South Carolina State Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
South Carolina State University is a public research university in Orangeburg, South Carolina, serving roughly 2,934 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 82.62% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $38,262 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $11,060
- 2024 Average Net Price: $18,097 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 82.62% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 2,934 91.6% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 36.63%
- Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus
- First-Generation Students: 35.9%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 4.1% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 100.0%
- Average ACT Score: 17
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,239
- Applicants (IPEDS): 9,830
- Room & Board: $9,000 annual estimate
South Carolina State University: what the data shows
Common questions about South Carolina State University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is South Carolina State University?
South Carolina State University is located in Orangeburg, SC (ZIP 29117-0001).
NCES locale classification: Town distant.
Is South Carolina State University public or private?
South Carolina State University is a Public institution.
How much does South Carolina State University cost?
Published tuition: $11,060 in-state, $21,750 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $18,097.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $16,846 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $16,968 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $20,449 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $22,587 |
| $110,001+ | $24,523 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $44,240.
How hard is it to get into South Carolina State University?
Admission rate: 82.62%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: midpoint ACT 17.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is South Carolina State University?
Total enrollment: 2,934 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 3,239 students.
Graduate enrollment: 292 students.
About 92% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at South Carolina State University?
150%-time completion rate: 36.63%.
First-year retention: 56.5%.
What do graduates of South Carolina State University earn?
Median earnings: $30,064 six years after entry; $38,262 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $31,000.
70.49% of students receive Pell grants.
What is South Carolina State University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist (38 completions)
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General (32 completions)
- Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General (30 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (25 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (23 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration (18 completions)
- Psychology, General (17 completions)
- Computer and Information Sciences, General (15 completions)
- Physical Education Teaching and Coaching (12 completions)
- Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician (11 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is South Carolina State University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 82.62%; completion rate 36.63%; median earnings $38,262 at 10 years; net price $18,097. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$11,060
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at South Carolina State University was $11,060.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$18,097
2024 Value
In 2024 South Carolina State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $18,097.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$72,388 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$18,097 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$44,240 4-Year In-State Tuition
$87,000 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$9,000 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$2,000 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$22,060 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$88,240 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for South Carolina State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
70.49% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
67.20% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at South Carolina State University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for South Carolina State University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $9,776 | $18,910 | $17,724 |
| 2014 | $10,007 | $19,856 | $18,891 |
| 2015 | $10,088 | $19,856 | $19,136 |
| 2016 | $10,420 | $20,500 | $21,356 |
| 2017 | $10,740 | $21,120 | $21,795 |
| 2018 | $11,060 | $21,750 | $21,467 |
| 2019 | $11,060 | $21,750 | $20,795 |
| 2020 | $11,060 | $21,750 | $20,041 |
| 2021 | $11,060 | $21,750 | $21,075 |
| 2022 | $11,060 | $21,750 | $17,552 |
| 2023 | $11,060 | $21,750 | $18,268 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
82.62% Acceptance Rate
9,830 Total Applicants
8,034 Students Admitted
1,079 First-Time Students Enrolled
13.43% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
ACT Average: 17
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
South Carolina State University reported total enrollment of about 2,934 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 45% male and 55% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Black or African American (90.4%), Two or More Races (4.3%), and Race/ethnicity unknown (3.4%). About 70.49% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 35.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
91.6% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at South Carolina State University in 2024 is 2,934 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 3,239 students. Graduate enrollment is about 292 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
56.5%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Black or African American at 90.4%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
21.05% 100% Completion Time
36.63% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 21.05% of students graduating from South Carolina State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist: 8% male / 92% female
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General: 31% male / 69% female
- Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General: 20% male / 80% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: Black or African American.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for South Carolina State University.
Return on Investment
$31,000 Median Student Debt
$38,262 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
81.02% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
428.57% Return on Investment
8.1 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for South Carolina State University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 43 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist: 38 completions
2. Educational Leadership and Administration, General: 32 completions
3. Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General: 30 completions
4. Business Administration and Management, General: 25 completions
5. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 23 completions
6. Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration: 18 completions
7. Psychology, General: 17 completions
8. Computer and Information Sciences, General: 15 completions
9. Physical Education Teaching and Coaching: 12 completions
Most popular programs at South Carolina State University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for South Carolina State University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for South Carolina State University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $8,174
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,130
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
South Carolina State University is a public institution located in Orangeburg, SC, classified as Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist, Educational Leadership and Administration, General, Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General. Enrollment is approximately 2,934 students. Student body composition includes Black or African American (90.4%), Two or More Races (4.3%), Race/ethnicity unknown (3.4%). The admission rate is 82.62%. Average ACT scores for admitted students are 17. The 150%-time completion rate is 36.63%. Approximately 70.49% of students receive Pell Grants. About 35.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus
Location
Orangeburg, SC 29117-0001
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 36.63% graduation rate at South Carolina State University falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is South Carolina State University located?
South Carolina State University is located in Orangeburg, SC.
What is South Carolina State University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at South Carolina State University is 82.6% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 9,830 applicants and 8,034 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does South Carolina State University cost?
Reported tuition is $11,060 and average net price is $18,097 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $9,000 annually.
What is the student body demographics at South Carolina State University?
South Carolina State University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 3,239 students, Black or African American (90.4%), Two or More Races (4.3%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend South Carolina State University?
About 35.9% of students at South Carolina State University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for South Carolina State University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, South Carolina State University reports midpoint ACT about 17.
What do graduates of South Carolina State University earn?
Median earnings are $30,064 six years after entry and $38,262 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at South Carolina State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 36.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do South Carolina State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $31,000.
Is South Carolina State University public or private?
South Carolina State University is a public institution located in Orangeburg, SC.
Is South Carolina State University an HBCU?
Yes. South Carolina State University is flagged as a historically Black college or university (HBCU) in IPEDS.
Is South Carolina State University a tribal college?
No. South Carolina State University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- South Carolina college costs
- South Carolina colleges by ROI
- Orangeburg, South Carolina city profile
- Southeast regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in South Carolina
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.