Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Clemson Penn State JMU NC State Georgia Purdue CofC UVA Auburn Florida State Mason Maryland| University of South Carolina Columbia | Virginia Tech | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
UofSC | Virginia Tech | ||
| Location | Columbia, SC | Blacksburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 36,579 | 38,294 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #210 | #145 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | sc.edu | vt.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UofSC | Virginia Tech | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,288 | $12,698 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $34,534 | $33,310 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,558 | $14,888 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $26,068 | $22,205 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $6,762 | $8,542 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 91% | 55% |
Admission |
UofSC | Virginia Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 46,682 | 47,208 | ||
| Admitted | 28,706 | 26,923 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 61.5% | 57% | ||
| Enrolled % | 25.5% | 26.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.69 | 3.97 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 27/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1180/1380 | 1240/1420 | ||
| 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 | Dec 1, 2025 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
UofSC | Virginia Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 17:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
UofSC | Virginia Tech | ||
| Graduation Rate | 70% | 82% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $51,700 | $65,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 81% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,250 | $23,966 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $240 | $247 |
Diversity |
UofSC | Virginia Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 8% | 11% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
UofSC | Virginia Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 54% | 61% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 45% | 33% | ||
Campus |
UofSC | Virginia Tech | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Virginia Tech is larger than than UofSC based on total student enrollment (38,294 students vs. 36,579 students)
UofSC vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UofSC or Virginia Tech?
- Virginia Tech is 3.3% more expensive to attend than UofSC for in-state tuition ($12,698.00 vs. $12,288.00)
- Out of state tuition is 3.7% higher at UofSC than Virginia Tech ($34,534.00 vs. $33,310.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Tech than UofSC ($22,205 vs. $26,068)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Columbia are 18.6% lower than costs at Virginia Tech ($12,558 vs. $14,888)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Carolina Columbia than Virginia Tech (91% vs. 55%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Tech students is 26.3% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Columbia ($8,542 vs. $6,762)
UofSC vs. Virginia Tech Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UofSC or Virginia Tech? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Virginia Tech or UofSC .
- The average SAT score at University of South Carolina Columbia (1220) is 10 points higher than at Virginia Tech (1210)
- Accepted freshman Virginia Tech students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at UofSC (3.69)
- UofSC has a higher acceptance rate (61.5%) than Virginia Tech (57%)
UofSC vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UofSC or Virginia Tech? 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 Virginia Tech and UofSC.
- The graduation rate at Virginia Tech is higher than University of South Carolina Columbia (82% vs. 70%)
- Graduates from Virginia Tech earn on average $13,300 more per year than UofSC graduates after ten years. ($65,000 vs. $51,700)
- University of South Carolina Columbia students graduate with a $716 lower median federal student loan debt than Virginia Tech graduates. ($23,250 vs. $23,966)
- UofSC graduates are paying $7 less per month on federal student loans than Virginia Tech graduates. ($240 vs. $247)
- More Virginia Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UofSC students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/