University of South Carolina-Columbia Acceptance Rate
Columbia, South Carolina · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 46,682
- Admitted
- 28,706
- Yield
- 25.5%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, University of South Carolina-Columbia's acceptance rate has fallen from 65.2% in 2014–15 to 61.5% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 23,342 to 46,682 (+100%) over that period.
Its 61.5% rate makes University of South Carolina-Columbia more selective than about 73% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 31 tracked South Carolina schools, it is more selective than about 77%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (64.6% for women vs 56.7% for men, a 7.9-point gap). University of South Carolina-Columbia has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 25.5% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 23,342 | 15,219 | 65.2% | 4,983 |
| 2015–16 | 25,740 | 16,611 | 64.5% | 5,199 |
| 2016–17 | 25,057 | 17,073 | 68.1% | 5,110 |
| 2017–18 | 26,015 | 18,811 | 72.3% | 5,879 |
| 2018–19 | 30,889 | 19,480 | 63.1% | 5,854 |
| 2019–20 | 31,268 | 21,464 | 68.6% | 6,286 |
| 2020–21 | 34,957 | 23,894 | 68.4% | 5,742 |
| 2021–22 | 42,045 | 25,884 | 61.6% | 6,174 |
| 2022–23 | 42,188 | 27,022 | 64.1% | 6,574 |
| 2023–24 | 46,682 | 28,706 | 61.5% | 7,319 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 28,205 | 18,233 | 64.6% |
| Men | 18,477 | 10,473 | 56.7% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 600–690 | 32% |
| SAT Math | 580–690 | |
| ACT Composite | 26–32 | 17% |
How University of South compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is University of South Carolina-Columbia's acceptance rate?
University of South Carolina-Columbia's acceptance rate is 61.5% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (28,706 admitted of 46,682 applicants).
Is University of South Carolina-Columbia test optional?
University of South Carolina-Columbia is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to University of South Carolina-Columbia?
University of South Carolina-Columbia received 46,682 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 28,706.
What SAT score do you need for University of South Carolina-Columbia?
Admitted students at University of South Carolina-Columbia typically scored 600–690 on SAT Reading/Writing and 580–690 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is University of South Carolina-Columbia getting harder to get into?
University of South Carolina-Columbia has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 65.2% in 2014–15 to 61.5% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.sc.edu/.