OSU vs. UofSC

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

 OSU UofSC
Location Corvallis, OR Columbia, SC
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 35,622 36,579
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #379 #210
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website oregonstate.edu sc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 OSU UofSC
Tuition (In State) $11,145 $12,288
Tuition (Out of State) $33,315 $34,534
Room & Board $15,075 $12,558
Avg Net Price $21,868 $26,068
Avg Grant Aid $9,922 $6,762
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 91%

Admission

 OSU UofSC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 29,025 46,682
Admitted 22,886 28,706
Acceptance Rate 78.8% 61.5%
Enrolled % 20.5% 25.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 3.69
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/28 26/32
SAT Range 1120/1370 1180/1380
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2026 Dec 1, 2025

Academics

 OSU UofSC
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Engineering (15%)
  • Work and Family Studies (11%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (6%)
  • Business (35%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

 OSU UofSC
Graduation Rate 61% 70%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,900 $51,700
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,500 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $242 $240

Diversity

 OSU UofSC
% Men 7% 8%
% Women 8% 14%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 77%
% Black 1% 10%
% Hispanic 9% 4%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 4%
% International 6% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

 OSU UofSC
% In-State 57% 54%
% Out-of-State 40% 45%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Carolina Columbia is larger than than OSU based on total student enrollment (36,579 students vs. 35,622 students)

OSU vs. UofSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OSU or UofSC?

  • University of South Carolina Columbia is 10.3% more expensive to attend than OSU for in-state tuition ($12,288.00 vs. $11,145.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.7% higher at UofSC than Oregon State University ($34,534.00 vs. $33,315.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Oregon State University than UofSC ($21,868 vs. $26,068)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Columbia are 20% lower than costs at Oregon State University ($12,558 vs. $15,075)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Carolina Columbia than Oregon State University (91% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Oregon State University students is 46.7% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Columbia ($9,922 vs. $6,762)

OSU vs. UofSC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of South Carolina Columbia (1220) is 107 points higher than at OSU (1113)
  • Incoming UofSC students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at OSU (25)
  • Accepted freshman UofSC students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at OSU (3.61)
  • OSU has a higher acceptance rate (78.8%) than UofSC (61.5%)

OSU vs. UofSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, OSU 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 OSU.

  • The graduation rate at UofSC is higher than Oregon State University (70% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from Oregon State University earn on average $2,200 more per year than UofSC graduates after ten years. ($53,900 vs. $51,700)
  • University of South Carolina Columbia students graduate with a $250 lower median federal student loan debt than OSU graduates. ($23,250 vs. $23,500)
  • UofSC graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than OSU graduates. ($240 vs. $242)
  • More UofSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OSU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 66%)

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