South Carolina's tuition & fees has increased from $30,298 (2015) to $36,298 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 19.80% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from $26,932 (year 2015) to $30,160 (year 2025).
South Carolina's tuition increase rate is higher than the South Carolina's average increase rate of 11.74%. Compare to all colleges in United States, it's increase rate is higher than the average increase rate of 10.99%.
Cost of Attendance (COA) Trends
The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by 22.94% from 2015 ($45,387).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, South Carolina's COA is $55,800, which is increased by 2.91% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to South Carolina's COA over the past 10 years.
Tuition & Fees Changes
The tuition & fees have increased 19.80% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $35,898. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at University of South Carolina-Columbia over last the 10 years.
Books & Supplies Costs Changes
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $1,438, and it has increased 41.54% from the year 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,016 | - |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $1,023 | 0.69% |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $1,044 | 2.05% |
|---|
| 2018-19 | $1,065 | 2.01% |
|---|
| 2019-20 | $1,085 | 1.88% |
|---|
| 2020-21 | $1,085 | |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $1,085 | |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $1,085 | |
|---|
| 2023-24 | $1,226 | 13.00% |
|---|
| 2024-25 | $1,438 | 17.29% |
|---|
Living Costs Changes
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 25.43% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 21.21% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at University of South Carolina-Columbia.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $14,073 | $14,623 | - |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $13,811 | $14,651 | -1.86% |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $14,156 | $14,918 | 2.50% |
|---|
| 2018-19 | $14,620 | $15,238 | 3.28% |
|---|
| 2019-20 | $15,056 | $15,625 | 2.98% |
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| 2020-21 | $15,348 | $15,625 | 1.94% |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $15,376 | $15,625 | 0.18% |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $16,166 | $15,625 | 5.14% |
|---|
| 2023-24 | $18,063 | $16,744 | 11.73% |
|---|
| 2024-25 | $18,064 | $18,124 | 0.01% |
|---|
Compare Tuition Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between University of South Carolina-Columbia and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate |
|---|
| University of South Carolina-Columbia | $36,298
($12,688) | $34,943
($12,688) | 3.88% |
|---|
|
| The University of Alabama | $34,172
($12,180) | $33,200
($11,900) | 2.93% |
|---|
|
| Texas A&M University-College Station | $40,124
($12,995) | $40,328
($12,841) | -0.51% |
|---|
|
| University of Kentucky | $34,140
($13,502) | $33,406
($13,212) | 2.20% |
|---|
|
| University of Mississippi | $28,600
($9,772) | $26,980
($9,412) | 6.00% |
|---|
|
| University of Arkansas | $29,966
($10,104) | $28,772
($9,748) | 4.15% |
|---|
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