What is the acceptance rate at South Carolina State University?

South Carolina State University's acceptance rate is approximately 83% (Orangeburg, SC), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.

How much does South Carolina State University cost?

At South Carolina State University, the average net price (after aid) is about $18,097 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.

How many undergraduates attend South Carolina State University?

South Carolina State University enrolls approximately 2,934 undergraduate students.

Where is South Carolina State University located?

South Carolina State University is located in Orangeburg, SC.

South Carolina State University: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Cost — QuantAdmit

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South Carolina State University

Orangeburg, SCpublicscsu.edu

Acceptance

83%

Avg net price

$18,097

Earnings (10 yr)

$38,262

Graduation rate

37%

Admit rate has ranged 66%–94% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.

Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.

South Carolina State University, an HBCU in Orangeburg, SC, is a historically Black institution with an 83% acceptance rate and a focus on practical, career-ready education. Known for its tight-knit community and leadership in fields like business and STEM, SC State grapples with low graduation rates but offers affordability and strong support for first-generation students.

Admission requirements

Test-blind — scores not considered

Required

High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)

Considered (not required)

Class rank
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program

Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.

More details

Undergrad enrollment: 2,934
In-state tuition: $11,060
Out-of-state tuition: $21,750
Athletics: NCAA Division I (MEAC)
Top Majors: Business, Family Sciences, Education
Campus Size: 160 acres
HBCU Status: Founded 1896
Acceptance Rate: 83%
6-Year Grad Rate: 29%

Outcomes & value

Median earnings (10 yr): $38,262
Value (earnings ÷ net price): 2.1×
Median debt at graduation: $31,000
Graduation rate: 37%
First-year retention: 56%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr): 29%
Pell (lower-income) share: 87%
First-generation share: 36%
Endowment / student: $6,708

Top-earning majors

Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.

Accounting and Related Services$36,141
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$34,420
Computer and Information Sciences, General$32,925
Marketing$32,569
English Language and Literature, General$30,409
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

Campus & location

Campus safety

On-campus violent crimes (2024): 9
Per 1,000 students: 3.07

On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.

Climate

Pleasant days / yr: 117
Summer high: 90°F
Winter low: 43°F
Annual rain: 46.9"
Natural-hazard risk: Relatively Moderate

Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.

Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility

Research output

Institutional h-index: 69
Scholarly works: 1,289

Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.

Economic mobility

Mobility rate: 2.8%
Bottom → top quintile: 11%
From bottom quintile: 26%

Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.

Quick answers

What is the acceptance rate at South Carolina State University?: South Carolina State University's acceptance rate is approximately 83% (Orangeburg, SC), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does South Carolina State University cost?: At South Carolina State University, the average net price (after aid) is about $18,097 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend South Carolina State University?: South Carolina State University enrolls approximately 2,934 undergraduate students.
Where is South Carolina State University located?: South Carolina State University is located in Orangeburg, SC.

Admissions

With an 83% acceptance rate, South Carolina State University is one of the more accessible public HBCUs in the South, admitting nearly all applicants who meet baseline requirements. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 15-20 on the ACT or 830-1,030 on the SAT, placing SC State among colleges with the lowest standardized test score averages in South Carolina. Recent data shows 11,017 applicants, with 9,102 accepted and 2,950 enrolled, reflecting a rate of about 32%. The university does not have an open admissions policy but maintains minimal barriers to entry, prioritizing access for and underrepresented students.