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The Princeton Review and Kiplinger's Personal Finance both tout the value of investing in one of our degrees, citing our top-flight academics and affordable rates. How much you pay depends on a number of factors and can be estimated using our cost calculator.
Investing in a college education can be expensive, but it's well worth it. Researchers at the Darla Moore School of Business found that South Carolina residents with a bachelor’s degree earn an average of $15,000 a year more than residents with a high school diploma.
Still, you want to make sure you are getting your money’s worth. We have been recognized by The Princeton Review and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance as one of the best values in public education.
The costs of attending college start with tuition and fees and include housing, meals, books and other supplies.
This chart is a rough estimate of what students are paying to attend the University of South Carolina this academic year. Individual costs will vary based on things like your choice of residence hall or type of coursework, but you can get a better estimate of your costs using our cost calculator.
More than 96 percent of our students receive some form of financial aid, so these costs are by no means the out-of-pocket expense students can expect to pay. It is simply meant to be a guide.
| Estimated Expenses | S.C. Residents | Nonresidents |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition and Technology Fee* | $12,688 | $33,928 |
| Housing | $8,374 | $8,374 |
| Meals | $4,061 | $4,061 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,250 | $1,250 |
| TOTAL | $26,373 | $47,613 |
The Bursar's Office handles fee payments and other financial transactions at the university and maintains a complete listing of our tuition, fees and other charges.
The only application you will need to fill out to apply for financial aid is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This will help you determine your scholarship, grant, loan or student employment options.
Scholarships are awards that go directly to paying for your education and that do not have to be repaid. These include general university scholarships awarded to incoming freshman by our Office of Undergraduate Admissions and departmental scholarships awarded by a variety of university departments. There also are scholarships specifically for South Carolina residents and scholarships that students receive from other entities.
Like scholarships, these funds do not have to be repaid, but often are based on financial need or some other criteria. Your eligibility will be determined by your federal student aid application.
Many of our students find they are able to help pay for their education with a part-time job while they are in school. You may qualify for the Federal Work-Study program, which is part of your federal student aid application.
To help you graduate with as little debt as possible, we recommend you exhaust your scholarship, grant and employment opportunities before taking out a student loan. We will notify you of your eligibility for Federal Direct Loans, but we recommend you research all of your options before borrowing.