University of South Carolina

Overview

Founded in 1801, the University of South Carolina (USC), a public research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, is one of the most popular college towns in the United States. The university is situated at the heart of the historic Horseshoe and is in close proximity to the South Carolina State House.

When Governor John Drayton initiated the South Carolina General Assembly Act on December 19, 1801, the core aim was to establish a school to unite South Carolinians. Out of the act, the South Carolina College was born and it opened its doors on January 10, 1805 with nine students. The institution survived the pre-Civil War, and overcame postwar hurdles, before being rechartered as a university in 1906.

Since then, the flagship college of the University of South Carolina System has grown in leaps and bounds, transforming itself into a prestigious national institution. Today, USC is one of the 32 preeminent universities to earn the Carnegie top-tier designation in community engagement and research activity. It’s also classified as an R1: Doctoral University with the Highest Research Activity, which is a hallmark of the institution’s superiority.

The University of South Carolina aims to deliver the excellence and breadth that helps students thrive in the 21st-century world. To open great opportunities for its students, the university has world-class facilities in its main campus in Columbia and seven other campuses. The campuses include the comprehensive universities in Beaufort, Aiken, and Upstate. Besides, its systems include the Palmetto college campuses in Sumter, Lancaster, Union, and Salkehatchie.

In total, University of South Carolina has 16 schools and colleges offering more than 350 programs. These programs of study, which include bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees stack up against the best in the U.S. and around the world. USC’s eight graduate programs and 19 of its health sciences programs are among the highest ranked nationally. Some of the best USC programs include undergraduate international business, international MBA, Ph.D in Exercise Science, and the Social Psychology graduate program.

USC is home to over 52,000 students, with more than 35,000 on its main campus in Columbia, making it the largest university in South Carolina by enrollment. There are more than 2,000 faculty members, 71% of which are full-time employees. In addition, the university has more than 310,000 living alumni, including South Carolina politician Lindsey Graham and renowned American singer/songwriter Darius Rucker.

Last but not least, the University of South Carolina is home to the Fighting Gamecocks—the official name of the school's sports team. The Gamecocks represent USC in the highly competitive NCAA Division 1 southeastern conference. Being a major college athletic program, the team has won multiple titles, including 10 national team championships and one SEC Eastern Division Champions.