AU vs. USC Aiken

Should I go to Anderson University or University of South Carolina Aiken? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU or USC Aiken is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Anderson University vs. University of South Carolina Aiken comparison
Anderson University University of South Carolina Aiken College 3 College 4
Anderson University
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Overview

AU USC Aiken
Location Anderson, SC Aiken, SC
Setting Small City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 4,325 3,855
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #759 #883
Religious Affiliation Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website andersonuniversity.edu usca.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU USC Aiken
Tuition (In State) $32,710 $10,398
Tuition (Out of State) $32,710 $20,856
Room & Board $12,290 $8,736
Avg Net Price $22,222 $11,697
Avg Grant Aid $25,586 $9,701
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 98%

Admission

AU USC Aiken
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,732 2,905
Admitted 2,499 2,316
Acceptance Rate 52.8% 79.7%
Enrolled % 34% 26.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.19
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Challenging Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/28 17/23
SAT Range 1090/1290 970/1200
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026

Academics

AU USC Aiken
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (37%)
  • Business (36%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (4%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

AU USC Aiken
% Men 9% 6%
% Women 12% 13%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 83% 58%
% Black 8% 27%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

AU USC Aiken
% In-State 68% 88%
% Out-of-State 31% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Anderson University is larger than than USC Aiken based on total student enrollment (4,325 students vs. 3,855 students)

AU vs. USC Aiken Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or USC Aiken?

  • Anderson University is 214.6% more expensive to attend than USC Aiken for in-state tuition ($32,710.00 vs. $10,398.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 56.8% higher at AU than University of South Carolina Aiken ($32,710.00 vs. $20,856.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Aiken than AU ($11,697 vs. $22,222)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Aiken are 40.7% lower than costs at Anderson University ($8,736 vs. $12,290)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Anderson University than University of South Carolina Aiken (99% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Anderson University students is 163.7% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Aiken ($25,586 vs. $9,701)

AU vs. USC Aiken Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or USC Aiken? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USC Aiken or AU .

  • The average SAT score at Anderson University (1078) is 102 points higher than at USC Aiken (976)
  • Incoming AU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at USC Aiken (21)
  • 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 (79.7%) than AU (52.8%)

AU vs. USC Aiken Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or USC Aiken? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between USC Aiken and AU.

  • The graduation rate at AU is higher than University of South Carolina Aiken (48% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from University of South Carolina Aiken earn on average $2,100 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($39,600 vs. $37,500)
  • University of South Carolina Aiken students graduate with a $862 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($26,000 vs. $26,862)
  • USC Aiken graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans 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/