A Catalyst for South Carolina Communities
The USC system enhances local communities by serving as hubs of innovation and knowledge dissemination, fostering economic growth through research and development initiatives and providing educational opportunities that enhance workforce skills and employability. Additionally, USC:
- collaborates with local businesses and organizations, spurring entrepreneurship and driving technological advancements that benefit the broader community.
- offers cultural and social outreach that contribute to the vibrancy and diversity of the local area, creating a dynamic and interconnected ecosystem for residents to thrive.
Investing in Education & Prosperous Futures
The partnership between USC, and the governor and legislature not only facilitates the education of more residents but also cultivates the skilled, competitive workforce, essential to ensuring a more prosperous future. Our shared accomplishments include:
- a six-year tuition freeze for in-state students in Columbia and seven years at USC's system campuses
- doubled in-state students receiving state need-based grants over the last several years – up from 2,000 students to more than 4,100 – and increased the average grant – from $2,000 to $3,500
- enrolled the largest freshman class of South Carolinians in Fall 2024, with more than 20% of freshman being the first in their families to attend college
- created a unique system-wide student internship program matching USC students with SC based companies in high demand fields, including manufacturing, aerospace, engineering and others, giving students a leg up in securing a great job in South Carolina upon graduation
- development of new, state-of-the-art health sciences campus in Columbia, which is expected to have a transformational impact on health science research and health care delivery in the state of South Carolina