I'm an out-of-state student considering applying to the University of South Carolina. I was wondering if anyone knew the acceptance rate for out-of-state students?
The University of South Carolina doesn't officially report separate acceptance rates for in-state and out-of-state students. They publish a general acceptance rate, which was around 61.5% for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle.
However, being an out-of-state student generally does add a layer of competitiveness to the application process. Part of the mission of public institutions is to educate residents of that state, and some schools may even have a certain percentage of spots reserved for in-state students. That being said, a strong application with solid grades, test scores, and extracurricular participation should make you competitive regardless of where you're applying from.
If you want to know how you stack up at the University of South Carolina, I'd check out CollegeVine's free chancing engine, which accounts for all quantifiable elements of your application, including GPA, course rigor, test scores (if you have them), extracurriculars, and yes, where you're from to give you personalized odds of acceptance at U of SC and hundreds of other colleges: https://www.collegevine.com/admissions-calculator
This tool will also give you suggestions on how to improve your chances, for example by raising your GPA earning a leadership position in one of your extracurriculars, which will help regardless of the fact that you're applying from out of state.
Overall, the best way to maximize your chances of admission is to focus on your own application, not overall acceptance rates. Of course, if you have specific questions about admissions data, you can always get in touch with the admissions office of the University of South Carolina to get the most accurate and up-to-date information, although keep in mind there may be some statistics they are unable to share publicly.
Good luck with your application!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.