University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) Loans, Tuition, Costs & More
This is the complete guide to University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) tuition, costs and student loans. If you’re considering University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC), you’re likely focussed on that huge, glaring sticker price: $N/A.
If you’re still trying to figure out if you can get into the school, try our college chances calculator for University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC)
That expensive sticker price can be extremely misleading and does not usually represent the true cost of University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC). The reality is that a huge percentage of students who attend University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) do not pay that number.
What you are most likely concerned with is what you and your family will pay for University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC), which is dependent on a range of factors from family income to state residency.
Before we get started, if you have any doubts about your ability to afford University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) and are interested in student loans to support your education, the below vendors specifically lend to University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) students - click any of them to learn more about their rates and requirements.
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- AFFORDABLE fixed rates starting at 3.39% APR with Automatic Debit Discount*
- 1% CASH BACK Graduation Reward*
- NON-COSIGNED option may be available for eligible undergraduate juniors and seniors.
- PAY AFTER LEAVING SCHOOL – Customize your loan with flexible repayment options – start payments after graduation.
- FORGET FEES – No application, origination or disbursement fees. No late fees and no prepayment penalty if you choose to pay your loan off early.
- COVER UP TO 100% of your tuition and eligible living expenses.

- Competitive APRs starting at 3.47%1
- Coverage up to 100% of your school-certified cost of attendance ($1,000 minimum) 2
- Multiple repayment options including: full principal and interest, interest-only, deferred, and flat payment
- Flexible payment terms ranging from 5, 8, 10, and 15 years3
- No origination, application and processing fees, no fees for early repayment
- Apply online in 3 minutes and get an instant credit decision
- Applying with a cosigner can increase your chances of getting approved and could result in a lower interest rate

- Check your eligibility in just 2 minutes
- Flexible repayment options you can choose from
- No fees for origination, disbursement, prepayment, or late payment3
- Skip a payment once per year (once repayment period restarted)4
- Will cover up to 100% of the school's certified cost of attendance
- 9-month grace period (3 months more than most lenders)2
- Apply over the phone with the Client Happiness Team
- Call 866-492-1222, Monday through Friday, 5 A.M. - 5 P.M. PST
- Mention us when you call in to start your application

- Variable Rates: 6.39% APR – 10.68% APR; Fixed Rates: 6.89% APR – 10.68% APR (with auto debit discount).1
- Multiple repayment options available including deferred, interest-only, and immediate.
- Repayment terms of 5, 10, or 15 years available.
- Absolutely no fees – no origination fee, no late fee, and no prepayment penalty.
- 0.25% discount when you make payments via auto debit.
- Ability to borrow for prior loan periods (restrictions apply).

- No application fees, origination fees, or late payments
- Prequalify in minutes
- Lone terms available from 5, 7, 10, 15 or 20 years
- Reduce your rate by up to 0.50% for building a good payment history
- Early cosigner release

- Choose the #1 Private Student Loan Lender in the Nation. Sallie Mae is trusted by more families than any other private student loan lender.
- Variable Rates: 4.54% APR - 14.71% APR. Fixed Rates: 3.49% APR - 15.49% APR. Lowest rates shown include 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount with auto debit payments.1
- Applying online is easy - you could receive a credit result in about 10 minutes.2
- Multiple repayment options from in-school payments to deferred.1 No origination fee or prepayment penalty2
- Last year, students were 4x more likely to be approved with a cosigner3 and it may help you get a better rate.
- Borrow up to 100% of school-certified expenses, whether you're online or on campus4

- All online, all easy.
- SoFi covers 100% of school-certified costs.
- No fees. Period.
- Repay your way with flexible repayment options (find the monthly student loan payment and rate that fits your budget).
- Applying with a cosigner may increase your chances of approval and getting a better rate.
- Over 1 million students have chosen SoFi.

- Prequalification: Prequalify to estimate your rate without affecting your credit score
- Online Application Process: Submit online application in minutes
- Flexible Repayment Options: ELFI offers immediate, interest only, partial payment, and fully deferred repayment options
- No Fees: No application fees, origination fees, or prepayment penalties
- Low Rates: Fixed rates from 3.69% to 14.22% and variable rates from 5.00% - 13.97%*
- Award winning Customer Service: Individually paired Student Loan Advisor to guide you through the application process

- Variable Rates: 6.39% APR – 10.68% APR; Fixed Rates: 6.89% APR – 10.68% APR (with auto debit discount)1.
- Multiple repayment options available including deferred, interest-only, and immediate.
- Repayment terms of 5, 10, or 15 years available.
- Absolutely no fees – no origination fee, no late fee, and no prepayment penalty.
- 0.25% discount when you make payments via auto debit.
- Ability to borrow for prior loan periods (restrictions apply).
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- Get a rate quote in about 2 minutes with no impact to your credit score.2
- Applying with a qualified cosigner could improve your chances of approval and could even get you a lower rate.3
- After applying, you may qualify for Multi-Year Approval.4 This means you wouldn’t have to reapply next year. If eligible, prior to each academic year, simply log in to your account and request funds with no application and no hit to your credit score!
- Choose from flexible repayment options that best fit your current situation.
- No origination, application, or disbursement fees.
- No penalty for paying more than the minimum payment or paying your loan off early.
- A Citizens Student Loan™ could cover 100% school-certified costs.
Now, let’s break down that scary sticker price first.
How much is University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) tuition?
The stated tuition for out-of-state students at University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) is $33298 while in-state students pay $12616. The dictionary definition of tuition is the “price of payment for instruction.” That’s an important distinction from the total cost of attending University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC).
Essentially, tuition is only what you pay to attend classes at University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC). The annual charge of $33298 or $12616 often excludes dozens of other miscellaneous expenses, such as housing, textbooks, meals, fees and more. Therefore, the true cost of University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) is much higher than either of these prices (more on this later).
At the same time, however, tuition does not take into account factors that can help a student or family afford college, such as scholarships, student loans and grants.
Therefore, although an important benchmark, the $12616 for University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) is likely not a good indicator of what you can expect to pay if you attend the school.
What is the total cost of University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC)?
If you’re already thinking of this question, you’re one step ahead of us! And you’re on the right track… .The total cost of attending University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) is $N/A and is much more indicative of how much you will pay over the course of one year to attend the school - with one BIG caveat: total cost excludes financial supports that help reduce the cost of attending school, like scholarships at University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC).
Still, if you do not plan on receiving financial aid, student loans and the like then the University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) cost of attendance is the best indicator to consider.
What does the total cost of University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) include?
The total cost of University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) includes tuition and other common, material expenses, like textbooks and supplies, room and board, and meal costs, minus the average amount of financial aid and scholarships.
Importantly, this does not reflect the price you will likely pay based on your income bracket.
What is the price of room and board at University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC)?
The cost of rooming and dorms at University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) is $6280
The cost of meals at University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) is $3728.
University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) does not fully report room and boarding charges.
How much is University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) out of state tuition?
Out of state tuition for University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) is $33298.
How much is University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) in state tuition?
In state state tuition for University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) is $12616.
How can I afford University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC)?
You should use a variety of financial tools to offset the cost of University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC).
It’s easy to lose track of all the assets at your disposal, but the most common can be categorized into grants, loans, and scholarships.
At University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC), 0.2076% of students receive a pell grant. Furthermore, 0.4643% of students borrow federal student loans to help pay for the school.
If you will use student loans to help pay for University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC), these providers below all work with University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) students.
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- AFFORDABLE fixed rates starting at 3.39% APR with Automatic Debit Discount*
- 1% CASH BACK Graduation Reward*
- NON-COSIGNED option may be available for eligible undergraduate juniors and seniors.
- PAY AFTER LEAVING SCHOOL – Customize your loan with flexible repayment options – start payments after graduation.
- FORGET FEES – No application, origination or disbursement fees. No late fees and no prepayment penalty if you choose to pay your loan off early.
- COVER UP TO 100% of your tuition and eligible living expenses.

- Competitive APRs starting at 3.47%1
- Coverage up to 100% of your school-certified cost of attendance ($1,000 minimum) 2
- Multiple repayment options including: full principal and interest, interest-only, deferred, and flat payment
- Flexible payment terms ranging from 5, 8, 10, and 15 years3
- No origination, application and processing fees, no fees for early repayment
- Apply online in 3 minutes and get an instant credit decision
- Applying with a cosigner can increase your chances of getting approved and could result in a lower interest rate

- Check your eligibility in just 2 minutes
- Flexible repayment options you can choose from
- No fees for origination, disbursement, prepayment, or late payment3
- Skip a payment once per year (once repayment period restarted)4
- Will cover up to 100% of the school's certified cost of attendance
- 9-month grace period (3 months more than most lenders)2
- Apply over the phone with the Client Happiness Team
- Call 866-492-1222, Monday through Friday, 5 A.M. - 5 P.M. PST
- Mention us when you call in to start your application

- Variable Rates: 6.39% APR – 10.68% APR; Fixed Rates: 6.89% APR – 10.68% APR (with auto debit discount).1
- Multiple repayment options available including deferred, interest-only, and immediate.
- Repayment terms of 5, 10, or 15 years available.
- Absolutely no fees – no origination fee, no late fee, and no prepayment penalty.
- 0.25% discount when you make payments via auto debit.
- Ability to borrow for prior loan periods (restrictions apply).

- No application fees, origination fees, or late payments
- Prequalify in minutes
- Lone terms available from 5, 7, 10, 15 or 20 years
- Reduce your rate by up to 0.50% for building a good payment history
- Early cosigner release

- Choose the #1 Private Student Loan Lender in the Nation. Sallie Mae is trusted by more families than any other private student loan lender.
- Variable Rates: 4.54% APR - 14.71% APR. Fixed Rates: 3.49% APR - 15.49% APR. Lowest rates shown include 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount with auto debit payments.1
- Applying online is easy - you could receive a credit result in about 10 minutes.2
- Multiple repayment options from in-school payments to deferred.1 No origination fee or prepayment penalty2
- Last year, students were 4x more likely to be approved with a cosigner3 and it may help you get a better rate.
- Borrow up to 100% of school-certified expenses, whether you're online or on campus4

- All online, all easy.
- SoFi covers 100% of school-certified costs.
- No fees. Period.
- Repay your way with flexible repayment options (find the monthly student loan payment and rate that fits your budget).
- Applying with a cosigner may increase your chances of approval and getting a better rate.
- Over 1 million students have chosen SoFi.

- Prequalification: Prequalify to estimate your rate without affecting your credit score
- Online Application Process: Submit online application in minutes
- Flexible Repayment Options: ELFI offers immediate, interest only, partial payment, and fully deferred repayment options
- No Fees: No application fees, origination fees, or prepayment penalties
- Low Rates: Fixed rates from 3.69% to 14.22% and variable rates from 5.00% - 13.97%*
- Award winning Customer Service: Individually paired Student Loan Advisor to guide you through the application process

- Variable Rates: 6.39% APR – 10.68% APR; Fixed Rates: 6.89% APR – 10.68% APR (with auto debit discount)1.
- Multiple repayment options available including deferred, interest-only, and immediate.
- Repayment terms of 5, 10, or 15 years available.
- Absolutely no fees – no origination fee, no late fee, and no prepayment penalty.
- 0.25% discount when you make payments via auto debit.
- Ability to borrow for prior loan periods (restrictions apply).

- Get a rate quote in about 2 minutes with no impact to your credit score.2
- Applying with a qualified cosigner could improve your chances of approval and could even get you a lower rate.3
- After applying, you may qualify for Multi-Year Approval.4 This means you wouldn’t have to reapply next year. If eligible, prior to each academic year, simply log in to your account and request funds with no application and no hit to your credit score!
- Choose from flexible repayment options that best fit your current situation.
- No origination, application, or disbursement fees.
- No penalty for paying more than the minimum payment or paying your loan off early.
- A Citizens Student Loan™ could cover 100% school-certified costs.
How much will I pay for University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC)?
This is the million dollar question - literally! University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) students pay a variety of prices to attend the institution, as you already know. A very easy way to determine an average price you can expect to pay is by using your average family income and comparing it to the table below.
For additional insight, try using the University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) net price calculator.
Family Annual Income | Average Net Price for University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) |
---|---|
$0 - 30,000 | 10819 |
$30,001 - 48,000 | 15090 |
$48,001 - 75,000 | 19566 |
$75,001 - 110,000 | 21363 |
$110,001+ | 23262 |
How much debt will I graduate with from University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC)?
Beyond the years you plan on spending at University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC), the financial repercussions of University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) tuition will stay with you for awhile, especially if you take out loans to finance the education.
The median debt for students who have completed a degree at University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) is $22724.0. We can break down this number further by household income and student type (see where you might fit in):
Family Income and Student Types | Median Debt from University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) |
---|---|
$0 - 30,000 Family income | 19000.0 |
$30,001 - 75,000 Family income | 19250.0 |
$75,000+ Family income | 18750.0 |
The median debt for Pell students | 20500.0 |
The median debt for female students | 19500.0 |
The median debt for male students | 18500.0 |
The median debt for first-generation students | 19000.0 |
Is University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) worth the cost?
Going to college is an investment, and like all investments, you should look at the ROI of attending University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC).
Luckily, we can provide some insightful data to help determine whether or not University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) is worth the cost by examining what past graduates are earning now.
The average salary of students who were working six years after graduating from University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) is $43900 (the median is $38000).
After 8 years, the average salary for University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) graduates is $N/A.
10 years out, the average salary for University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) graduates is $53900.
I think it’s particularly interesting to look at the salary 10 years after graduation, and it’s probably more indicative of whether University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) is worth the cost. The real upside of a college degree is that it puts you on a path where your future salary can increase substantially, and it may be hard to achieve that upside without a college degree.
For example, after graduating from University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) you may get a job where the salary is not too much more than you’d make without a college degree, and you may have taken out a lot of loans to get there!
However, if you stay in that position for 5 or 10 years, you will likely begin doubling and tripling what you’re making.
The future earnings potential is going to be much higher if you go to University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) compared to not attending college at all. Therefore, it’s about maximizing that opportunity and reducing the debt needed to get there.
How do University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) graduates fare compared to similar schools?
This is an important question because if you’re considering University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC), you likely have other options on the table.
Often times, students enroll in the cheapest university available to them. But, as we know from above, this isn’t the whole story.
For example, you would pay 5% more for a college if you knew the average salary would also be 10% higher, wouldn’t you?
There’s a lot of reasons why the average salary for University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) students would differ from its peer schools. Perhaps the most popular areas of study align with higher or lower paying careers, or the school has a massive and supportive alumni network.
Here are just a few related schools to University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) that may be of interest. Click on any one to break down their costs and performance outcomes further.
Related School | Average Net Price | Average Salary after 10 years |
---|---|---|
NC State University | 16404 | 59500 |
Virginia Tech (VT) | N/A | N/A |
UNCG | 12158 | 40900 |
Ole Miss | 13857 | 56600 |
How much does University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) cost per semester?
Assuming there are two semesters at University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) and you are an in-state student, you will pay $6308 per semester. If you are out-of-state, you will pay $16649 per semester.
How much does University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) cost per year?
This is effectively the total annual cost of University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC), which is $N/A. However, you can also add room and board, textbooks, and other fees listed above onto that number to better determine how you will really spend in one year of attendance.
Is it possible to attend University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) for free?
In theory, yes it is possible to attend University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) for free. If you are a stellar student, you may get a scholarship to cover the entire cost of the education.
Similarly, if you are a student athlete, you may receive a full scholarship to be on a sports team.
Unless you are receiving a “full ride” (e.g. full scholarship) to attend University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC), though, it won’t be free. If you take out loans to finance the school, you may pay very little in the near term but all of that money must still be paid off in the long term.
If you're trying to get in to University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) read about the requirements here