Match #1
Lander University
Greenwood, SC
Profile closeness87/100
Admit rate81%
- 3,397 students
- Public
- Town: Distant
- Graduation rate 50%, close to 43%
- Enrollment 3,397 students, close to 4,038
The colleges most similar to University of South Carolina-Upstate are Lander University, University of South Carolina Aiken, and University of South Carolina Beaufort. University of South Carolina-Upstate admits 67% of applicants and has an average net price of $15,680 a year; 3 of its 10 alternatives cost less and 7 admit a larger share of applicants, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
Profile closeness (0–100) compares graduation rate, size, admit rate, net price, Carnegie class, and control with University of South Carolina-Upstate. The order also uses CollegesRef matching tiers, so a later match can score higher. Admit-rate bars use a 0–100% scale.
Top 10 alternatives to University of South Carolina-Upstate
Row-wise results ranked by similarity. No curated AI list exists for this school.
Match #2
University of South Carolina Aiken
Aiken, SC
Profile closeness86/100
Admit rate79%
- 2,962 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 44%, close to 43%
- Enrollment 2,962 students, close to 4,038
Match #3
University of South Carolina Beaufort
Bluffton, SC
Profile closeness82/100
Admit rate73%
- 2,052 students
- Public
- Town: Fringe
- Graduation rate 39%, close to 43%
- Acceptance rate 73%, close to 67%
Match #4
Winthrop University
Rock Hill, SC
Profile closeness78/100
Admit rate79%
- 3,523 students
- Public
- City: Small
- Enrollment 3,523 students, close to 4,038
- Average net price $16,375, close to $15,680
Match #5
South Carolina State University
Orangeburg, SC
Profile closeness75/100
Admit rate83%
- 2,934 students
- Public
- Town: Distant
- Enrollment 2,934 students, close to 4,038
- Average net price $18,030, close to $15,680
Match #6
Francis Marion University
Florence, SC
Profile closeness73/100
Admit rate86%
- 2,628 students
- Public
- Suburb: Small
- Graduation rate 38%, close to 43%
- Same control type (public)
Match #7
Coastal Carolina University
Conway, SC
Profile closeness68/100
Admit rate75%
- 10,377 students
- Public
- City: Small
- Average net price $15,287, close to $15,680
- Acceptance rate 75%, close to 67%
Match #8
College of Charleston
Charleston, SC
Profile closeness60/100
Admit rate60%
- 10,558 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Acceptance rate 60%, close to 67%
- Average net price $18,177, close to $15,680
Match #9
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Charleston, SC
Profile closeness39/100
Admit rate23%
- 2,705 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Enrollment 2,705 students, close to 4,038
- Same control type (public)
Match #10
University of South Carolina-Columbia Main Campus
Columbia, SC
Profile closeness31/100
Admit rate60%
- 29,820 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Acceptance rate 60%, close to 67%
- Same control type (public)
Questions about University of South Carolina-Upstate alternatives
What colleges are similar to University of South Carolina-Upstate?
The closest matches to University of South Carolina-Upstate are Lander University, University of South Carolina Aiken, University of South Carolina Beaufort, Winthrop University, and South Carolina State University. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Is University of South Carolina-Upstate hard to get into?
University of South Carolina-Upstate admitted 67% of its 2,893 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, so it is moderately selective. 7 of its 10 closest alternatives admit a larger share of applicants.
Which University of South Carolina-Upstate alternatives cost less?
3 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than University of South Carolina-Upstate ($15,680 a year), including Francis Marion University ($10,890), University of South Carolina Aiken ($14,565), and Coastal Carolina University ($15,287). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
