University of South Carolina Upstate College Portrait
University of South Carolina Upstate800 University Way Spartanburg, SC 29303
(800) 277-8727
University of South Carolina Upstate
Set in Spartanburg, S.C. in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, USC Upstate is located conveniently along the thriving economic I-85 corridor between Atlanta and Charlotte and just a few hours drive from the beaches and mountains. Greenville and Spartanburg counties in Upstate South Carolina are dynamic international hubs and are home to a million people and the highest per capita international investment of any counties in the U.S. With more than 5,000 students, USC Upstate is a constant whirlwind of activity. As a senior public institution of the University of South Carolina with a comprehensive residential campus in Spartanburg and commuting and degree completion operations in Greenville, the University's primary responsibilities are to offer baccalaureate education to the citizens of the Upstate of South Carolina and to offer selected master's degrees in response to regional demand. Supporting the employment objectives of its students, the University provides opportunities for creative endeavors, professional and public service, and basic and applied scholarship and research.
Living in the USC Upstate Community
Spartanburg, S.C. has the highest per capita college student population of any major city in South Carolina, making it South Carolina’s “College Town.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2011?
| Total Students | 5,493 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 5,418 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 3,470 | 64% |
| Men | 1,948 | 36% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 12 | <1% |
| Asian | 117 | 2% |
| African American / Black | 1,412 | 26% |
| Hispanic | 236 | 4% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 4 | <1% |
| White | 3,283 | 61% |
| Two or More Races | 149 | 3% |
| International | 84 | 2% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 121 | 2% |
| Where do USC Upstate undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| South Carolina | 94% |
| Other US States & Territories | 5% |
| Other Countries | 2% |
| How old are USC Upstate undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 22 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 21% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2011)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 18 - 22 | |
| Math | 17 - 23 | 450 - 530 |
| English | 17 - 22 | |
| Critical Reading | 430 - 520 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 41% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 78% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 95% | |
| Average High School GPA Data Not Available | ||
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2010-11 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $21,524.00
Out-of-State & Other Costs
More Information
The cost to attend University of South Carolina Upstate varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 50% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $5,150.00. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 67% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $3,741.00. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2009 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
USC Upstate Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 17 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 85% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 99% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 203 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 55% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 11% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 69% |
Campus-based Housing
71% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
17% of all undergraduates live on campus
More Information
Campus Safety
Ensuring the safety and well being of students, faculty and staff on campus is a primary commitment of the University. In conjunction with the Division of Student Affairs, the University Public Safety Department has instituted an array of safety measures and programs to deal with issues of crime and personal security. Our Mission The University Public Safety Department strives to provide a safe, secure, and peaceful environment for students, staff, faculty, and visitors. Through the efficient and responsible management of all available physical, technical and human resources, the department will support the needs and concerns of the university community.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Baccalaureate Colleges--Arts & Sciences
- Size and Setting
- Medium four-year, primarily nonresidential
- Enrollment Profile
- Very high undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, selective, lower transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Arts & sciences plus professions, some graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Single postbaccalaureate (education)
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
More Information
Student Activities and Involvement at USC Upstate
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. USC Upstate offers students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. We measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 92% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 52% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 16% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 85% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 15% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 56% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 60% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 7% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 97% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 96% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 75% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 61% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 96% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 57% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 80% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 96% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 79% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 75% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 87% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 69% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 78% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 83% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 79% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at University of South Carolina Upstate in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 1,078 |
| Master's | 8 |
| Total | 1,086 |
More Information
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | 26% |
| Education, General | 20% |
| Business Administration and Management, General | 16% |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies | 8% |
| Psychology, General | 6% |
| Links to degree programs at University of South Carolina Upstate |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster's |
Future Plans of Bachelor's Degree Recipients
Survey Administration Process
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 77% four-year success and progress rate means that 77% of students starting in Fall 2005 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
Counts for the Fall 2005 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 718 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 446 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2010 that returned for their second year: 67%
Student Learning at University of South Carolina Upstate
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
As a leading metropolitan university, excellence in education that is responsive to regional demand is central to USC Upstate's mission. In order to ensure that students receive the best education available and to promote continuous improvement throughout the institution, the Office of Institutional Research, Assessment, and Planning (IRAP) is responsible for coordinating assessment processes for academic programs, general education, and administrative areas. Follow the link below to access the IRAP webpage from which you can explore a variety of the assessment activities at USC Upstate.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
2011 - 11 Results from the ETS Proficiency Profile (formerly MAPP)
The ETS Proficiency Profile (formerly MAPP) measures critical thinking, analytic reasoning, and written communication and reports separate scores on critical thinking and written communication.
Test Administration Process
Test Information
Critical Thinking Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is above what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 108
Senior Score: 113
ETS score range: 100 to 130
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 20
Senior Score: 20
Average SAT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 969
Senior Score: 992
Written Communication Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 112
Senior Score: 115
ETS score range: 100 to 130
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 20
Senior Score: 20
Average SAT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 969
Senior Score: 992