UofSC vs. EMU

Should I go to University of South Carolina Columbia or Eastern Mennonite University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UofSC or EMU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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University of South Carolina Columbia vs. Eastern Mennonite University comparison
University of South Carolina Columbia Eastern Mennonite University College 3 College 4
University of South Carolina Columbia Eastern Mennonite University
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Overview

 UofSC EMU
Location Columbia, SC Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 35,653 1,334
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #208 #215
Religious Affiliation - Mennonite Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sc.edu emu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 UofSC EMU
Tuition (In State) $12,288 $40,590
Tuition (Out of State) $33,528 $40,590
Room & Board $11,780 $12,240
Avg Net Price $22,427 $23,783
Avg Grant Aid $6,880 $30,460
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 96%

Admission

 UofSC EMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 42,188 1,144
Admitted 27,022 1,138
Acceptance Rate 64.1% 99.5%
Enrolled % 24.3% 17.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 3.7
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 27/32 25/34
SAT Range 1180/1380 1040/1590
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Dec 1, 2023

Academics

 UofSC EMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (35%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Health Professions (30%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • General Studies (5%)

Outcomes

 UofSC EMU
Graduation Rate 70% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,700 $43,900
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,250 $23,450
Median Loan Payment $240 $242

Diversity

 UofSC EMU
% Men 42% 34%
% Women 58% 66%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 77% 71%
% Black 10% 10%
% Hispanic 4% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 UofSC EMU
% In-State 52% 68%
% Out-of-State 47% 27%

Campus

 UofSC EMU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Carolina Columbia is larger than than EMU based on total student enrollment (35,653 students vs. 1,334 students)

UofSC vs. EMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UofSC or EMU?

  • Eastern Mennonite University is 230.3% more expensive to attend than UofSC for in-state tuition ($40,590.00 vs. $12,288.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 21.1% higher at EMU than University of South Carolina Columbia ($40,590.00 vs. $33,528.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Columbia than EMU ($22,427 vs. $23,783)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Columbia are 3.9% lower than costs at Eastern Mennonite University ($11,780 vs. $12,240)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Carolina Columbia than Eastern Mennonite University (98% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Mennonite University students is 342.7% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Columbia ($30,460 vs. $6,880)

UofSC vs. EMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UofSC or EMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between EMU or UofSC .

  • The average SAT score at University of South Carolina Columbia (1220) is 211 points higher than at EMU (1009)
  • Incoming UofSC students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at EMU (22)
  • Accepted freshman EMU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at UofSC (3.69)
  • EMU has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than UofSC (64.1%)

UofSC vs. EMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UofSC or EMU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between EMU and UofSC.

  • The graduation rate at UofSC is higher than Eastern Mennonite University (70% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from University of South Carolina Columbia earn on average $7,800 more per year than EMU graduates after ten years. ($51,700 vs. $43,900)
  • University of South Carolina Columbia students graduate with a $200 lower median federal student loan debt than EMU graduates. ($23,250 vs. $23,450)
  • UofSC graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than EMU graduates. ($240 vs. $242)
  • More EMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UofSC students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/