Livingstone College vs. South Carolina State University

Should I go to Livingstone College or South Carolina State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Livingstone College or South Carolina State University 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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Livingstone College vs. South Carolina State University comparison
Livingstone College South Carolina State University College 3 College 4
Livingstone College South Carolina State University
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Overview

Livingstone College South Carolina State University
Location Salisbury, NC Orangeburg, SC
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 839 2,649
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1011
Religious Affiliation African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website livingstone.edu scsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Livingstone College South Carolina State University
Tuition (In State) $15,917 $9,528
Tuition (Out of State) $15,917 $20,218
Room & Board $6,794 $9,000
Avg Net Price $15,914 $17,435
Avg Grant Aid $12,500 $15,873
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 96%

Admission

Livingstone College South Carolina State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,074 6,833
Admitted 2,598 5,733
Acceptance Rate 63.8% 83.9%
Enrolled % 8.4% 15.7%
Avg High School GPA 2.64 3.17
Typical High School Grades C+ B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 14/21 15/19
SAT Range 800/960 800/1050
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 31, 2025

Academics

Livingstone College South Carolina State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Human Services (13%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)

Outcomes

Livingstone College South Carolina State University
Graduation Rate 28% 35%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $24,200 $31,000
Making Student Loan Payments 13% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $42,000 $33,205
Median Loan Payment $434 $343

Diversity

Livingstone College South Carolina State University
% Men 59% 44%
% Women 41% 56%
Racial Diversity Very Low Extremely Low
HBCU Yes Yes
% White 0% 2%
% Black 81% 96%
% Hispanic 1% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 0%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 17% 0%

Students

Livingstone College South Carolina State University
% In-State 55% 77%
% Out-of-State 44% 23%

Campus

Livingstone College South Carolina State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • South Carolina State University is larger than than Livingstone College based on total student enrollment (2,649 students vs. 839 students)

Livingstone College vs. South Carolina State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Livingstone College or South Carolina State University?

  • Livingstone College is 67.1% more expensive to attend than South Carolina State University for in-state tuition ($15,917.00 vs. $9,528.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 27% higher at South Carolina State University than Livingstone College ($20,218.00 vs. $15,917.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Livingstone College than South Carolina State University ($15,914 vs. $17,435)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Livingstone College are 32.5% lower than costs at South Carolina State University ($6,794 vs. $9,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Livingstone College than South Carolina State University (98% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by South Carolina State University students is 27% larger than aid received Livingstone College ($15,873 vs. $12,500)

Livingstone College vs. South Carolina State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Livingstone College or South Carolina State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between South Carolina State University or Livingstone College .

  • The average SAT score at South Carolina State University (760) is 52 points higher than at Livingstone College (708)
  • Incoming South Carolina State University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (16) than students at Livingstone College (14)
  • Accepted freshman South Carolina State University students have a 0.53 point higher average high school GPA (3.17) than students at Livingstone College (2.64)
  • South Carolina State University has a higher acceptance rate (83.9%) than Livingstone College (63.8%)

Livingstone College vs. South Carolina State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Livingstone College or South Carolina State University? 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 South Carolina State University and Livingstone College.

  • The graduation rate at South Carolina State University is higher than Livingstone College (35% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from South Carolina State University earn on average $6,800 more per year than Livingstone College graduates after ten years. ($31,000 vs. $24,200)
  • South Carolina State University students graduate with a $8,795 lower median federal student loan debt than Livingstone College graduates. ($33,205 vs. $42,000)
  • South Carolina State University graduates are paying $91 less per month on federal student loans than Livingstone College graduates. ($343 vs. $434)
  • More South Carolina State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Livingstone College students, three years after graduation. (27% vs. 13%)

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