UofSC vs. Penn State

Deciding between University of South Carolina Columbia and Penn State Main Campus? 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.

University of South Carolina Columbia
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UofSC Columbia, SC
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • UofSC Midsize City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UofSC 38,532
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • UofSC Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UofSC #220
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UofSC -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • UofSC Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UofSC
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UofSC $12,688
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UofSC $35,972
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • UofSC $13,534
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • UofSC $24,488
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UofSC $7,139
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UofSC 91%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UofSC 52,703
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • UofSC 31,701
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UofSC 60.2%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UofSC 22.9%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UofSC 1270
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • UofSC 29
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • UofSC 3.69
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UofSC A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • UofSC Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UofSC Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • UofSC 26/32
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • UofSC 1180/1360
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UofSC Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UofSC Dec 1, 2026
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UofSC 19:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UofSC
    • Business (35%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UofSC 70%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UofSC $51,700
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UofSC 69%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UofSC $23,250
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UofSC $240
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UofSC 40%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • UofSC 60%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UofSC Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • UofSC No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • UofSC 77%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • UofSC 3%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • UofSC 10%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UofSC 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • UofSC 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UofSC 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UofSC 4%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • UofSC 1%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UofSC 1%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UofSC 54%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UofSC 45%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of South Carolina Columbia in Columbia, SC with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than UofSC based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 38,532 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of South Carolina Columbia is located in Columbia, SC (Midsize City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of South Carolina Columbia is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of South Carolina Columbia 19:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

UofSC vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UofSC or Penn State? 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 University of South Carolina Columbia than Penn State ($24,488 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Columbia are 6.5% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($13,534 vs. $14,474).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 62.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UofSC (about $7,956 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $12,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 16.2% higher at Penn State than at University of South Carolina Columbia (about $5,818 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $35,972.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of South Carolina Columbia than at Penn State Main Campus (91% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 58.8% larger than aid received by University of South Carolina Columbia students ($11,336 vs. $7,139).

UofSC vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UofSC or Penn State? 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 Penn State and UofSC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 60 points higher than at UofSC (1270).
  • Incoming UofSC students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 29) as students at Penn State (29).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of South Carolina Columbia 1180/1360; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of South Carolina Columbia 26/32; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UofSC - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UofSC Dec 1, 2026.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than UofSC (60.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.9% at UofSC vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

UofSC vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UofSC and Penn State? 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than University of South Carolina Columbia's (70%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than UofSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $51,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of South Carolina Columbia graduates have a $3,568 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($23,250 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, UofSC graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($240 vs. $277).
  • More UofSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.