Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of South Carolina-Upstate #378 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of South Carolina-Upstate sits in the 37.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $4,638 less than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks University of South Carolina-Upstate #331 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- University of South Carolina-Upstate's composite ranking is anchored by earnings beyond expectations and mobility working together — graduates consistently outpace what similar students earn at comparable institutions, a pattern driven largely by the university's strength in health and applied professional programs. The institution's mobility standing reflects a broad-access mission that connects Spartanburg-area students to durable career pathways, placing University of South Carolina-Upstate well above the midpoint among nonprofit four-year institutions on both earnings and upward-mobility measures.
Azimuth ranks University of South Carolina-Upstate #378 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university located in Spartanburg, SC, University of South Carolina-Upstate enrolls roughly 4,038 undergraduates. Retention stands at 69.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 43.0%, reflecting a student body that largely completes what it starts. The composite is anchored by what University of South Carolina-Upstate delivers for its students. 46.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 35.1% are first-generation college students — a profile that signals broad access to higher education in the Spartanburg region. Graduates earn median Health-anchored outcomes that reflect the institution's program concentration, and earn about $4,638 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of South Carolina-Upstate in the 37.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of South Carolina-Upstate #1060 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access and mobility sit at 86.1 and 77.6 percentile respectively among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the institution's commitment to serving students from a wide range of backgrounds and converting that access into durable post-graduation outcomes. Affordability sits in the 78.9 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, shaped by the public-tuition structure and the financial-aid reach typical of regional public universities in SC.
University of South Carolina Upstate's published cost of attendance is $25,124. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $11,618; middle-income families pay around $13,394; higher-income families pay approximately $19,325. Azimuth ranks University of South Carolina-Upstate #301 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. The university's aid structure is need-based, with federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs available to qualifying students. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA. The gap between published cost of attendance and net price reflects the institution's commitment to making enrollment affordable across income levels through grant aid rather than loans alone. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,310, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,836; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $55,994, median federal debt of $22,310 projects to a monthly payment of about $252 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of South Carolina-Upstate is a strong fit for students in SC drawn to health, education, and applied professional fields who want a regional public university with accessible pricing and a clear path to stable careers close to home. Graduates earn in the 30.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and University of South Carolina-Upstate sits in the 37.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $4,638 less than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for a regional institution serving a broad student population. The access profile is broad. 46.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 35.1% are first-generation college students — groups that find a welcoming structure here, with Pell-eligible students completing at a rate of 49.4%. Higher-income families pay a net price of $19,325, and typical student borrowing results in median debt of $22,310 at graduation. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Health and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those seeking a research-intensive or highly selective environment may find a better match elsewhere. The institution admits 67.3% of applicants, making it broadly accessible to most qualified students in the region.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the University Of South Carolina-Upstate hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
309 graduates
Information Science/Studies
18 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
44 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
58 graduates
Engineering-Related Fields
15 graduates
University of South Carolina-Upstate's program mix is anchored in health and applied professional fields — a signature that reflects the institution's regional identity as a career-focused public university in the Upstate South Carolina market. Health programs form the core of degree output, complemented by business, education, and social-science fields that together serve the workforce needs of the surrounding region.
Across 30 programs, 14 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, collectively serving roughly 1,182 students annually. The highest aggregate-return program is Nursing, which combines meaningful cohort scale with strong four-year earnings — making it a key driver of the institution's overall financial outcomes.
Among the most popular programs, Nursing program graduates 309 students with median earnings of $79,947 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #141 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Criminal Justice and Psychology, General round out the high-enrollment tier, each channeling graduates into stable, in-demand career pathways consistent with the institution's health and applied-professional orientation.
The strongest four-year earnings come from Nursing, where graduates earn $79,947 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks it #141 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Artificial Intelligence and Business Administration also post competitive early-career earnings, reflecting the direct-to-workforce nature of health and clinical programs where graduates enter licensed, credentialed roles with defined salary structures.
These high-mobility pathways — where four-year earnings closely track labor-market outcomes — form the economic backbone of University of South Carolina-Upstate's degree portfolio. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how health and applied-professional fields align with regional and national labor-market demand.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Piedmont University Higher acceptance rate (23.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 94 miles away; similar graduate earnings | GA | 93% | $49,130 | Compare |
East Tennessee State University Higher acceptance rate (17.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 93 miles away; similar graduate earnings | TN | 87% | $44,859 | Compare |
Southern Wesleyan University Higher acceptance rate (30.4 percentage points higher) and located 49 miles away; similar graduate earnings | SC | 100% | $47,756 | Compare |
Augusta University Higher acceptance rate (19.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | GA | 89% | $48,472 | Compare |
Barton College Higher acceptance rate (26.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NC | 96% | $47,913 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Salem State University Similar quality tier (#15171 ranked) | MA | 96% | $56,662 | #15171 | Compare |
Austin Peay State University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#15168 ranked) | TN | 96% | $44,301 | #15168 | Compare |
University Of New Orleans Similar quality tier (#15195 ranked) | LA | 74% | $47,872 | #15195 | Compare |
University Of Wisconsin-Platteville Similar quality tier (#15167 ranked) | WI | 89% | $61,760 | #15167 | Compare |
Marshall University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#15165 ranked) | WV | 96% | $46,354 | #15165 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of South Carolina Upstate's published cost of attendance is $25,124. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels.
Low-income families pay approximately $11,618; middle-income families pay around $13,394; higher-income families pay approximately $19,325. Azimuth ranks University of South Carolina-Upstate #301 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. The university's aid structure is need-based, with federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs available to qualifying students.
Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA. The gap between published cost of attendance and net price reflects the institution's commitment to making enrollment affordable across income levels through grant aid rather than loans alone.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,310, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,836; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $55,994, median federal debt of $22,310 projects to a monthly payment of about $252 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of University of South Carolina Upstate earn a median of $55,994 four years after enrollment, placing the institution in the 30.8th percentile for median earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,638 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing USC Upstate in the 37.9th percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks USC Upstate #1060 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 28.4th percentile overall.
The earnings pattern reflects USC Upstate's program mix, with Business representing 12% of graduates and Education accounting for 9%. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing is the largest program, with 309 graduates earning a median of $79,947 — Azimuth ranks it #198 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Azimuth ranks Criminal Justice and Corrections #180 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with 103 graduates earning $48,209, and Psychology, General ranks #284 nationally with 81 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $45,659.
