South Carolina State University

Orangeburg, SC · Public · Town (distant) · SCSU

Public institution in Orangeburg, SC · 2,757 undergraduates · 82% acceptance rate · $38,262 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Top 6%Pell Grant share

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price: $18,268924th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees: $11,060692nd cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees: $21,750959th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance: $29,957939th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt: $31,0001,835th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry: $38,2621,690th highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: $30,0641,750th highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year): 29.4%1,787th highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention: 58.8%1,635th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 81.7%965th most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT: —
Median ACT: 17934th highest of 954 reporting

Campus

Undergraduates: 2,757747th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio: 19.0:11,815th smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share: 68.5%130th highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 119 mi (CLT)

On 2 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Applying

Common App member: Yes
Application fee: Free
Personal essay: Required
Writing supplement: No

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 40 reported programs.

Field	Level	1 yr	2 yr
Nuclear EngineeringEngineering	bachelors	$62,012	—
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralComputer Science	bachelors	$37,208	$32,925
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsHomeland Security & Law Enforcement	bachelors	$30,119	$26,353
Social WorkPublic Administration	bachelors	$28,598	$27,403
MarketingBusiness	bachelors	$27,488	$32,569
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasEducation	bachelors	$25,194	$24,863
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness	bachelors	$24,863	$20,444
Psychology, GeneralPsychology	bachelors	$24,267	$27,822
Biology, GeneralBiological Sciences	bachelors	$23,649	$25,194
Communication and Media StudiesCommunications	bachelors	$19,455	$23,340
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, GeneralFamily & Consumer Sciences	bachelors	$18,315	$22,192
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesHealth Professions	bachelors	$14,442	—

Campus facts

A Historically Black College or University (HBCU)source
Founded in 1896source
Athletic nickname: "Lady Bulldogs"source
Oliver C. Dawson Stadium seats about 22,000source
Competes in NCAA Division Isource
School colors: Bluesource
Motto: "Scientia, Officium, Honos"source
Formerly known as "Colored Normal Industrial Agricultural and Mechanical College of South Carolina" (1896–1954)source
Formerly known as "South Carolina State College" (1954–1992)source
Athletic conference: MEACsource
Football rivalry: North Carolina A&T–South Carolina State (since 1924)source
Fight song: ""Bulldog Fight Song""source

Athletics — 7 sports

NCAA Division I-FCS · NCAA Division I

Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $2,632,035 (M $1,722,874 · W $909,161)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.