University of South Carolina acceptance rate and admissions profile
With an acceptance rate near 60%, University of South Carolina is a moderately selective public university in South Carolina. Because it admits more applicants than it rejects, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.
Use this page to see what University of South Carolina weighs, where it ranks among South Carolina schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1350, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.
Will I get into University of South Carolina?
Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into University of South Carolina, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.
What are my chances of getting into University of South Carolina?
University of South Carolina admits most qualified applicants (around 60%), but that overall rate is not your personal chance. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for University of South Carolina in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.
Is University of South Carolina hard to get into?
University of South Carolina is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 60% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.
What GPA do you need to get into University of South Carolina?
There is no hard GPA cutoff at University of South Carolina, but admitted students often present roughly a 3.2 to 3.7 GPA. University of South Carolina reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.
What SAT score do you need for University of South Carolina?
University of South Carolina does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1350. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at University of South Carolina.
What University of South Carolina looks for
What University of South Carolina weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.
In its review, University of South Carolina leans most on rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from University of South Carolina's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.
SAT score positioning at University of South Carolina
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.
How University of South Carolina compares in South Carolina
University of South Carolina ranks #9 most selective of 32 schools in South Carolina in our database.
Among the 32 South Carolina schools we track, University of South Carolina ranks #9 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Clemson University (38%) and Furman University (43%) sit nearby, which makes South Carolina a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.
Similar to University of South Carolina
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
Build around University of South Carolina with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as College of Charleston, University of Akron, and University of Massachusetts Amherst. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.
Frequently asked questions
What does University of South Carolina value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, University of South Carolina weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
Does University of South Carolina favor in-state applicants?
As a public university, University of South Carolina generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.
How can I improve my chances at University of South Carolina?
Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at University of South Carolina specifically.
How does residency affect admission to University of South Carolina?
As a public university, University of South Carolina typically admits in-state students at a higher rate, and tuition differs sharply by residency. Select your home state in the calculator to fold the in-state effect into your estimate.
What are the admission requirements for University of South Carolina?
University of South Carolina reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.
Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.