University of South Carolina Aiken is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Aiken, South Carolina. It enrolls 2,962 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.
Good
66/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes17
Value83
Affordability77
Selectivity35
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 78.5%, University of South Carolina Aiken is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
78.5%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
980 – 1220
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
19 – 26
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of South Carolina Aiken is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
24.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of South Carolina Aiken 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 $11,641 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$11,641
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
39%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
43%
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)
$10,760
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$21,218
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,182
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,164
Books & Supplies
$1,250
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,006
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,212
Total Cost of Attendance
$21,540
Application fee: $45 (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
$8,987
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,435
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,440
$75,001 – $110,000
$16,046
Over $110,000
$17,502
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.
$3,50010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$24,275Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$37,25090%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 $15,000
↓ $9,275
No Pell $10,979
↓ $13,296
Dependent students $12,816
↓ $11,459
Independent students $13,933
↓ $10,342
Female students $13,425
↓ $10,850
Male students $12,000
↓ $12,275
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,500, less than completers ($24,275), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
41% of full-time students who enrolled at University of South Carolina Aiken graduate within six years, and 66% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
41%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
66%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of South Carolina Aiken earn a median of $45,603 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,603
Earning > $25K
75%
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
$37,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$48,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$38,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$41,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$42,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,900, about 23% 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 ↑
21.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 77% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of South Carolina Aiken is home to 2,962 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 33% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
2,962
Part-Time
13%
First-Generation
33%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 57.1%1,692
Black 22.5%665
Hispanic 9.7%288
Other 6.6%197
International 2.0%59
Asian 1.5%44
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of South Carolina Aiken. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbAiken, South Carolina
Housing
Partly residential986 beds available
Adult Learners
18%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
University of South Carolina Aiken offers
a varied set of programs:
26 distinct programs across
14 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 University of South Carolina Aiken is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$10,212
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$33M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$71,809
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
155 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
40
26%
$89,938
Associate Professors
48
31%
$71,431
Assistant Professors
32
21%
$67,797
Instructors
35
23%
$55,276
Pros & Cons of University of South Carolina Aiken
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of South Carolina Aiken 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
Reasonable class sizes
CONS
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, University of South Carolina Aiken is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of South Carolina Aiken
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of South Carolina Aiken.
Is University of South Carolina Aiken hard to get into?
University of South Carolina Aiken has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 78.5%.
What is the acceptance rate at University of South Carolina Aiken?
University of South Carolina Aiken has an acceptance rate of 78.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for University of South Carolina Aiken?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of South Carolina Aiken scored between 980 and 1220 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for University of South Carolina Aiken?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of South Carolina Aiken scored between 19 and 26 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does University of South Carolina Aiken cost?
The average net price after aid at University of South Carolina Aiken is $11,641 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of South Carolina Aiken worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,603 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $11,641 per year. That's roughly 3.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of South Carolina Aiken known for?
University of South Carolina Aiken is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Business Administration, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of South Carolina Aiken graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of South Carolina Aiken are $45,603, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of South Carolina Aiken accredited?
Yes. University of South Carolina Aiken is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend University of South Carolina Aiken?
University of South Carolina Aiken enrolls 2,962 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of South Carolina Aiken?
University of South Carolina Aiken graduates 41% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of South Carolina Aiken a public or private college?
University of South Carolina Aiken is a Public institution.
Where is University of South Carolina Aiken located?
University of South Carolina Aiken is located in Aiken, South Carolina.
What programs does University of South Carolina Aiken offer?
University of South Carolina Aiken offers 26 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Business Administration, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of South Carolina Aiken?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of South Carolina Aiken is 15:1, 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.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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