Admissions Factors
What University of South Carolina-Columbia Looks For
University of South Carolina-Columbia rates 1 factor as very important: academic GPA.
How University of South Carolina-Columbia rates each factor
Each college sorts 18 factors into four levels on its Common Data Set.
Very important
Considered
The numbers behind the class
Overall admit rate
56.5%
33,695 of 59,630 applicants
Early decision admit rate
No early decision
Admitted from the waitlist
8.6%
293 of 3,395 who stayed on it
Enrolled first-years had an average high school GPA of 3.68. 31.3% of those who reported a class rank were in the top tenth of their class.
Frequently asked questions
What does University of South Carolina-Columbia look for in applicants?
University of South Carolina-Columbia rates 1 factor as very important: academic GPA.
Does University of South Carolina-Columbia consider legacy status?
University of South Carolina-Columbia rates alumni relation as "not considered" in its 2025-26 Common Data Set.
Does University of South Carolina-Columbia track demonstrated interest?
University of South Carolina-Columbia rates the level of an applicant's interest as "not considered".
What is University of South Carolina-Columbia's waitlist acceptance rate?
3,395 students stayed on the waitlist and 293 were admitted, a rate of 8.6%. The number changes a lot from year to year because it depends on how many admitted students enroll.
Source: University of South Carolina-Columbia’s own Common Data Set 2025-26, Section C. Last checked 2026-10-08. The ratings are the college’s own description of its process. Counts are for one entering class.
