South Carolina State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Orangeburg, South Carolina. It enrolls 2,934 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
51/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes9
Value24
Affordability79
Selectivity19
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 82.6%, South Carolina State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
82.6%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether South Carolina State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
15.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending South Carolina State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $18,097 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$18,097
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
70%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
67%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$11,060
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$21,750
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,000
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,000
Books & Supplies
$2,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$8,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$8,000
Total Cost of Attendance
$30,015
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$16,846
$30,001 – $48,000
$16,968
$48,001 – $75,000
$20,449
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,587
Over $110,000
$24,523
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,75010%percentile
$9,50025%percentile
$31,000Medianpercentile
$37,25075%percentile
$50,45090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $22,250
↓ $8,750
No Pell $12,500
↓ $18,500
Dependent students $21,000
↓ $10,000
Independent students $20,000
↓ $11,000
Female students $22,625
↓ $8,375
Male students $19,750
↓ $11,250
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,250, less than completers ($31,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
37% of full-time students who enrolled at South Carolina State University graduate within six years, and 57% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
37%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
57%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered South Carolina State University earn a median of $38,262 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$38,262
Earning > $25K
64%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$30,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$35,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$29,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$33,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$37,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $5,300, about 15% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
22.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 53% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
South Carolina State University is home to 2,934 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 36% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
2,934
Part-Time
8%
First-Generation
36%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 90.4%2,652
Other 4.6%136
White 1.2%35
Asian 0.2%6
Hispanic 0.1%3
International 0.1%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at South Carolina State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantOrangeburg, South Carolina
Housing
Mostly residential1,460 beds on campus
Adult Learners
5%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
What You Can Study
South Carolina State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
41 distinct programs across
20 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at South Carolina State University is 19:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
19:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$7,421
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$17M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$71,347
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
125 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
34
27%
$84,564
Associate Professors
30
24%
$75,903
Assistant Professors
36
29%
$68,499
Instructors
25
20%
$52,007
Pros & Cons of South Carolina State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how South Carolina State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Higher than typical student debt at graduation
Best for:
Based on the data, South Carolina State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about South Carolina State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about South Carolina State University.
Is South Carolina State University hard to get into?
South Carolina State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 82.6%.
What is the acceptance rate at South Carolina State University?
South Carolina State University has an acceptance rate of 82.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does South Carolina State University cost?
The average net price after aid at South Carolina State University is $18,097 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is South Carolina State University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,262 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $18,097 per year. That's roughly 2.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is South Carolina State University known for?
South Carolina State University is best known for its programs in Family & Consumer Sciences, Educational Administration, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do South Carolina State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering South Carolina State University are $38,262, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is South Carolina State University accredited?
Yes. South Carolina State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend South Carolina State University?
South Carolina State University enrolls 2,934 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at South Carolina State University?
South Carolina State University graduates 37% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is South Carolina State University a public or private college?
South Carolina State University is a Public institution.
Where is South Carolina State University located?
South Carolina State University is located in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
What programs does South Carolina State University offer?
South Carolina State University offers 41 distinct programs. The most popular include Family & Consumer Sciences, Educational Administration, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at South Carolina State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at South Carolina State University is 19:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in South Carolina
Other colleges in South Carolina share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Business Administration
Human Development
Educational Evaluation
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