South University-Columbia Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
South University-Columbia is a private for-profit university in Columbia, South Carolina, enrolling about 450 students. South University-Columbia awards degrees and certificates tracked in federal College Scorecard and IPEDS reporting. Published tuition for full-time study is about $18,145 per year before aid; net price varies by family income. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $34,421 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $18,145
- 2024 Average Net Price: $27,693 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 450 74.2% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 23.33%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities
- First-Generation Students: 47.2%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 7.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 5.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 34.2%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 746
- Room & Board: $9,439 annual estimate
South University-Columbia: what the data shows
Common questions about South University-Columbia, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is South University-Columbia?
South University-Columbia is located in Columbia, SC (ZIP 29203).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is South University-Columbia public or private?
South University-Columbia is a Private For-profit institution.
How much does South University-Columbia cost?
Published tuition: $18,145.
Average net price after aid: $27,693.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $26,588 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $30,474 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $32,022 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $29,386 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $72,580.
How big is South University-Columbia?
Total enrollment: 450 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 746 students.
Graduate enrollment: 54 students.
About 74% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at South University-Columbia?
150%-time completion rate: 23.33%.
First-year retention: 57.1%.
What do graduates of South University-Columbia earn?
Median earnings: $34,115 six years after entry; $34,421 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $26,123.
57.98% of students receive Pell grants.
What is South University-Columbia known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (46 completions)
- Mental Health Counseling/Counselor (18 completions)
- Health/Health Care Administration/Management (13 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (10 completions)
- Occupational Therapist Assistant (8 completions)
- Physical Therapy Assistant (7 completions)
- Public Health, General (5 completions)
- Psychology, General (4 completions)
- Organizational Leadership (4 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Police Science (3 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is South University-Columbia a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 23.33%; median earnings $34,421 at 10 years; net price $27,693. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$18,145
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at South University-Columbia was $18,145.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$27,693
2024 Value
In 2024 South University-Columbia had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $27,693.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$110,772 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$27,693 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$72,580 4-Year Tuition
$9,439 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$540 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$28,124 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$112,496 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for South University-Columbia.
Financial Aid by Income Level
57.98% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
64.72% 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 University-Columbia 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 University-Columbia 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 | $16,360 | $16,360 | $24,050 |
| 2014 | $16,360 | $16,360 | $23,590 |
| 2015 | $16,761 | $16,761 | $21,971 |
| 2016 | $17,306 | $17,306 | $20,157 |
| 2017 | $17,014 | $17,014 | $19,577 |
| 2018 | $17,014 | $17,014 | $22,629 |
| 2019 | $17,014 | $17,014 | $23,187 |
| 2020 | $17,014 | $17,014 | $20,761 |
| 2021 | $17,014 | $17,014 | $19,249 |
| 2022 | $17,014 | $17,014 | $24,139 |
| 2023 | $18,238 | $18,238 | $22,886 |
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
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
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 University-Columbia reported total enrollment of about 450 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 21% male and 79% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Black or African American (66.9%), White (12.9%), and Race/ethnicity unknown (10.9%). About 57.98% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 47.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
74.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at South University-Columbia in 2024 is 450 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 746 students. Graduate enrollment is about 54 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
57.1%
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 66.9%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
15.79% 100% Completion Time
23.33% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 15.79% of students graduating from South University-Columbia completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 4% male / 96% female
- Mental Health Counseling/Counselor: 22% male / 78% female
- Health/Health Care Administration/Management: 31% male / 69% 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 University-Columbia.
Return on Investment
$26,123 Median Student Debt
$34,421 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
75.89% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
210.74% Return on Investment
7.6 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for South University-Columbia.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 15 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 46 completions
2. Mental Health Counseling/Counselor: 18 completions
3. Health/Health Care Administration/Management: 13 completions
4. Business Administration and Management, General: 10 completions
5. Occupational Therapist Assistant: 8 completions
6. Physical Therapy Assistant: 7 completions
7. Public Health, General: 5 completions
8. Psychology, General: 4 completions
9. Organizational Leadership: 4 completions
Most popular programs at South University-Columbia.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for South University-Columbia graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for South University-Columbia from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 34.2%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $7,075
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $7,410
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 University-Columbia is a private for-profit institution located in Columbia, SC, classified as Doctoral/Professional Universities. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Mental Health Counseling/Counselor, Health/Health Care Administration/Management. Enrollment is approximately 450 students. Student body composition includes Black or African American (66.9%), White (12.9%), Race/ethnicity unknown (10.9%). The 150%-time completion rate is 23.33%. Approximately 57.98% of students receive Pell Grants. About 47.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private For-profit
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities
Location
Columbia, SC 29203
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 23.33% graduation rate at South University-Columbia 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 University-Columbia located?
South University-Columbia is located in Columbia, SC.
How much does South University-Columbia cost?
Reported tuition is $18,145 and average net price is $27,693 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $9,439 annually.
What is the student body demographics at South University-Columbia?
South University-Columbia reports undergraduate enrollment of about 746 students, Black or African American (66.9%), White (12.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend South University-Columbia?
About 47.2% of students at South University-Columbia are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of South University-Columbia earn?
Median earnings are $34,115 six years after entry and $34,421 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at South University-Columbia?
The 150%-time completion rate is 23.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do South University-Columbia students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $26,123.
Is South University-Columbia public or private?
South University-Columbia is a private for-profit institution located in Columbia, SC.
Is South University-Columbia an HBCU?
No. South University-Columbia is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is South University-Columbia a tribal college?
No. South University-Columbia is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is South University-Columbia a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, South University-Columbia does not meet that proxy (reported share 2.2%).
Is South University-Columbia religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for South University-Columbia in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
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
- Columbia, 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.