DSC vs. USC Beaufort

Comparable Facts

Compare Dalton State College in Dalton, GA with University of South Carolina Beaufort in Bluffton, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dalton State College is larger than USC Beaufort based on total student enrollment (5,135 students vs. 2,208 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dalton State College is located in Dalton, GA (Small City setting); University of South Carolina Beaufort is in Bluffton, SC (Distant Rural setting).
• Dalton State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of South Carolina Beaufort is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dalton State College 21:1; University of South Carolina Beaufort 15:1.

DSC vs. USC Beaufort Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DSC or USC Beaufort? 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 Dalton State College than USC Beaufort ($5,625 vs. $15,363).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dalton State College are 18.1% lower than at University of South Carolina Beaufort ($10,419 vs. $12,725).
• University of South Carolina Beaufort is 221.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than DSC (about $7,394 more per year; $10,730.00 vs. $3,336.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 104.4% higher at USC Beaufort than at Dalton State College (about $11,120 more per year; $21,776.00 vs. $10,656.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dalton State College than at University of South Carolina Beaufort (92% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of South Carolina Beaufort students is 30.6% larger than aid received by Dalton State College students ($8,692 vs. $6,654).

DSC vs. USC Beaufort Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DSC or USC Beaufort? 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 Beaufort and DSC.

• Dalton State College reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of South Carolina Beaufort 940/1110.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of South Carolina Beaufort 17/22.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DSC - Open admission; USC Beaufort - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: DSC Jul 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman USC Beaufort students have a 0.72 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at DSC (3.1).

DSC vs. USC Beaufort Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DSC and USC Beaufort? 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).

• University of South Carolina Beaufort's six-year graduation rate (21%) is higher than Dalton State College's (16%).
• Graduates from University of South Carolina Beaufort earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than DSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,700 vs. $32,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dalton State College graduates have a $9,587 lower median loan debt than USC Beaufort graduates ($14,887 vs. $24,474).
• Among borrowers, DSC graduates have an estimated $100 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USC Beaufort graduates ($153 vs. $253).
• More USC Beaufort graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DSC students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 42%)

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.