University of South Carolina-Lancaster is a public community college in Lancaster, South Carolina, enrolling about 668 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $9,801 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $7,558. Student demographics in federal data include White (61.5%) and Black or African American (15.4%) among the largest enrollment groups.

Key Facts

  • 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $7,558
  • 2024 Average Net Price: $9,801 After Financial Aid
  • 2024 Acceptance Rate: 83.44% Moderate Selectivity
  • 2024 Enrolled Students: 668 86.8% Full-Time
  • 2024 Graduation Rate: 24.65%
  • Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional
  • Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 0.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Full-Time Faculty: 72.5%
  • Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,792
  • Applicants (IPEDS): 646
  • Room & Board: $6,708 annual estimate

University of South Carolina-Lancaster: what the data shows

Common questions about University of South Carolina-Lancaster, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.

Where is University of South Carolina-Lancaster?

University of South Carolina-Lancaster is located in Lancaster, SC (ZIP 29720-0889).

NCES locale classification: Town distant.

Is University of South Carolina-Lancaster public or private?

University of South Carolina-Lancaster is a Public institution.

How much does University of South Carolina-Lancaster cost?

Published tuition: $7,558 in-state, $18,238 out-of-state.

Average net price after aid: $9,801.

Family income bandAvg. net price
Family income $0–$30,000$6,306
$30,001–$48,000$6,462
$48,001–$75,000$9,072
$75,001–$110,000$12,310
$110,001+$13,884

Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $30,232.

How hard is it to get into University of South Carolina-Lancaster?

Admission rate: 83.44%.

Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.

How big is University of South Carolina-Lancaster?

Total enrollment: 668 students.

Undergraduate enrollment: 3,792 students.

About 87% enroll full-time in our extract.

What is the graduation rate at University of South Carolina-Lancaster?

150%-time completion rate: 24.65%.

First-year retention: 43.3%.

What do graduates of University of South Carolina-Lancaster earn?

Median earnings: $35,206 six years after entry; $39,426 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).

How much debt do students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers: $9,616.

9.97% of students receive Pell grants.

What is University of South Carolina-Lancaster known for?

Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:

See ROI & Programs for more.

Is University of South Carolina-Lancaster a good school?

We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 83.44%; completion rate 24.65%; median earnings $39,426 at 10 years; net price $9,801. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.

Tuition & Cost

Tuition Costs

$7,558
2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at University of South Carolina-Lancaster was $7,558.

Tuition comparison with similar institutions.

Average Net Price

$9,801
2024 Value

In 2024 University of South Carolina-Lancaster had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $9,801.

Average net price comparison with similar institutions.

Total Cost of Attendance

$39,204 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost

$9,801 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)

$30,232 4-Year In-State Tuition

$72,952 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition

$6,708 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)

$792 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)

$15,058 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)

$60,232 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)

4-year total cost breakdown for University of South Carolina-Lancaster.

Financial Aid by Income Level

9.97% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

9.75% 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 University of South Carolina-Lancaster 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 University of South Carolina-Lancaster in that year.

Reporting years in the table below: 20132023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).

Year In-state tuition & fees Out-of-state tuition & fees Average net price
2013$6,482$15,632$9,838
2014$6,686$16,130$9,149
2015$6,878$16,598$8,145
2016$6,702$16,734$7,537
2017$6,948$17,328$8,421
2018$7,558$18,238$7,942
2019$7,558$18,238$8,229
2020$7,558$18,238$8,227
2021$7,558$18,238$9,635
2022$7,558$18,238$9,798
2023$7,558$18,238$9,735

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

83.44% Acceptance Rate

646 Total Applicants

490 Students Admitted

341 First-Time Students Enrolled

69.59% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)

This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.

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

University of South Carolina-Lancaster reported total enrollment of about 668 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 48% male and 52% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (61.5%), Black or African American (15.4%), and Hispanic or Latino (10.0%). About 9.97% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants.

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

86.8% Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at University of South Carolina-Lancaster in 2024 is 668 students.

Undergraduate enrollment is about 3,792 students.

Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.

Retention Rate over Time

43.3%
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 White at 61.5%.

Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).

College Scorecard student demographics.

Graduates & Outcomes

Time to Complete

24.65% 100% Completion Time

24.65% 150% Completion Time

In 2024, 24.65% of students graduating from University of South Carolina-Lancaster completed their program within 100% "normal time".

Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.

Completions by Sex (Top Programs)

  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 26% male / 74% female
  • Business/Commerce, General: 52% male / 48% female
  • Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration: 17% male / 83% 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: White.

Summed across program completion records in our extract.

ROI & Programs

Financial value and program information for University of South Carolina-Lancaster.

Return on Investment

$9,616 Median Student Debt

$39,426 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)

24.39% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio

905.66% Return on Investment

2.4 years Estimated Payback Period

Financial value analysis for University of South Carolina-Lancaster.

Top Programs by Completions

3 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 4 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).

1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 128 completions

2. Business/Commerce, General: 42 completions

3. Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration: 12 completions

Most popular programs at University of South Carolina-Lancaster.

Employment Outcomes

Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.

Earnings outcomes for University of South Carolina-Lancaster graduates.

Operations

Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for University of South Carolina-Lancaster from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).

Instructional Resources

  • Full-time faculty share: 72.5%
  • Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $7,756
  • Instructional expenditure per FTE: $7,595

Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.

Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.

About

University of South Carolina-Lancaster is a public institution located in Lancaster, SC, classified as Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Business/Commerce, General, Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration. Enrollment is approximately 668 students. Student body composition includes White (61.5%), Black or African American (15.4%), Hispanic or Latino (10.0%). The admission rate is 83.44%. The 150%-time completion rate is 24.65%. Approximately 9.97% of students receive Pell Grants.

Institution Type

Public

Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional

Location

Lancaster, SC 29720-0889

Region: Southeast

Insights and Analysis

Graduation Rate Considerations: The 24.65% graduation rate at University of South Carolina-Lancaster 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 University of South Carolina-Lancaster located?

University of South Carolina-Lancaster is located in Lancaster, SC.

What is University of South Carolina-Lancaster's acceptance rate?

The acceptance rate at University of South Carolina-Lancaster is 83.4% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 646 applicants and 490 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.

How much does University of South Carolina-Lancaster cost?

Reported tuition is $7,558 and average net price is $9,801 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $6,708 annually.

What is the student body demographics at University of South Carolina-Lancaster?

University of South Carolina-Lancaster reports undergraduate enrollment of about 3,792 students, White (61.5%), Black or African American (15.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.

What do graduates of University of South Carolina-Lancaster earn?

Median earnings are $35,206 six years after entry and $39,426 ten years after entry.

What is the graduation rate at University of South Carolina-Lancaster?

The 150%-time completion rate is 24.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.

How much debt do University of South Carolina-Lancaster students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers is $9,616.

Is University of South Carolina-Lancaster public or private?

University of South Carolina-Lancaster is a public institution located in Lancaster, SC.

Is University of South Carolina-Lancaster an HBCU?

No. University of South Carolina-Lancaster is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.

Is University of South Carolina-Lancaster a tribal college?

No. University of South Carolina-Lancaster is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.

Is University of South Carolina-Lancaster a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?

Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, University of South Carolina-Lancaster does not meet that proxy (reported share 10.0%).

Is University of South Carolina-Lancaster religiously affiliated?

No religious affiliation is reported for University of South Carolina-Lancaster in IPEDS institutional characteristics.

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

  • South Carolina trade schools 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.