The University of South Carolina system is welcoming a record number of students this fall, with overall enrollment topping 60,300 across its campuses. This includes approximately 12,000 students enrolled at, Beaufort, and Upstate, marking an increase over the previous year.
The Columbia campus alone is serving more students than at any other time in its 225-year history, with overall enrollment approaching 42,000. This represents a 2.5 percent increase over fall 2025. Preliminary total undergraduate enrollment in Columbia reached more than 33,000, a 3.3 percent increase from the prior year.
The new freshman class at the Columbia campus includes approximately 7,800 first-year students. More than 4,100 of these new students are from South Carolina, representing all 46 counties in the state. Among them, 1,110 South Carolina students were in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class, and approximately 100 were high school valedictorians. The freshman class also includes students from 45 states and 41 countries, representing over 2,100 different high schools.
University President Michael Amiridis stated that the record-setting numbers indicate students and their families recognize the value of a USC degree. He emphasized the university’s focus on accessible, affordable, and high-quality education, degree-to-career pathways, and student experience.
Scott Veryzl, vice president for enrollment management and dean of undergraduate admissions, noted that drawing students from all South Carolina counties reflects USC’s role as the state’s flagship university. He also highlighted the increasing number of students from across the country and around the world choosing USC for its academic opportunities and student experience.
More than 69,000 prospective students applied for admission to USC Columbia this year, a 64 percent increase compared to five years ago. Additionally, over 6,700 students are enrolled at USC Lancaster, Salkehatchie, Sumter, and Union, also showing increases over last year.
