Rutgers vs. UofSC

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
University of South Carolina Columbia

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • UofSC Columbia, SC
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • UofSC Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • UofSC 38,532
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • UofSC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • UofSC #220
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • UofSC -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • UofSC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • UofSC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • UofSC $12,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • UofSC $35,972
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • UofSC $13,534
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • UofSC $24,488
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • UofSC $7,139
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • UofSC 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • UofSC 52,703
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • UofSC 31,701
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • UofSC 60.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • UofSC 22.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • UofSC 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • UofSC 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • UofSC 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • UofSC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • UofSC Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • UofSC Low
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • UofSC 26/32
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • UofSC 1180/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • UofSC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • UofSC Dec 1, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • UofSC 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • UofSC
    • Business (35%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • UofSC 70%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • UofSC $51,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • UofSC 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • UofSC $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • UofSC $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • UofSC 40%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • UofSC 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • UofSC Low
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • UofSC No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • UofSC 77%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • UofSC 3%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • UofSC 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • UofSC 4%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • UofSC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • UofSC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • UofSC 4%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • UofSC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • UofSC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • UofSC 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • UofSC 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with University of South Carolina Columbia in Columbia, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than UofSC based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 38,532 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); University of South Carolina Columbia is in Columbia, SC (Midsize City setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick 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: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; University of South Carolina Columbia 19:1.

Rutgers vs. UofSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than UofSC ($20,522 vs. $24,488).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Columbia are 13.9% lower than at Rutgers University New Brunswick ($13,534 vs. $15,714).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 41.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UofSC (about $5,241 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $12,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.1% higher at Rutgers than at University of South Carolina Columbia (about $1,469 more per year; $37,441.00 vs. $35,972.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of South Carolina Columbia than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (91% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 134.5% larger than aid received by University of South Carolina Columbia students ($16,742 vs. $7,139).

Rutgers vs. UofSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 140 points higher than at UofSC (1270).
  • Incoming Rutgers 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: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; University of South Carolina Columbia 1180/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; University of South Carolina Columbia 26/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; UofSC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UofSC Dec 1, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UofSC students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • UofSC has a higher acceptance rate (60.2%) than Rutgers (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 22.9% at UofSC.

Rutgers vs. UofSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers 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).

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than University of South Carolina Columbia's (70%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $14,500 more per year than UofSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $51,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $1,035 lower median loan debt than UofSC graduates ($22,215 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UofSC graduates ($229 vs. $240).
  • More UofSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 68%)

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.