University of South Carolina Beaufort is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Bluffton, South Carolina. It enrolls 2,052 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
63/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes10
Value68
Affordability72
Selectivity57
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 72.5%, University of South Carolina Beaufort is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
72.5%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of South Carolina Beaufort is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
6.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of South Carolina Beaufort isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $14,656 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,656
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
40%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
49%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$10,730
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$21,776
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,725
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,725
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,378
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,378
Total Cost of Attendance
$24,353
Application fee: $40 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$11,397
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,614
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,846
$75,001 – $110,000
$19,001
Over $110,000
$20,250
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$24,000Medianpercentile
$23,46075%percentile
$32,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,840
↓ $8,160
No Pell $12,000
↓ $12,000
Dependent students $12,750
↓ $11,250
Independent students $16,750
↓ $7,250
Female students $15,000
↓ $9,000
Male students $11,625
↓ $12,375
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($24,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
38% of full-time students who enrolled at University of South Carolina Beaufort graduate within six years, and 61% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
38%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
61%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of South Carolina Beaufort earn a median of $48,088 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$48,088
Earning > $25K
76%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$36,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$47,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$38,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$41,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$43,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,100, about 23% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
12.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 72% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of South Carolina Beaufort is home to 2,052 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 31% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
2,052
Part-Time
10%
First-Generation
31%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 58.5%1,200
Black 19.2%394
Hispanic 13.1%269
Other 5.7%116
International 1.9%39
Asian 1.2%24
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of South Carolina Beaufort. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: FringeBluffton, South Carolina
Housing
Mostly residential1,066 beds on campus
Adult Learners
15%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
University of South Carolina Beaufort offers
a varied set of programs:
20 distinct programs across
14 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of South Carolina Beaufort is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,659
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$9.9M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$73,952
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
101 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
20
20%
$93,409
Associate Professors
37
37%
$75,384
Assistant Professors
19
19%
$69,663
Instructors
25
25%
$59,526
Pros & Cons of University of South Carolina Beaufort
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of South Carolina Beaufort tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Reasonable class sizes
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Frequently Asked Questions about University of South Carolina Beaufort
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of South Carolina Beaufort.
Is University of South Carolina Beaufort hard to get into?
Admissions at University of South Carolina Beaufort are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 72.5%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at University of South Carolina Beaufort?
University of South Carolina Beaufort has an acceptance rate of 72.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does University of South Carolina Beaufort cost?
The average net price after aid at University of South Carolina Beaufort is $14,656 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of South Carolina Beaufort worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $48,088 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,656 per year. That's roughly 3.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of South Carolina Beaufort known for?
University of South Carolina Beaufort is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Psychology, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of South Carolina Beaufort graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of South Carolina Beaufort are $48,088, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of South Carolina Beaufort accredited?
Yes. University of South Carolina Beaufort is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend University of South Carolina Beaufort?
University of South Carolina Beaufort enrolls 2,052 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of South Carolina Beaufort?
University of South Carolina Beaufort graduates 38% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of South Carolina Beaufort a public or private college?
University of South Carolina Beaufort is a Public institution.
Where is University of South Carolina Beaufort located?
University of South Carolina Beaufort is located in Bluffton, South Carolina.
What programs does University of South Carolina Beaufort offer?
University of South Carolina Beaufort offers 20 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Psychology, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of South Carolina Beaufort?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of South Carolina Beaufort is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in South Carolina
Other colleges in South Carolina share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Nursing
Business Administration
Business Administration
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