University of South Carolina Aiken

Public · Moderately Selective · SC

Photo: BobbyStewartFan (CC BY-SA 4.0)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationSC · South

SettingSuburban

Undergrads2,962

Student:faculty16:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate23.2%

6-yr grad rate39.9%

Drop-out rate33.2%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$11k

Out-of-state tuition$21k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity42.9%

Gender diversity60.9%

International2%

Identity—

Overview

The University of South Carolina Aiken is a regional campus of the University of South Carolina system, located in Aiken, in the state's western horse country near the Georgia border and Augusta. It offers a smaller, more personal alternative to the flagship Columbia campus while carrying the same university system name.

Academics

Nursing, education, and business are the established strengths, taught in small classes. The university also maintains STEM ties to the regional workforce tied to the Savannah River Site, a major federal nuclear research and cleanup facility nearby, which shapes some of its science and engineering-adjacent offerings.

Campus & student life

Aiken's horse-country setting gives the area a distinct character among South Carolina college towns, and the campus's smaller scale keeps the day-to-day experience quieter than at a large public flagship.

Worth knowing

The Savannah River Site connection is a genuine regional employment pipeline for STEM graduates, worth knowing about for students interested in nuclear, environmental, or federal-lab-adjacent careers.

usca.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate78.5%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 980–1220 · ACT 19–26

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying