University of Massachusetts-Amherst (UMass) vs University of South Carolina-Columbia (UofSC)

Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant college towns of Amherst, Massachusetts, and Columbia, South Carolina, home to the esteemed University of Massachusetts-Amherst and University of South Carolina-Columbia, respectively. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence, they offer distinct experiences shaped by their unique characteristics. UMass-Amherst boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a more diverse student body, while USC-Columbia maintains a slightly smaller student population. Explore their contrasting popular majors, ranging from engineering and business to nursing and education, catering to a wide spectrum of academic interests. Discover the nuances in their graduation rates, reflecting the institutions' dedication to student success. Delve into the comparison table to uncover further insights into these two exceptional universities, empowering you to make an informed decision that aligns with your aspirations and goals.
University of Massachusetts-Amherst logo

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

University of South Carolina-Columbia logo

University of South Carolina-Columbia

Overview

Location Amherst, Massachusetts Columbia, South Carolina
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 91.0% 87.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 65.5% 61.6%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $85

Graduate: $85
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $50
SAT range 1250 - 1460 1150 - 1360
ACT range 28 - 33 26 - 31
Students submitting SAT score 26.0% 38.0%
Students submitting ACT score 5.0% 26.0%
Total number of applicants 42,540 42,045
Total number of admissions given out 27,877 25,884
Admitted students who chose to enroll 4,872 6,174
Yield rate 17.5% 23.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $32,434

Out of state: $52,959
In state: $29,398

Out of state: $50,638
Average net price $17,291 $21,898
Tuition
In state: $15,791

Out of state: $36,316
In state: $12,288

Out of state: $33,528
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,611

Meal plan: $5,984
Room/dormitory: $7,010

Meal plan: $3,980
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Other alternative tuition plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

86.0%
Average amount $10,662
93.0%
Average amount $7,055
Students receiving federal student loan 39.0%
Average amount $5,123
48.0%
Average amount $5,340
Students taking out private loans 7.0%
Average amount $15,924
10.0%
Average amount $17,657

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 24,231
Men 48.8% Women 51.2%
26,864
Men 44.9% Women 55.1%
Graduate students 7,814
Men 47.9% Women 52.1%
8,607
Men 37.4% Women 62.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 11.1% 4.8%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 13,582 9,377
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New York New Jersey Connecticut California New Hampshire N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Health Professions
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Communication and Journalism
Students to faculty ratio 18:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 83.7% 78.2%
Dropout rate 5.1% 5.3%
Transferred out 10.5% 16.0%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $112,236
  • Year 2: $99,741
  • Year 3: $118,959
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,497
  • Year 2: $97,071
  • Year 3: $105,578
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,216
  • Year 2: $78,232
  • Year 3: $95,030
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,683
  • Year 2: $75,518
  • Year 3: $94,055
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,391
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $79,970
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,906
  • Year 2: $67,202
  • Year 3: $79,007
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,222
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $76,636
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,607
  • Year 2: $68,647
  • Year 3: $74,913
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,719
  • Year 2: $65,594
  • Year 3: $74,578
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,571
  • Year 2: $63,646
  • Year 3: $73,746
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $102,315
  • Year 2: $132,531
  • Year 3: $124,225
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $103,612
  • Year 2: $114,145
  • Year 3: $117,580
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $104,414
  • Year 2: $95,102
  • Year 3: $107,403
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,505
  • Year 2: $91,986
  • Year 3: $97,806
International Business (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $82,202
  • Year 2: $90,049
  • Year 3: $93,323
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,370
  • Year 2: $70,680
  • Year 3: $79,846
Public Health (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $77,526
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,229
  • Year 2: $71,854
  • Year 3: $76,713
International Business (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,365
  • Year 2: $70,776
  • Year 3: $73,730
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,632
  • Year 2: $66,670
  • Year 3: $72,857

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