University of South Carolina-Lancaster is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Lancaster, South Carolina. It enrolls 668 students (a small, tight-knit 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 (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
49/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes6
Value55
Affordability29
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 83.4%, University of South Carolina-Lancaster is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
83.4%
Easy
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-Lancaster is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
6.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of South Carolina-Lancaster 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 $9,801 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$9,801
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
10%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
10%
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)
$7,558
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$18,238
Room & Board (off-campus)
$6,708
Books & Supplies
$792
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,080
Total Cost of Attendance
$18,682
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
$6,306
$30,001 – $48,000
$6,462
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,072
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,310
Over $110,000
$13,884
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.
$9,616Medianpercentile
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 $5,875
↓ $3,741
No Pell $5,500
↓ $4,116
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $4,116
Independent students $9,500
↓ $116
Female students $5,500
↓ $4,116
Male students $5,500
↓ $4,116
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($9,616), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
13% of full-time students who enrolled at University of South Carolina-Lancaster graduate within six years, and 41% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
13%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
41%
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-Lancaster earn a median of $39,426 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$39,426
Earning > $25K
68%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
What this means:
Solid return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$4.0 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
University of South Carolina-Lancaster is home to 668 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
668
Part-Time
13%
First-Generation
—
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 61.5%411
Black 15.4%103
Hispanic 10.0%67
Other 5.8%39
International 4.3%29
Asian 2.1%14
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of South Carolina-Lancaster. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantLancaster, South Carolina
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
8%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
University of South Carolina-Lancaster offers
a focused set of programs:
4 distinct programs across
4 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-Lancaster is 20:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
20:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$14,082
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$11M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$68,009
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
54 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
12
22%
$81,296
Associate Professors
18
33%
$68,020
Assistant Professors
6
11%
$55,261
Instructors
18
33%
$63,389
Pros & Cons of University of South Carolina-Lancaster
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of South Carolina-Lancaster tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Tight-knit, close community feel
Low typical debt at graduation
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, University of South Carolina-Lancaster is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of South Carolina-Lancaster
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of South Carolina-Lancaster.
Is University of South Carolina-Lancaster hard to get into?
University of South Carolina-Lancaster has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 83.4%.
What is the acceptance rate at University of South Carolina-Lancaster?
University of South Carolina-Lancaster has an acceptance rate of 83.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does University of South Carolina-Lancaster cost?
The average net price after aid at University of South Carolina-Lancaster is $9,801 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-Lancaster worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $39,426 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $9,801 per year. That's roughly 4.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of South Carolina-Lancaster known for?
University of South Carolina-Lancaster is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Business, Criminal Justice. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of South Carolina-Lancaster graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of South Carolina-Lancaster are $39,426, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of South Carolina-Lancaster accredited?
Yes. University of South Carolina-Lancaster is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend University of South Carolina-Lancaster?
University of South Carolina-Lancaster enrolls 668 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of South Carolina-Lancaster?
University of South Carolina-Lancaster graduates 13% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of South Carolina-Lancaster a public or private college?
University of South Carolina-Lancaster is a Public institution.
Where is University of South Carolina-Lancaster located?
University of South Carolina-Lancaster is located in Lancaster, South Carolina.
What programs does University of South Carolina-Lancaster offer?
University of South Carolina-Lancaster offers 4 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Business, Criminal Justice.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of South Carolina-Lancaster?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of South Carolina-Lancaster is 20:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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