Getting around
Campus Shuttle System
Free campus shuttle with 8 daytime and 2 evening routes, real-time tracking via Transloc
UofSC at a glance
29,820
undergrads
60%
of applicants admitted
92%
come back for year 2
77%
graduate
19 : 1
students per teacher
$69,024
typical pay 10 years in
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard.
What a year really costs
After grants and scholarships, by family income. Average: $22,197.
Under $30k $13,832
$30k–$48k $14,286
$48k–$75k $17,357
$75k–$110k $23,410
Over $110k $28,504
Tuition, in state
$12,688
Tuition, out of state
$37,376
Typical debt at graduation
$20,500
23% of students get a Pell Grant
Free stuff most students miss
Health & safety
Counseling & Psychology Services (CAPS)
Free counseling, therapy, and 24/7 crisis support for students
Places
McKissick Museum
Free admission museum at the head of the Historic Horseshoe with rotating exhibits
Eat
Dining halls, quick bites and coffee on campus.
The Pavilion at Campus Village
Dining hall Largest all-you-care-to-eat dining hall with allergen-free, Mongolian grill, pizza, deli, international, and Southern stations
1315 Whaley Street
Garnet Station
Dining hall All-you-care-to-eat dining on the first floor of Russell House
1400 Greene Street
Gibbes Court Bistro
Dining hall All-you-care-to-eat dining in Capstone House near the Horseshoe
900 Barnwell Street Dining hall
The Community Table
Dining hall Retail-style dining with diverse cuisine stations and made-to-order options at 650 Lincoln
650 Lincoln Street Dining hall
Gamecock Park
Dining hall Central campus dining featuring diverse cuisine and the Babylon Farm hydroponic garden growing fresh greens
Honeycomb Cafe
Dining hall Dining cafe in Honors Residence Hall with meal plan options
1215 Blossom Street Dining hall
Bates Diner
Dining hall Residential dining hall in the Bates neighborhood serving students in nearby residence halls
1423 Whaley St Cafe
Russell House Food Court
Cafe Multiple fast-food restaurants and quick-service options inside Russell House University Union
1400 Greene St
Fresh Greene's
Specialty dining Healthy and fresh dining options in Russell House west wing
1400 Greene Street
Chick-fil-A at Russell House
Cafe Quick-service Chick-fil-A on the first floor of Russell House
1400 Greene Street Specialty dining
Starship Robot Delivery
Specialty dining Autonomous robot food delivery service — order campus food via Grubhub and Starship delivers it to you
Panera Bread
Cafe Panera Bread bakery-cafe in Russell House
1400 Greene Street
Starbucks at Thomas Cooper Library
Cafe Starbucks coffee shop inside Thomas Cooper Library
1322 Greene Street
Einstein Bros. Bagels
Cafe Bagels, sandwiches, and coffee on the second floor of Russell House
1400 Greene Street
Top of Carolina
Specialty dining Fine dining restaurant on the 18th floor of Capstone House with panoramic views
900 Barnwell Street
Global Cafe
Cafe International cuisine at the Darla Moore School of Business
1014 Greene Street Market
Gamecock General
Market Campus convenience store in Russell House open late
1400 Greene Street
Cafe Verde
Cafe Late-night cafe in Green Quad popular with students
421 Sumter Street
Village Juice & Kitchen
Cafe Smoothie bowls, juices, and healthy eats in Close-Hipp Building
1705 College StreetWhere to live
Residence halls, apartments and help finding a place.
Campus Village
Residence hall Newest residential complex with 1,800+ beds, pod/suite style for first-year students
1513 Whaley Street Residence hall
First Year Residence Halls
Residence hall Traditional and suite-style residence halls for freshmen across multiple campus neighborhoods
Honors Residence Hall
Residence hall LEED Gold certified suite-style hall for first-year Honors students
1215 Blossom Street
Bates House
Residence hall Traditional-style residence hall with 549 beds for first-year students
1423 Whaley Street
Capstone House
Residence hall 18-floor suite-style residence hall with Top of Carolina restaurant on the top floor
902 Barnwell Street Residence hall
Upperclass & Apartment Housing
Residence hall Suite and apartment-style housing for upperclassmen including Living-Learning Communities
Residence hall
Off-Campus Living & Neighborhood Relations
Residence hall Resources for finding off-campus apartments and houses near campus — Five Points, Shandon, and more
Green Quad
Residence hall Eco-friendly apartment-style housing with sustainability learning community
1216 Wheat Street
Patterson Hall
Residence hall Suite-style hall with 560 beds near the Center for Health & Well-Being
1520 Devine StreetGet around
Shuttles, parking and accessible rides.
Campus Shuttle System
Transit Free campus shuttle with 8 daytime and 2 evening routes, real-time tracking via Transloc
411 Huger Street Transit
UofSC Transit (COMET)
Transit Free campus bus service with 30 stops — daytime routes 7:30am-6pm, evening routes until 12:30am. Track via Transloc app.
Parking
BullStreet Park & Ride
Parking Remote parking lot with free shuttle service to central campus — great for commuter students
2700 Colonial Dr Biking
USC Bicycle Program
Biking Silver-rated Bicycle Friendly Campus with free bike registration and campus bike shop repairs
Transit
The COMET City Transit
Transit Columbia city bus system with free first-year pass for all new students
Parking & Transportation Services
Parking Student/faculty parking permits, ParkUSC app for real-time lot availability
411 Huger StreetMajors that pay most at UofSC
Typical pay 4 years after graduating. Top 6 of 53 bachelor's majors with published pay.
Computer Engineering $109,116
International Business $107,205
Electrical Engineering $100,042
Chemical Engineering $98,244
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods $98,020
Biomedical/Medical Engineering $97,927
Source: College Scorecard, field-of-study data.
Your UofSC checklist
5 things worth doing early
When you need help
5 things UofSC freshmen figure out too late
Watch the video1 Everyone takes one founding documents class
"All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade in the subject areas of History, Political Science, or African American Studies that covers the founding documents". And: "This course may count as a requirement in any part of the program of study including the Carolina Core, the major, minor or cognate, or as a general elective." Pick one from the approved list that also fills a Carolina Core or major slot, so it counts twice.
2 Undecided runs out at 30 credit hours
"Students who have earned 30 semester hours and wish to continue their studies at the University of South Carolina must declare a major in a program in which they meet entrance or progression requirements." Look up the entry rules for the major you want during your first year, so you qualify by the time you hit 30 hours.
3 That summer class back home might not count
Students may take courses elsewhere in transient status provided "the courses are approved in advance by the academic advisor and dean". A transfer course does not count toward the degree if it "was taken by a degree-seeking University of South Carolina student without prior approval". Get the approval before you enroll anywhere else.
4 Miss the final and you fail the class
"Students who are absent from any final examination will be given the grade of F on the course if they have not offered an excuse acceptable to the instructor." And: "Re-examinations for the purpose of removing an F or raising a grade are not permitted." Check the exam schedule early, and talk to the instructor before the exam if you cannot be there.
5 Record the lecture — Gus makes the notes, flashcards and quiz
Gus is an AI college companion built around your actual classes. Record a lecture and it writes the notes, pulls out the key topics, builds a flashcard deck, and makes a practice quiz from what was actually said. The flashcards come back on a spaced-review schedule, so the thing you missed shows up again right before you would have forgotten it. It is free to try.
One more thing
Under a 2.00 after your first semester? Book a coaching session
Students under a 2.00 after their first semester are considered at risk: "During the first six weeks of their second semester, these students must participate in an academic coaching session before being eligible to register for courses for the third semester."
USC Academic Bulletin — academic regulationsArts and Sciences: finish ENGL 101 and 102 early
"Students must complete ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 within the first 60 semester hours of work in order for these courses to be credited toward graduation."
USC Academic Bulletin — College of Arts and SciencesGus is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the University of South Carolina. Tips checked against UofSC's own pages in September 2026. Campus info last updated September 2026. Stats from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Something out of date? hello@meetgus.app · All campus guides