 of 189 | #35 | $25,675 |
| International Business | $70,992 | $107,205 | +46% | #5 of 115 | #2 | $25,174 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $77,161 | $100,042 | -1% | #105 of 258 | #36 | $27,000 |
| Chemical Engineering | $75,680 | $98,244 | +0% | #64 of 158 | #35 | $26,241 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $68,804 | $98,020 | +14% | #29 of 126 | #15 | $22,497 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $57,311 | $97,927 | +5% | #42 of 118 | #8 | $23,000 |
| Insurance | $63,417 | $96,539 | +9% | #6 of 21 | #2 | $25,173 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $62,692 | $94,547 | +21% | #14 of 84 | #10 | $23,250 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $62,231 | $92,578 | +11% | #95 of 452 | #39 | $23,250 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $72,370 | $91,296 | -1% | #150 of 318 | #58 | $22,750 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $59,283 | $86,507 | +14% | #156 of 796 | #77 | $25,283 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $68,597 | $84,720 | -8% | #236 of 459 | #183 | $23,250 |
| Real Estate | $51,965 | $84,558 | +-0% | #12 of 25 | #9 | $21,500 |
| Civil Engineering | $69,424 | $84,148 | -3% | #132 of 233 | #36 | $26,000 |
| Marketing | $52,374 | $81,945 | +18% | #63 of 516 | #23 | $23,250 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $73,872 | $80,768 | -9% | #694 of 966 | #429 | $23,375 |
| Economics | $48,149 | $77,536 | -6% | #197 of 368 | #112 | $21,434 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $47,993 | $70,527 | +3% | #361 of 1176 | #166 | $22,497 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $38,432 | $70,284 | +17% | #16 of 138 | #9 | $23,250 |
| Statistics | $69,543 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $40,702 | $67,705 | +24% | #40 of 610 | #17 | $21,500 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $23,763 | $67,202 | +3% | #50 of 110 | #17 | $23,250 |
| Political Science and Government | $33,157 | $65,464 | +3% | #197 of 565 | #80 | $21,500 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $42,974 | $65,248 | +3% | #70 of 178 | #38 | $22,990 |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations | $45,052 | $64,631 | -14% | #23 of 27 | #18 | $23,250 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $27,374 | $63,534 | +2% | #24 of 64 | #12 | $23,250 |
| Mathematics | $49,949 | $62,278 | -10% | #236 of 309 | #165 | $22,100 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $33,941 | $62,214 | +23% | #26 of 158 | #9 | $21,500 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $44,919 | $61,423 | -13% | #166 of 253 | #152 | $26,836 |
| Geography and Cartography | $46,929 | $59,472 | +3% | #50 of 117 | #26 | $21,500 |
| Public Health | $31,756 | $58,715 | +-0% | #99 of 215 | #58 | $21,500 |
| Biology | $28,035 | $58,669 | +3% | #385 of 841 | #193 | $21,500 |
| Chemistry | $39,018 | $58,462 | -10% | #167 of 209 | #129 | $23,263 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $36,690 | $56,688 | +-0% | #60 of 137 | #26 | $21,500 |
| Dance | $33,291 | $55,274 | +38% | #4 of 58 | #2 | — |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $25,271 | $55,093 | +13% | #13 of 62 | #2 | $18,965 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $33,612 | $54,781 | -18% | #98 of 118 | #78 | $18,875 |
| Journalism | $38,762 | $53,294 | -5% | #112 of 187 | #53 | $21,750 |
| Sociology | $30,517 | $53,293 | +1% | #209 of 462 | #70 | $25,250 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $35,586 | $53,247 | -6% | #354 of 660 | #188 | $22,500 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $29,350 | $51,090 | -8% | #58 of 82 | #36 | $21,500 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $35,781 | $50,847 | -8% | #471 of 660 | #314 | $20,500 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $35,081 | $50,447 | -8% | #186 of 265 | #100 | $24,000 |
| Social Work | $28,032 | $49,401 | -5% | #300 of 420 | #156 | $21,467 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $33,245 | $48,990 | -8% | #320 of 476 | #209 | $19,500 |
| Psychology | — | $47,234 | -7% | #690 of 1027 | #372 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $40,596 | $45,804 | -11% | #295 of 345 | #227 | $21,910 |
| History | $27,652 | $45,595 | -10% | #365 of 459 | #238 | $20,500 |
| English Language and Literature | $25,729 | $45,185 | -7% | #406 of 576 | #247 | $24,250 |
| Music | $38,657 | $45,181 | +5% | #112 of 268 | #64 | $27,000 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The University of South Carolina-Columbia Town Property Report
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 29203 (7.9% cap, Columbia)
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🏆 Where University of South Carolina-Columbia Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $12,288 | $34,543 |
| Room | $7,750 | |
| Board | $4,808 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $31,977 | $54,223 |
Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $14,421 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,602 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,744 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $26,936 |
| $110,001+ | $29,493 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from University of South Carolina-Columbia's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at University of South Carolina-Columbia?
How much does it cost to attend University of South Carolina-Columbia?
What is the graduation rate at University of South Carolina-Columbia?
Is University of South Carolina-Columbia a good school?
- Outcomes (A): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (D): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (B+): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (B): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend University of South Carolina-Columbia?
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🎓 Similar Colleges to University of South Carolina-Columbia
Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology