ASU vs. UofSC

Deciding between Arizona State University and University of South Carolina Columbia? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Arizona State University
University of South Carolina Columbia

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ASU Tempe, AZ
  • UofSC Columbia, SC
  • Setting
  • ASU Midsize City
  • UofSC Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • ASU 79,818
  • UofSC 38,532
  • Type
  • ASU Public 4 Year
  • UofSC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ASU #398
  • UofSC #220
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ASU -
  • UofSC -
  • Status
  • ASU Non-profit
  • UofSC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ASU
  • UofSC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ASU $12,223
  • UofSC $12,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ASU $33,139
  • UofSC $35,972
  • Room & Board
  • ASU $16,712
  • UofSC $13,534
  • Average Net Price
  • ASU $17,779
  • UofSC $24,488
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ASU $12,172
  • UofSC $7,139
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ASU 89%
  • UofSC 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ASU 70,928
  • UofSC 52,703
  • Admitted
  • ASU 63,756
  • UofSC 31,701
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ASU 89.9%
  • UofSC 60.2%
  • Enrolled
  • ASU 22.1%
  • UofSC 22.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ASU 1210
  • UofSC 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • ASU 24
  • UofSC 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • ASU 3.54
  • UofSC 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ASU A-
  • UofSC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ASU Challenging
  • UofSC Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • ASU
  • UofSC Low
  • ACT Range
  • ASU 21/28
  • UofSC 26/32
  • SAT Range
  • ASU 1100/1320
  • UofSC 1180/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ASU Test optional
  • UofSC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ASU
  • UofSC Dec 1, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ASU 18:1
  • UofSC 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ASU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • UofSC
    • Business (35%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ASU 57%
  • UofSC 70%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ASU $52,600
  • UofSC $51,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ASU 57%
  • UofSC 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ASU $20,278
  • UofSC $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ASU $209
  • UofSC $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ASU 52%
  • UofSC 40%
  • % Women
  • ASU 48%
  • UofSC 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ASU High
  • UofSC Low
  • HBCU
  • ASU No
  • UofSC No
  • % White
  • ASU 52%
  • UofSC 77%
  • % Asian
  • ASU 7%
  • UofSC 3%
  • % Black
  • ASU 4%
  • UofSC 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • ASU 19%
  • UofSC 4%
  • % Native American
  • ASU 1%
  • UofSC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ASU 0%
  • UofSC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ASU 4%
  • UofSC 4%
  • % International
  • ASU 12%
  • UofSC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ASU 1%
  • UofSC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ASU 63%
  • UofSC 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ASU 30%
  • UofSC 45%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ASU Yes
  • UofSC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ASU No
  • UofSC No
  • Meal Plan
  • ASU Yes
  • UofSC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ASU Yes
  • UofSC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • ASU Yes
  • UofSC Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ with University of South Carolina Columbia in Columbia, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arizona State University is larger than UofSC based on total student enrollment (79,818 students vs. 38,532 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arizona State University is located in Tempe, AZ (Midsize City setting); University of South Carolina Columbia is in Columbia, SC (Midsize City setting).
  • Arizona State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of South Carolina Columbia is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arizona State University 18:1; University of South Carolina Columbia 19:1.

ASU vs. UofSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU or UofSC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Arizona State University than UofSC ($17,779 vs. $24,488).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Columbia are 19% lower than at Arizona State University ($13,534 vs. $16,712).
  • University of South Carolina Columbia is 3.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than ASU (about $465 more per year; $12,688.00 vs. $12,223.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.5% higher at UofSC than at Arizona State University (about $2,833 more per year; $35,972.00 vs. $33,139.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of South Carolina Columbia than at Arizona State University (91% vs. 89%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arizona State University students is 70.5% larger than aid received by University of South Carolina Columbia students ($12,172 vs. $7,139).

ASU vs. UofSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU or UofSC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UofSC and ASU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of South Carolina Columbia (1270) is 60 points higher than at ASU (1210).
  • Incoming UofSC students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 24 at ASU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 1100/1320; University of South Carolina Columbia 1180/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 21/28; University of South Carolina Columbia 26/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ASU - Test optional; UofSC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UofSC Dec 1, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UofSC students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at ASU (3.54).
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than UofSC (60.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.1% at ASU vs. 22.9% at UofSC.

ASU vs. UofSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ASU and UofSC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of South Carolina Columbia's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Arizona State University's (57%).
  • Graduates from Arizona State University earn a median of about $900 more per year than UofSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,600 vs. $51,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Arizona State University graduates have a $2,972 lower median loan debt than UofSC graduates ($20,278 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, ASU graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UofSC graduates ($209 vs. $240).
  • More UofSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ASU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 57%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.