University of South Carolina
Academics

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How strong are the academics at University of South Carolina?

Let's cover class sizes, graduation rates, and outcomes.

18:1
Student to faculty ratio
31
Average class size
69%
4-year grad rate

Class Sizes

Class sizes likely stayed the same for you through high school. You'll find that college is much different. Some of the largest universities have classes that can seat hundreds of students in giant lecture halls. Conversely, as they progress and their focus narrows, higher-level courses can sometimes have just a handful of students.

University of South Carolina has an average student-to-faculty ratio of 18:1. The typical school is 14:1. While this ratio is important, what’s more important is how big a typical class is.

Class Sizes
2-9
171
10-19
1,203
20-29
976
30-39
286
40-49
240
50-99
343
100+
157

Honors Programs

University of South Carolina has an honors program and/or honors college. Specifics of these programs vary, but benefits of being in an Honors Program might include priority registration, being part of a tight-knit community, and accessing unique learning opportunities.

Learn more about honors options on University of South Carolina's website.

Outcomes

It’s critical to understand a school’s outcomes to understand if your four (or more) years at the school will be worth it. Here are some key statistics about the outcomes of students who enroll at University of South Carolina:

91%
First-year retention rate
69%
4-year grad rate
78%
6-year grad rate

The average base annual salary of students who were employed within six months of graduation is $53,504. This is higher than the national average of $48,300.

$53,504
$48,300 (National Average)

Majors

Many students choose a school largely based on the what they want to study. The are University of South Carolina's most popular majors, ranked by how many people graduated with the concentration in the most recent year:

Public Health, General
Finance, General
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Experimental Psychology
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management
268.2
301.56
334.92
368.28
401.64
435

The Full List

Major Graduates
Area
  • Area Studies, Other 24
  • Women's Studies 5
  • Chinese Studies 3
  • African-American/Black Studies 2
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General 384
  • Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology 190
  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 81
  • Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography 46
  • Neuroscience 4
Business
  • Finance, General 425
  • Marketing/Marketing Management, General 252
  • Management Science 168
  • Business Administration and Management, General 147
  • Retailing and Retail Operations 147
  • International Business/Trade/Commerce 145
  • Accounting 128
  • Hospitality Administration/Management, General 126
  • Insurance 84
  • Business/Managerial Economics 40
  • Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management 36
  • Real Estate 28
  • Tourism and Travel Services Management 24
Communication
  • Public Relations/Image Management 108
  • Mass Communication/Media Studies 89
  • Advertising 75
  • Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia 63
  • Broadcast Journalism 41
  • Journalism 40
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
  • Computer and Information Sciences, General 174
  • Information Technology 65
  • Information Science/Studies 22
Education
  • Elementary Education and Teaching 70
  • Early Childhood Education and Teaching 59
  • Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching 17
  • Physical Education Teaching and Coaching 7
  • Art Teacher Education 4
Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering 166
  • Civil Engineering, General 82
  • Chemical Engineering 58
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering 42
  • Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering 38
  • Computer Engineering, General 29
  • Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, General 27
English Language And Literature/Letters
  • English Language and Literature, General 55
Foreign Languages
  • Spanish Language and Literature 8
  • Russian Language and Literature 6
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures, General 3
  • German Language and Literature 2
  • Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General 2
  • Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 2
  • French Language and Literature 2
  • Comparative Literature 0
Health Professions And Related Programs
  • Public Health, General 435
  • Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 241
  • Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Other 82
  • Cardiovascular Technology/Technologist 23
  • Public Health, Other 0
  • Athletic Training/Trainer 0
History
  • History, General 56
Homeland Security
  • Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration 196
  • Cybersecurity Defense Strategy/Policy 3
Liberal Arts And Sciences
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 125
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other 11
Mathematics And Statistics
  • Mathematics, General 43
  • Statistics, General 22
Natural Resources And Conservation
  • Environmental Science 50
  • Environmental Studies 25
Parks
  • Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 296
Philosophy And Religious Studies
  • Philosophy 14
  • Religion/Religious Studies 5
Physical Sciences
  • Chemistry, General 34
  • Geology/Earth Science, General 26
  • Physics, General 9
  • Geophysics and Seismology 0
Psychology
  • Experimental Psychology 376
Public Administration And Social Service Professions
  • Social Work 40
Social Sciences
  • Political Science and Government, General 195
  • Economics, General 57
  • International Relations and Affairs 36
  • Sociology, General 29
  • Anthropology, General 22
  • Geography 15
Visual And Performing Arts
  • Film/Video and Photographic Arts, Other 75
  • Music, General 59
  • Fine/Studio Arts, General 44
  • Dance, General 15
  • Art History, Criticism and Conservation 10
  • Film/Cinema/Media Studies 8
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 8
  • Music Management 1

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