SUNY Empire State College vs. South Carolina State University

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

SUNY Empire State College South Carolina State University
Location Saratoga Springs, NY Orangeburg, SC
Setting Small Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 9,545 3,041
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1011
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website esc.edu scsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

SUNY Empire State College South Carolina State University
Tuition (In State) $7,070 $9,528
Tuition (Out of State) $16,980 $20,218
Room & Board $14,230 $9,000
Avg Net Price $11,065 $17,928
Avg Grant Aid $7,071 $12,130
% Receiving Grant Aid 85% 94%

Admission

SUNY Empire State College South Carolina State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 9,830
Admitted - 8,034
Acceptance Rate 81.7%
Enrolled % 13.4%
Avg High School GPA - 3.17
Typical High School Grades - B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/19
SAT Range 800/1050
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 31, 2026

Academics

SUNY Empire State College South Carolina State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (40%)
  • Human Services (20%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Physical Sciences (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)

Outcomes

SUNY Empire State College South Carolina State University
Graduation Rate 19% 35%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,000 $31,000
Making Student Loan Payments 44% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,250 $33,205
Median Loan Payment $240 $343

Diversity

SUNY Empire State College South Carolina State University
% Men 5% 3%
% Women 13% 6%
Racial Diversity Medium Extremely Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 60% 2%
% Black 16% 96%
% Hispanic 12% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 5% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

SUNY Empire State College South Carolina State University
% In-State 94% 73%
% Out-of-State 4% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • SUNY Empire State College is larger than than South Carolina State University based on total student enrollment (9,545 students vs. 3,041 students)

SUNY Empire State College vs. South Carolina State University Cost Comparison

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

  • South Carolina State University is 34.8% more expensive to attend than SUNY Empire State College for in-state tuition ($9,528.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 19.1% higher at South Carolina State University than SUNY Empire State College ($20,218.00 vs. $16,980.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at SUNY Empire State College than South Carolina State University ($11,065 vs. $17,928)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Carolina State University are 58.1% lower than costs at SUNY Empire State College ($9,000 vs. $14,230)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at South Carolina State University than SUNY Empire State College (94% vs. 85%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by South Carolina State University students is 71.5% larger than aid received SUNY Empire State College ($12,130 vs. $7,071)

Which college is harder to get into, SUNY Empire State 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 SUNY Empire State College .

SUNY Empire State College vs. South Carolina State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SUNY Empire State 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 SUNY Empire State College.

  • The graduation rate at South Carolina State University is higher than SUNY Empire State College (35% vs. 19%)
  • Graduates from SUNY Empire State College earn on average $15,000 more per year than South Carolina State University graduates after ten years. ($46,000 vs. $31,000)
  • SUNY Empire State College students graduate with a $9,955 lower median federal student loan debt than South Carolina State University graduates. ($23,250 vs. $33,205)
  • SUNY Empire State College graduates are paying $103 less per month on federal student loans than South Carolina State University graduates. ($240 vs. $343)
  • More SUNY Empire State College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former South Carolina State University students, three years after graduation. (44% vs. 27%)

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