More than 60,000 prospective students — including new freshmen and transfer students — applied for fall 2025 admissions at the University of South Carolina’s Columbia campus, setting a new record for the state’s flagship research institution.
That’s a 13 percent increase over last year, and applications jumped for both South Carolina residents (8 percent) and nonresidents (15 percent).
USC also received a record-setting 7,000 applications to its top-ranked Honors College, representing an 18 percent increase over last year.
While final freshman admittance decisions are still pending, USC anticipates a slight increase in enrollment over last year’s freshman class of 7,290. Students applying as transfer students still have time to apply for fall 2025.
"The University of South Carolina continues to see a rise in applications as students from South Carolina and across the country are drawn to our strong academics, vibrant sense of community and unmatched student experience,” said Elizabeth Orehovec, executive director of undergraduate admissions. “Our welcoming campus offers the perfect environment for students to grow both academically and personally."