University of South Carolina

WHAT CAN YOU DO!

• Stay informed about funding decisions for higher education so that you can advocate effectively.
• Speak to your friends and those in your community about the importance of funding higher education.
• Contact your representative or senator about the need to fund higher education and how it is critical to South Carolina's future.

Nationally Recognized & ROI

While the percentage of funding cuts for higher education in South Carolina is the highest in the nation, the University of South Carolina remains resolute in its commitment to the people of the Palmetto State and its prosperity.

Our momentum and commitment to quality is reflected by national recognition of Carolina's achievements:

• Recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as the only university in South Carolina to receive highest research designation, and one of 62 public universities nationwide. Carolina's external research funding has increased 89 percent in the past six years, with a record $206 million in 2008.
• Named among the nation's leaders in providing programs that benefit and engage communities by the Carnegie Foundation.
• Ranked No. 19 among 155 national universities for the number of start-up companies created, tying with Johns Hopkins, Cornell, and Northwestern universities.
• Ranked No. 9 among the "Most Promising and Innovative" national universities, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2009 America's Best Colleges guide.
• Ranked among the "100 Best Values in Public Colleges" by Kiplinger's Personal Finance.
• Recognized by U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges for the University 101 freshman seminar as an "academic program to look for."

Our return on investment (ROI) to the state of South Carolina is further reflected by these achievements:

• 396 national scholarship and fellowship awards--including the Rhodes, Truman, Marshall, Madison, Fulbright, and Goldwater--won by Carolina students in the past 15 years
• A consistent No. 1 national ranking for the international business programs by U.S. News & World Report. The Financial Times of London ranked the graduate international business program No. 2 in the world.
• A 70-point increase in our entering class SAT score during the past six years