IU vs. UofSC

Deciding between Indiana University Bloomington 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.

Indiana University Bloomington
University of South Carolina Columbia

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • UofSC Columbia, SC
  • Setting
  • IU Small City
  • UofSC Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • IU 48,424
  • UofSC 38,532
  • Type
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • UofSC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU #207
  • UofSC #220
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU -
  • UofSC -
  • Status
  • IU Non-profit
  • UofSC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU
  • UofSC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU $12,144
  • UofSC $12,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU $41,891
  • UofSC $35,972
  • Room & Board
  • IU $13,984
  • UofSC $13,534
  • Average Net Price
  • IU $17,270
  • UofSC $24,488
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU $10,487
  • UofSC $7,139
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU 73%
  • UofSC 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU 67,658
  • UofSC 52,703
  • Admitted
  • IU 52,918
  • UofSC 31,701
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU 78.2%
  • UofSC 60.2%
  • Enrolled
  • IU 18.2%
  • UofSC 22.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU 1290
  • UofSC 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU 30
  • UofSC 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU 3.74
  • UofSC 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU A-
  • UofSC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU Very High
  • UofSC Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU
  • UofSC Low
  • ACT Range
  • IU 27/33
  • UofSC 26/32
  • SAT Range
  • IU 1170/1400
  • UofSC 1180/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU Test optional
  • UofSC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IU
  • UofSC Dec 1, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU 18:1
  • UofSC 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • UofSC
    • Business (35%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU 72%
  • UofSC 70%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU $56,200
  • UofSC $51,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU 72%
  • UofSC 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU $22,500
  • UofSC $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU $232
  • UofSC $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU 50%
  • UofSC 40%
  • % Women
  • IU 50%
  • UofSC 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU Medium
  • UofSC Low
  • HBCU
  • IU No
  • UofSC No
  • % White
  • IU 71%
  • UofSC 77%
  • % Asian
  • IU 4%
  • UofSC 3%
  • % Black
  • IU 4%
  • UofSC 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU 5%
  • UofSC 4%
  • % Native American
  • IU 0%
  • UofSC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU 0%
  • UofSC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU 4%
  • UofSC 4%
  • % International
  • IU 11%
  • UofSC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU 0%
  • UofSC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU 55%
  • UofSC 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU 41%
  • UofSC 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, IN with University of South Carolina Columbia in Columbia, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana University Bloomington is larger than UofSC based on total student enrollment (48,424 students vs. 38,532 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Bloomington is located in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting); University of South Carolina Columbia is in Columbia, SC (Midsize City setting).
  • Indiana University Bloomington 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: Indiana University Bloomington 18:1; University of South Carolina Columbia 19:1.

IU vs. UofSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU 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 Indiana University Bloomington than UofSC ($17,270 vs. $24,488).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Columbia are 3.2% lower than at Indiana University Bloomington ($13,534 vs. $13,984).
  • University of South Carolina Columbia is 4.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU (about $544 more per year; $12,688.00 vs. $12,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 16.5% higher at IU than at University of South Carolina Columbia (about $5,919 more per year; $41,891.00 vs. $35,972.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of South Carolina Columbia than at Indiana University Bloomington (91% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students is 46.9% larger than aid received by University of South Carolina Columbia students ($10,487 vs. $7,139).

IU vs. UofSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU 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 IU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Indiana University Bloomington (1290) is 20 points higher than at UofSC (1270).
  • Incoming IU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at UofSC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400; University of South Carolina Columbia 1180/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 27/33; University of South Carolina Columbia 26/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU - Test optional; UofSC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UofSC Dec 1, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman IU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at UofSC (3.69).
  • IU has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than UofSC (60.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at IU vs. 22.9% at UofSC.

IU vs. UofSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU 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).

  • Indiana University Bloomington's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than University of South Carolina Columbia's (70%).
  • Graduates from Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than UofSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $51,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana University Bloomington graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than UofSC graduates ($22,500 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, IU graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UofSC graduates ($232 vs. $240).
  • More IU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UofSC students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 69%)

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.