University of South Carolina-Upstate vs. UTC

Should I go to University of South Carolina Upstate or The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of South Carolina-Upstate or UTC 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Tennessee Tech Tennessee WKU Middle Tennessee State University Georgia State Memphis Austin Peay State University GS Ohio University Belmont CofC KSU
University of South Carolina Upstate vs. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga comparison
University of South Carolina Upstate The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College 3 College 4
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

University of South Carolina-Upstate UTC
Location Spartanburg, SC Chattanooga, TN
Setting Midsize Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 4,946 11,380
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #776 #815
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uscupstate.edu utc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of South Carolina-Upstate UTC
Tuition (In State) $11,208 $8,232
Tuition (Out of State) $22,170 $16,296
Room & Board $10,040 $10,052
Avg Net Price $13,794 $13,801
Avg Grant Aid $10,414 $9,834
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 93%

Admission

University of South Carolina-Upstate UTC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,557 9,096
Admitted 2,476 7,006
Acceptance Rate 69.6% 77%
Enrolled % 27.2% 34%
Avg High School GPA 2.53 3.61
Typical High School Grades C+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25 20/25
SAT Range 1000/1170 1005/1185
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline May 1, 2026

Academics

University of South Carolina-Upstate UTC
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (26%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

University of South Carolina-Upstate UTC
Graduation Rate 39% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,300 $40,600
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $20,792
Median Loan Payment $232 $214

Diversity

University of South Carolina-Upstate UTC
% Men 2% 5%
% Women 8% 8%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 56% 75%
% Black 29% 11%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 7%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

University of South Carolina-Upstate UTC
% In-State 89% 88%
% Out-of-State 8% 11%

Campus

University of South Carolina-Upstate UTC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is larger than than University of South Carolina-Upstate based on total student enrollment (11,380 students vs. 4,946 students)

University of South Carolina-Upstate vs. UTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of South Carolina-Upstate or UTC?

  • University of South Carolina Upstate is 36.2% more expensive to attend than UTC for in-state tuition ($11,208.00 vs. $8,232.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 36% higher at University of South Carolina-Upstate than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($22,170.00 vs. $16,296.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Upstate than UTC ($13,794 vs. $13,801)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Upstate are 0.1% lower than costs at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($10,040 vs. $10,052)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Carolina Upstate than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (97% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of South Carolina Upstate students is 5.9% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($10,414 vs. $9,834)

University of South Carolina-Upstate vs. UTC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (1087) is 137 points higher than at University of South Carolina-Upstate (950)
  • Incoming UTC students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at University of South Carolina-Upstate (20)
  • Accepted freshman UTC students have a 1.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at University of South Carolina-Upstate (2.53)
  • UTC has a higher acceptance rate (77%) than University of South Carolina-Upstate (69.6%)

University of South Carolina-Upstate vs. UTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of South Carolina-Upstate or UTC? 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 UTC and University of South Carolina-Upstate.

  • The graduation rate at University of South Carolina-Upstate is the same as at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (39% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga earn on average $1,300 more per year than University of South Carolina-Upstate graduates after ten years. ($40,600 vs. $39,300)
  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students graduate with a $1,708 lower median federal student loan debt than University of South Carolina-Upstate graduates. ($20,792 vs. $22,500)
  • UTC graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than University of South Carolina-Upstate graduates. ($214 vs. $232)
  • More UTC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of South Carolina-Upstate students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 55%)

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