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Clemson Georgia CofC Virginia Tech NC State Auburn Florida State Tennessee Penn State UNC Chapel Hill IU Coastal Carolina| Covenant College | University of South Carolina Columbia | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Covenant College | UofSC | ||
| Location | Lookout Mountain, GA | Columbia, SC | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 928 | 36,579 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #210 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | The Presbyterian Church in America | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | covenant.edu | sc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Covenant College | UofSC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $39,270 | $12,288 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,270 | $34,534 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,272 | $12,558 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $25,471 | $26,068 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $27,957 | $6,762 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 91% |
Admission |
Covenant College | UofSC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 751 | 46,682 | ||
| Admitted | 614 | 28,706 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 81.8% | 61.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 40.1% | 25.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.69 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 23/30 | 26/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1130/1390 | 1180/1380 | ||
| 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 | Mar 1, 2026 | Dec 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Covenant College | UofSC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Covenant College | UofSC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 51% | 70% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $45,600 | $51,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $240 |
Diversity |
Covenant College | UofSC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 1% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 1% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 87% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
Covenant College | UofSC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 35% | 54% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 63% | 45% | ||
Campus |
Covenant College | UofSC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of South Carolina Columbia is larger than than Covenant College based on total student enrollment (36,579 students vs. 928 students)
Covenant College vs. UofSC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Covenant College or UofSC?
- Covenant College is 219.6% more expensive to attend than UofSC for in-state tuition ($39,270.00 vs. $12,288.00)
- Out of state tuition is 13.7% higher at Covenant College than University of South Carolina Columbia ($39,270.00 vs. $34,534.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Covenant College than UofSC ($25,471 vs. $26,068)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Covenant College are 2.3% lower than costs at University of South Carolina Columbia ($12,272 vs. $12,558)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Covenant College than University of South Carolina Columbia (98% vs. 91%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Covenant College students is 313.4% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Columbia ($27,957 vs. $6,762)
Covenant College vs. UofSC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Covenant College or UofSC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UofSC or Covenant College .
- The average SAT score at University of South Carolina Columbia (1220) is 31 points higher than at Covenant College (1189)
- Incoming UofSC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Covenant College (27)
- Accepted freshman Covenant College students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at UofSC (3.69)
- Covenant College has a higher acceptance rate (81.8%) than UofSC (61.5%)
Covenant College vs. UofSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Covenant College or UofSC? 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 UofSC and Covenant College.
- The graduation rate at UofSC is higher than Covenant College (70% vs. 51%)
- Graduates from University of South Carolina Columbia earn on average $6,100 more per year than Covenant College graduates after ten years. ($51,700 vs. $45,600)
- Covenant College students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than UofSC graduates. ($21,500 vs. $23,250)
- Covenant College graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than UofSC graduates. ($222 vs. $240)
- More Covenant College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UofSC students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/