University of South Carolina Aiken College Portrait
University of South Carolina Aiken471 University Parkway Aiken, SC 29801
803-648-6851
University of South Carolina Aiken
USC Aiken is ranked #1 among the Best Public Baccalaureate Colleges in the South by U.S.News & World Report. This marks USC Aiken's 13th consecutive ranking among the top 3 in this category and its 7th time in 1st place.
Founded in 1961, USC Aiken is a liberal arts institution and functions as part of the University of South Carolina system, combining the advantages of a small institution with the resources of a major university. USC Aiken offers bachelor's degrees in more than 30 areas and 3 selected master's degrees. With an enrollment under 3,500, USC Aiken focuses on personal attention, quality teaching, and an active campus environment. Small classes taught by professors - not teaching assistants - afford students one-on-one relationships with experienced faculty, individual advisement, and research opportunities, all of which are connected to the institution's commitment to helping students achieve academic success. USC Aiken has strong ties with the community and offers a diverse non-credit program of trips, camps, and continuing education for members of the surrounding area.
Living in the Aiken Pacers Community
Focused On You!
USC Aiken’s small and active campus environment gives students numerous opportunities to be involved in campus life. Student involvement offerings include community service, Greek life, intramural sports, leadership development programs, and more than 60 clubs and organizations – truly something for everyone. There’s room for almost 1,000 students to live on campus and enjoy the traditional college experience. Our student-athletes, the Pacers, compete in NCAA Division II sports as part of the competitive Peach Belt Conference in baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, golf, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, and volleyball. All students are invited to catch Pacer spirit by attending games and matches for free. Through campus programming, a wide range of activities from comedians to cultural events are planned for students, by students, based on their interests.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2010?
More Information
| Total Students | 3,254 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 3,184 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 2,118 | 67% |
| Men | 1,066 | 33% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 11 | <1% |
| Asian | 28 | 1% |
| African American / Black | 866 | 27% |
| Hispanic | 110 | 3% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 5 | <1% |
| White | 1,979 | 62% |
| Two or More Races | 97 | 3% |
| International | 46 | 1% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 42 | 1% |
| Where do USCA undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| South Carolina | 88% |
| Other US States & Territories | 10% |
| Other Countries | 2% |
| Residency Unknown | <1% |
| How old are USCA undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 22 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 15% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2010)
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 - 23 | |
| Math | 17 - 23 | 450 - 560 |
| English | 18 - 23 | |
| Critical Reading | 440 - 550 |
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 | 45% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 79% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 93% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.55 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 99% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2009-10 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $18,664
Out-of-State & Other Costs
More Information
The cost to attend University of South Carolina Aiken 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
- 53% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $7,083. 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
- 53% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $4,174. 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 2009-2010 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
USCA Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 16 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 86% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 100% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 150 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 49% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 8% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 73% |
More Information
Campus-based Housing
58% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
29% of all undergraduates live on campus
More Information
Campus Safety
USC Aiken delivers campus safety through the University’s Police Department, a professional law enforcement organization with officers who are state-certified and protect the campus 365/24/7. Officers are trained to provide emergency response to crimes in progress and all are certified medical first responders. They also provide escort services, parking lot assistance (unlock cars and jump starts), and crime prevention programs at no cost. Examples of these programs include alcohol and drug education, sexual assault awareness, and personal security.
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--Diverse Fields
- Size and Setting
- Small four-year, primarily residential
- Enrollment Profile
- Very high undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Balanced arts & sciences/professions, some graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Postbaccalaureate with arts & sciences (other dominant fields)
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
Student Activities and Involvement at USCA
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions 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
- 96% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 66% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 24% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 83% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 18% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 63% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 65% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 6% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 94% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 97% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 83% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 77% 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
- 72% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 89% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 97% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 75% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 72% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 92% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 61% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 81% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 92% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 91% 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 Aiken in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 486 |
| Master's | 26 |
| Total | 512 |
More Information
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General | 25% |
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | 10% |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | 10% |
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric | 7% |
| Elementary Education and Teaching | 6% |
| Links to degree programs at University of South Carolina Aiken |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster's |
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 81% four-year success and progress rate means that 81% of students starting in Fall 2004 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
More Information
Counts for the Fall 2004 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 581 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 204 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2009 that returned for their second year: 73%
More Information
Student Learning at University of South Carolina Aiken
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.
Assessment at USCA is the ongoing process of self-improvement by analyzing and evaluating academic programs as well as university services through a variety of methods and measurements. Each academic and administrative unit implements an ongoing assessment program that clearly articulates goals and objectives, measures these outcomes on a regular basis at several points in the program and in multiple ways, analyzes the findings, and uses the results for improvements and adjustments in both services and curriculum.
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.
2009-10 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 at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 108
Senior Score: 111
ETS score range: 100 to 130
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 22
Senior Score: 21
Average SAT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 999
Senior Score: 1000
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: 22
Senior Score: 21
Average SAT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 999
Senior Score: 1000