University of South Carolina-Upstate is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It enrolls 4,038 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
68/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes24
Value77
Affordability80
Selectivity46
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 67.3%, University of South Carolina-Upstate is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
67.3%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1005 – 1175
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
21 – 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-Upstate is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
11.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of South Carolina-Upstate 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 $13,557 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$13,557
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
46%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
49%
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)
$11,588
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$23,090
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,533
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,124
Books & Supplies
$1,600
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,600
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,595
Total Cost of Attendance
$25,124
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
$11,618
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,537
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,394
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,356
Over $110,000
$19,325
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.
$4,11210%percentile
$7,00025%percentile
$22,310Medianpercentile
$25,18875%percentile
$34,50090%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 $16,750
↓ $5,560
No Pell $12,470
↓ $9,840
Dependent students $14,903
↓ $7,407
Independent students $16,750
↓ $5,560
Female students $15,000
↓ $7,310
Male students $15,000
↓ $7,310
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($22,310), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
50% of full-time students who enrolled at University of South Carolina-Upstate graduate within six years, and 70% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
50%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
70%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of South Carolina-Upstate earn a median of $48,587 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$48,587
Earning > $25K
78%
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
$38,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$46,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$38,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$40,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$46,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,600, about 16% 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 ↑
14.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 74% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of South Carolina-Upstate is home to 4,038 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 35% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
4,038
Part-Time
13%
First-Generation
35%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 46.9%1,895
Black 33.7%1,361
Hispanic 8.7%351
Other 5.9%238
Asian 2.9%116
International 1.5%60
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of South Carolina-Upstate. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize SuburbSpartanburg, South Carolina
Housing
Partly residential904 beds available
Adult Learners
17%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
University of South Carolina-Upstate offers
a varied set of programs:
39 distinct programs across
19 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-Upstate is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,121
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$13M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$73,297
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
207 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
43
21%
$86,572
Associate Professors
60
29%
$79,137
Assistant Professors
43
21%
$69,822
Instructors
61
29%
$60,643
Pros & Cons of University of South Carolina-Upstate
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of South Carolina-Upstate tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Reasonable class sizes
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Frequently Asked Questions about University of South Carolina-Upstate
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of South Carolina-Upstate.
Is University of South Carolina-Upstate hard to get into?
Admissions at University of South Carolina-Upstate are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 67.3%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at University of South Carolina-Upstate?
University of South Carolina-Upstate has an acceptance rate of 67.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for University of South Carolina-Upstate?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of South Carolina-Upstate scored between 1005 and 1175 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-Upstate?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of South Carolina-Upstate scored between 21 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-Upstate cost?
The average net price after aid at University of South Carolina-Upstate is $13,557 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-Upstate worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $48,587 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,557 per year. That's roughly 3.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of South Carolina-Upstate known for?
University of South Carolina-Upstate is best known for its programs in Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12), Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of South Carolina-Upstate graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of South Carolina-Upstate are $48,587, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of South Carolina-Upstate accredited?
Yes. University of South Carolina-Upstate is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend University of South Carolina-Upstate?
University of South Carolina-Upstate enrolls 4,038 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of South Carolina-Upstate?
University of South Carolina-Upstate graduates 50% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of South Carolina-Upstate a public or private college?
University of South Carolina-Upstate is a Public institution.
Where is University of South Carolina-Upstate located?
University of South Carolina-Upstate is located in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
What programs does University of South Carolina-Upstate offer?
University of South Carolina-Upstate offers 39 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12), Teacher Education (K-12).
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of South Carolina-Upstate?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of South Carolina-Upstate is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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