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South Carolina State University

South Carolina State University

Orangeburg, SC · Town · 2,934 students
Website Common App Forbes ranking Scorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$18,097
Average net priceYour net price
In-state
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
33%
Graduation rate
50% typical
$38,262
Earnings 10 years on
$48,772 typical
83%
Acceptance rate
77% typical · not scored
Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
About

Founded in 1896, South Carolina State University is the state's only public historically Black land-grant institution, renowned for its legacy of civic leadership and strong professional preparation. Academically, the university is celebrated for its business, education, and STEM offerings, most notably housing the only ABET-accredited undergraduate nuclear engineering program at an HBCU. Student life on the Orangeburg campus is defined by deeply rooted HBCU traditions, an active Greek community, and the spirited performances of the legendary "Marching 101" band alongside NCAA Division I Bulldog athletics.

Wikipedia:South Carolina State University is a public, historically black, land-grant university in Orangeburg, South Carolina. It is the only public, historically black land-grant research university in South Carolina, is a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Location
Orangeburg, SC, 29117-0001 · Town campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
RDU · Raleigh-Durham
202 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
These figures are federal data and may be out of date.
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$11,060$21,750
Housing & food (on campus)$9,000$9,000
Books & supplies$2,000$2,000
Cost of attendance$30,015$40,705 est.
Average net price$18,097Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$21,750
In-state: $11,060
Housing & food (on campus)$9,000
Books & supplies$2,000
Cost of attendance$40,705 est.
In-state: $30,015
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $18,097
est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.
Net price by family income · in-state students
$0–30k
$16,846
$30–48k
$16,968
$48–75k
$20,449
$75–110k
$22,587
$110k+
$24,523
Grants from the school
76% of first-years get a grant from the school, averaging $4,385
Source: College Navigator (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS)
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
33%
Within 4 yrs
21%
Back for yr 2
56%
Transferred
28%
Pell students: 36.6% · others: 36.8% 
8 yrs after starting
34% graduated · 30% transferred · 35% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings
6 yrs after entry$30,064
10 yrs after entry$38,262
Debt
Median at graduation$31,000
Monthly payment$329
Middle 50% owe$9.5k–$37.3k
90th percentile$50,450
Admissions
Getting in
Admit rate
83%
Test policy
Not required
ACT midpoint
17
Admitted students
Admit rate: men 84.1% · women 81.8% 
Yield: 11.4% of admitted students enroll 

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Essay prompts

If South Carolina State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 45%Women 55%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
19 : 1
Pell grant
70%
First-gen
36%
Family income
$22,852
Independent
9%
Age at entry
20.0
Part-time
8%
Where first-years come from
In state (SC)
69.7%
Out of state
30.1%
International
0.2%

Most out-of-state first-years from: GA 115 · FL 29 · NY 15 · NC 15 · MD 14

Race & ethnicity
White
1%
Black
90%
Two or more
4%
Unknown
3%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division I-FCS
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Football
    Men's
  • Soccer
    Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs
After 6 yrs
$30,064
After 10 yrs
$38,262
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General28
Biology, General22
Business Administration, Management and Operations22
Criminal Justice and Corrections20
Computer and Information Sciences, General11
Psychology, General11
Social Work11
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services10
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas9
Communication and Media Studies8
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods8
English Language and Literature, General7
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management7
Accounting and Related Services6
Marketing5
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians4
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$20M
Full-time faculty
100%
Faculty salary
$8,174/mo
Teaching spend
$8,130
per student
Federal loans
67%
Classification
Carnegie type
Master's (small programs)
Research activity
R2 — high research
$12M research spending · 27 research doctorates a year
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, inclusive admissions

Wondering if South Carolina State University is the right fit for you?

omhu builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

Personalized reach / match / safety list
Financial aid & net cost estimates
Deep dives on any school
Scholarship search