University of South Carolina-Columbia Tuition (2026)

Columbia, SC · Public · Graduate degree · College Scorecard data · Updated September 10, 2026

In-State Tuition$12,688
Out-of-State Tuition$35,972
SC Average$16,649
National Average$18,082

Tuition Comparison

TuitionDifference
University of South Carolina-Columbia (in-state)$12,688—
SC average$16,649-24%
National average$18,082-30%

Four-year cost at University of South Carolina-Columbia

Per yearFour years
In-state$12,688$50,752
Out-of-state$35,972$143,888

Tuition only. Housing, books and living costs are not included — most colleges publish a fuller cost-of-attendance figure.

Where University of South Carolina-Columbia sits on cost in SC

University of South Carolina-Columbia ranks 31 by in-state tuition among the 63 SC colleges that report a rate — lower is cheaper. Out-of-state students pay 184% more than in-state students.

Colleges with a similar price to University of South Carolina-ColumbiaIn-state tuition
Voorhees University$12,630
Citadel Military College of South Carolina$12,570
College of Charleston$12,978
Lander University$11,700

FAQ

How much is tuition at University of South Carolina-Columbia?

In-state tuition at University of South Carolina-Columbia is $12,688 per year; out-of-state students pay $35,972.

How does University of South Carolina-Columbia tuition compare to the SC average?

University of South Carolina-Columbia in-state tuition is 24% below the SC average of $16,649.

How does University of South Carolina-Columbia tuition compare to the national average?

National average in-state tuition is $18,082; University of South Carolina-Columbia is 30% below that.

Is $12,688 expensive for in-state students?

$12,688 is the official in-state tuition published by College Scorecard for the most recent cohort year.

What does four years at University of South Carolina-Columbia cost?

Four years of tuition at University of South Carolina-Columbia comes to about $50,752 for an in-state student and $143,888 for an out-of-state student at current rates. That is tuition only — it excludes housing, books and living costs.

Where does University of South Carolina-Columbia rank on cost in SC?

By in-state tuition, University of South Carolina-Columbia ranks 31 out of the 63 SC colleges that report a rate — lower numbers are cheaper. The five cheapest and five most expensive colleges in the state are listed above.