AU vs. USC Aiken

Deciding between Anderson University and University of South Carolina Aiken? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Anderson University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Anderson, SC
  • USC Aiken Aiken, SC
  • Setting
  • AU Small City
  • USC Aiken Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 4,710
  • USC Aiken 4,022
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • USC Aiken Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #662
  • USC Aiken #819
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU Baptist
  • USC Aiken -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • USC Aiken Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • USC Aiken

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $34,970
  • USC Aiken $10,760
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $34,970
  • USC Aiken $21,218
  • Room & Board
  • AU $12,720
  • USC Aiken $9,182
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $24,434
  • USC Aiken $12,236
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $25,969
  • USC Aiken $8,904
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 98%
  • USC Aiken 93%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 4,548
  • USC Aiken 3,005
  • Admitted
  • AU 2,488
  • USC Aiken 2,360
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 54.7%
  • USC Aiken 78.5%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 32.5%
  • USC Aiken 28.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1190
  • USC Aiken 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 25
  • USC Aiken 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.72
  • USC Aiken 3.19
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • USC Aiken B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Challenging
  • USC Aiken Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • USC Aiken
  • ACT Range
  • AU 22/29
  • USC Aiken 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1100/1280
  • USC Aiken 980/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • USC Aiken Required
  • Application Deadline
  • AU
  • USC Aiken Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 13:1
  • USC Aiken 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Education (37%)
    • Business (36%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (4%)
    • Communication (3%)
  • USC Aiken
    • Business (25%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 48%
  • USC Aiken 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $37,500
  • USC Aiken $39,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 60%
  • USC Aiken 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $26,862
  • USC Aiken $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $277
  • USC Aiken $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 42%
  • USC Aiken 38%
  • % Women
  • AU 58%
  • USC Aiken 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU Very Low
  • USC Aiken High
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • USC Aiken No
  • % White
  • AU 83%
  • USC Aiken 58%
  • % Asian
  • AU 1%
  • USC Aiken 1%
  • % Black
  • AU 8%
  • USC Aiken 27%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 3%
  • USC Aiken 4%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • USC Aiken 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • USC Aiken 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 2%
  • USC Aiken 4%
  • % International
  • AU 1%
  • USC Aiken 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 2%
  • USC Aiken 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 69%
  • USC Aiken 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 30%
  • USC Aiken 10%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • USC Aiken Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • USC Aiken No
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • USC Aiken Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU Yes
  • USC Aiken No
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU No
  • USC Aiken Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Anderson University in Anderson, SC with University of South Carolina Aiken in Aiken, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Anderson University is larger than USC Aiken based on total student enrollment (4,710 students vs. 4,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Anderson University is located in Anderson, SC (Small City setting); University of South Carolina Aiken is in Aiken, SC (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Anderson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of South Carolina Aiken is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Anderson University 13:1; University of South Carolina Aiken 16:1.

AU vs. USC Aiken Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or USC Aiken? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Aiken than AU ($12,236 vs. $24,434).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Aiken are 27.8% lower than at Anderson University ($9,182 vs. $12,720).
  • Anderson University is 225% more expensive for in-state tuition than USC Aiken (about $24,210 more per year; $34,970.00 vs. $10,760.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 64.8% higher at AU than at University of South Carolina Aiken (about $13,752 more per year; $34,970.00 vs. $21,218.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Anderson University than at University of South Carolina Aiken (98% vs. 93%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Anderson University students is 191.7% larger than aid received by University of South Carolina Aiken students ($25,969 vs. $8,904).

AU vs. USC Aiken Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or USC Aiken? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between USC Aiken and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Anderson University (1190) is 90 points higher than at USC Aiken (1100).
  • Incoming AU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 22 at USC Aiken).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Anderson University 1100/1280; University of South Carolina Aiken 980/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Anderson University 22/29; University of South Carolina Aiken 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; USC Aiken - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: USC Aiken Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.53 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at USC Aiken (3.19).
  • USC Aiken has a higher acceptance rate (78.5%) than AU (54.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 32.5% at AU vs. 28.2% at USC Aiken.

AU vs. USC Aiken Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and USC Aiken? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Anderson University's six-year graduation rate (48%) is higher than University of South Carolina Aiken's (41%).
  • Graduates from University of South Carolina Aiken earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,600 vs. $37,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of South Carolina Aiken graduates have a $862 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,862).
  • Among borrowers, USC Aiken graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($268 vs. $277).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USC Aiken students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.