C+
Above Average
Score: 56/100
Overall (traditional)
C
Outcome Rating
47/100 · earnings-weighted

University of South Carolina-Upstate

4-Year Public
📍 Spartanburg, South Carolina 29303
Outcomes
C+
62/100
Affordability
C+
60/100
Resources
C+
57/100
Experience
B
65/100
Prestige
D
35/100

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

4,946
Total Enrollment
42%
Graduation Rate
69%
Retention Rate
15.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
70%
Acceptance Rate
$13,794
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near University of South Carolina-Upstate ▼

6% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

Avg Home Value
$211,635
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,383
1-Year Change
+7.0%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at University of South Carolina-Upstate, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$48,587
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$43,339
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$22,310
Median debt at graduation
43%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,099
Average SAT
21
Median ACT
46.2%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 46% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 44th 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-Upstate

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.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$75,849$79,947-10%#715 of 966#466$18,000
Computer and Information Sciences$49,999$67,286-27%#399 of 459#352$27,500
Business Administration, Management and Operations$40,775$61,967-9%#722 of 1176#469$22,325
Information Science/Studies$48,664—————
Criminal Justice and Corrections$34,447$48,209-13%#542 of 660#417$23,655
Biology$31,742$48,139-16%#733 of 841#605$22,225
Political Science and Government$35,798$47,796-24%#541 of 565#476—
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$36,241$46,121-13%#366 of 476#294$24,450
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences$28,616$45,761-26%#62 of 64#60$23,000
Psychology$29,720$45,659-10%#772 of 1027#487$24,094
Communication and Media Studies$34,456$45,298-20%#555 of 660#472$25,200
Sociology—$43,745-17%#407 of 462#323$27,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$40,081$42,119-11%#599 of 680#509$24,812
Special Education and Teaching$40,322————$22,500
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$39,511————$26,000
English Language and Literature$30,150$36,785-24%#545 of 576#505$18,671
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services—$36,368-25%#165 of 172#162$31,000
Fine and Studio Arts$35,203$35,612-14%#344 of 423#272$21,042

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.

For parents & investors

The University of South Carolina-Upstate Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $211,635
  • Avg rent near campus: $1,383/mo — vs ~$668/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 29333 (8.0% cap, Spartanburg)

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🏆 Where University of South Carolina-Upstate Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#25
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other
of 67 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $11,208 $22,710
Room $6,014
Board $4,026
Total Cost (On-Campus) $26,860 $37,822

Financial Aid

98%
Receive Any Aid
57%
Receive Pell Grants
60%
Take Out Loans
$13,794
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$11,021
$30,001 - $48,000$12,164
$48,001 - $75,000$13,876
$75,001 - $110,000$17,711
$110,001+$20,030

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 216 grads/yr Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other 193 grads/yr Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration 83 grads/yr Psychology, General 67 grads/yr Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology 63 grads/yr Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 55 grads/yr Computer and Information Sciences, General 38 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 38 grads/yr Speech Communication and Rhetoric 33 grads/yr Biology/Biological Sciences, General 29 grads/yr Business/Managerial Economics 27 grads/yr Secondary Education and Teaching 26 grads/yr Accounting 24 grads/yr Marketing/Marketing Management, General 24 grads/yr Early Childhood Education and Teaching 24 grads/yr Information Technology 24 grads/yr Medical Informatics 23 grads/yr English Language and Literature, General 22 grads/yr Fine/Studio Arts, General 21 grads/yr Elementary Education and Teaching 21 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from University of South Carolina-Upstate's top programs commonly pursue.

Registered nurses
$94k/yr 3,391,000 jobs
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
$80k/yr 91,600 jobs
Managers, all other
$137k/yr 1,333,700 jobs
First-line supervisors of police and detectives
$106k/yr 160,800 jobs
Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
$71k/yr 16,200 jobs
Psychologists, all other
$118k/yr 55,300 jobs
Industrial-organizational psychologists
$110k/yr 5,600 jobs
Clinical and counseling psychologists
$96k/yr 76,300 jobs

Student Demographics

4,946
Total Students
67%
Women
73%
Traditional Age (18-24)
6%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 50%
Hispanic 8%
Black 29%
Asian 3%
Two or More 4%
Non-Resident 2%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 67%
Off-Campus (Renters) 6%
With Family 27%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~302 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 18%
Hybrid (Some Online) 58%
Fully Online 24%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 73%
25-64 (Adult) 17%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at University of South Carolina-Upstate?
University of South Carolina-Upstate has an acceptance rate of 70%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend University of South Carolina-Upstate?
Tuition at University of South Carolina-Upstate is $11,208 for in-state students and $22,710 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $13,794.
What is the graduation rate at University of South Carolina-Upstate?
The graduation rate at University of South Carolina-Upstate is 42%. This graduation rate is below average. Consider factors like program type and student demographics when evaluating.
Is University of South Carolina-Upstate a good school?
University of South Carolina-Upstate has a Repit College Score of 56/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (C+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (C+): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (B): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (D): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend University of South Carolina-Upstate?
University of South Carolina-Upstate has a total enrollment of 4,946 students. Most students (73%) are traditional college-age (18-24).
Is there rental demand near University of South Carolina-Upstate?
Yes! Approximately 6% of students at University of South Carolina-Upstate live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 302 students who need rental housing near campus.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for University of South Carolina-Upstate — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to University of South Carolina-Upstate

Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.

C+
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C+
Lander University
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Winthrop University
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Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology