HPU vs. UofSC

Should I go to High Point University or University of South Carolina Columbia? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if HPU or UofSC 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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High Point University vs. University of South Carolina Columbia comparison
High Point University University of South Carolina Columbia College 3 College 4
High Point University University of South Carolina Columbia
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Overview

 HPU UofSC
Location High Point, NC Columbia, SC
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 6,052 36,579
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #210
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website highpoint.edu sc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 HPU UofSC
Tuition (In State) $38,748 $12,288
Tuition (Out of State) $38,748 $34,534
Room & Board $18,462 $12,558
Avg Net Price $43,578 $26,068
Avg Grant Aid $18,149 $6,762
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 91%

Admission

 HPU UofSC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,625 46,682
Admitted 12,004 28,706
Acceptance Rate 76.8% 61.5%
Enrolled % 12.2% 25.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.4 3.69
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/31 26/32
SAT Range 1110/1300 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

 HPU UofSC
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (35%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

 HPU UofSC
Graduation Rate - 70%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,000 $51,700
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,421 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $231 $240

Diversity

 HPU UofSC
% Men 6% 8%
% Women 11% 14%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 79% 77%
% Black 5% 10%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 HPU UofSC
% In-State 24% 54%
% Out-of-State 75% 45%

Campus

 HPU UofSC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Carolina Columbia is larger than than HPU based on total student enrollment (36,579 students vs. 6,052 students)

HPU vs. UofSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HPU or UofSC?

  • High Point University is 215.3% more expensive to attend than UofSC for in-state tuition ($38,748.00 vs. $12,288.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.2% higher at HPU than University of South Carolina Columbia ($38,748.00 vs. $34,534.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Columbia than HPU ($26,068 vs. $43,578)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Columbia are 47% lower than costs at High Point University ($12,558 vs. $18,462)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Carolina Columbia than High Point University (91% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by High Point University students is 168.4% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Columbia ($18,149 vs. $6,762)

HPU vs. UofSC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of South Carolina Columbia (1220) is 107 points higher than at HPU (1113)
  • Incoming UofSC students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at HPU (25)
  • Accepted freshman UofSC students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at HPU (3.4)
  • HPU has a higher acceptance rate (76.8%) than UofSC (61.5%)

HPU vs. UofSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, HPU 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 HPU.

  • Graduates from University of South Carolina Columbia earn on average $9,700 more per year than HPU graduates after ten years. ($51,700 vs. $42,000)
  • High Point University students graduate with a $829 lower median federal student loan debt than UofSC graduates. ($22,421 vs. $23,250)
  • HPU graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than UofSC graduates. ($231 vs. $240)
  • More UofSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HPU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/