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University of South Carolina-Columbia

Ranked
Columbia, United States
401–500th in World University Rankings 2025
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About

Basic information and contact details for the University of South Carolina-Columbia

institution

The University of South Carolina is one of the oldest and most comprehensive public institutions of higher education in the US, with its main campus in the state capital, Columbia.

The flagship campus offers more than 320 degrees at bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral level, and educates more than 30,000 students on a 360-acre site.

The Columbia campus is divided into 15 different schools and colleges, each reflecting different areas of research and educational expertise. In addition, there is the South Carolina Honors College, which offers a liberal arts-style education in a state university setting.

USC has seven satellite campuses, which offer a range of degrees and qualifications. It also runs an innovation district called Innovista, looking to commercialise research in key areas of strength such as biomedicine, nanotechnology, environmental science and alternative fuels.

The history of the university stretches back to 1801, when South Carolina College was established as part of the Southern public college movement which was encouraged by Thomas Jefferson.

The institution flourished in the decades prior to the American Civil War, with the historic horseshoe-shaped campus district which still stands today taking shape during this era.

But the war had a devastating impact on the institution, forcing its closure in 1863 as students volunteered for Confederate service.

The institution was re-established in 1865 as the University of South Carolina, and led the way on racial integration for a time, enrolling its first black students in 1873 – the only southern state university to do so.

However, funding shortages forced the closure of the university again in 1877, and it reopened three years later as an all-white agricultural college. Black students were not admitted again until 1863.

Nowadays, the Irvin department of rare books and special collections is home to the world’s largest collection of works by Ernest Hemingway and the largest collection of Robert Burns works and associated Scottish literature outside Scotland.

Alumni and sports teams at the institution are known as Gamecocks.

Prominent USC alumni include former White House chief of staff Andrew Card and US senator Lindsey Graham. In addition, all four members of the band Hootie & the Blowfish attended USC.

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Key Student Statistics

A breakdown of student statistics at the University of South Carolina-Columbia

gender ratio
Student gender ratio
57 F : 43 M (1)
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International student percentage
5% (1)
student per staff
Students per staff
16.4 (1)
student
Student total
33101 (1)

Based on data collected for the (1) World University Rankings 2025

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Subjects Taught at the University of South Carolina-Columbia

See below for a range of subjects taught at the University of South Carolina-Columbia

Social Sciences251–300th

  • Sociology
  • Politics and International Studies
  • Geography
  • Communication and Media Studies

Psychology301–400th

  • Psychology

Physical Sciences301–400th

  • Chemistry
  • Geology, Environmental, Earth and Marine Sciences
  • Physics and Astronomy
  • Mathematics and Statistics

Life Sciences501–600th

  • Sport Science
  • Biological Sciences

Law176–200th

  • Law

Engineering251–300th

  • General Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Education251–300th

  • Education

Clinical and Health301–400th

  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Other Health

Arts and Humanities401–500th

  • Languages, Literature and Linguistics
  • History, Philosophy and Theology
  • Art, Performing Art and Design

Business and Economics251–300th

  • Economics and Econometrics
  • Business and Management
  • Accounting and Finance