South University-Columbia

www.southuniversity.edu/columbia#location=Columbia, SC

Add Comparison
    2024 Undergraduate Tuition
    $17,100
    8.7% growth from 2023
    2024 Average Net Price
    $26,884
    After Financial Aid
    2024 Enrolled Students
    504
    76% Full-Time
    2024 Graduation Rate
    21.1%
    4 Graduates

    About

    South University-Columbia is a higher education institution located in Richland County, SC. In 2024, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at South University-Columbia were Registered Nursing (46 degrees awarded), Health Care Administration & Management (8 degrees), and General Business Administration & Management (8 degrees).

    In 2024, 123 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at South University-Columbia. 78.9% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 21.1% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was black or african american (83 degrees), 3.46 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, white (24 degrees).

    The median undergraduate tuition at South University-Columbia is $17,100, which is $−14,820 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

    Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research ActivityDoctoral Universities

    Costs

    In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at South University-Columbia is $17,100, which is $14,820 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

    After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $26,884.

    In 2024, 91% of undergraduate students attending South University-Columbia received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 65% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

    Tuition Costs

    $17,100
    2024 Undergraduate Tuition

    In 2024, the cost of tuition at South University-Columbia was $17,100. The cost of tuition at South University-Columbia is $−14,820 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

    This chart compares the tuition costs of South University-Columbia (in red) with those of other similar universities.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Average Net Price

    $26,884
    2024 Value
    21.6%
    1 Year Growth

    In 2024 South University-Columbia had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $26,884. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of South University-Columbia grew by 21.6%.

    This chart compares the average net price of South University-Columbia (in red) with that of other similar universities.

    Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Other Student Expenses

    $8,925
    Room and Board
    $1,500
    Books and Supplies

    The average yearly cost of room and board at South University-Columbia was of $8,925 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 9.63% between 2023 and 2024.

    During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,500. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

    This chart compares the average student costs at South University-Columbia (in red) with that of similar universities.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Financial Aid by Income Level

    91%
    Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
    65%
    Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

    91% of undergraduate students at South University-Columbia received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a decline of 4.21% with respect to 2023, when 95% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

    This chart compares the average award discount at South University-Columbia (in red) with that of other similar universities.

    The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Enrollment

    South University-Columbia had a total enrollment of 504 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at South University-Columbia is 383 students and the part-time enrollment is 121. This means that 76% of students enrolled at South University-Columbia are enrolled full-time.

    The enrolled student population at South University-Columbia, both undergraduate and graduate, is 67.3% Black or African American, 11.9% White, 3.57% Two or More Races, 2.58% Hispanic or Latino, 0.992% American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.992% Asian, and 0.397% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

    Students enrolled at South University-Columbia in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly Black or African American Female (57.6%), followed by White Female (12.5%) and Black or African American Male (10.7%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly Black or African American Female (47.7%), followed by Black or African American Male (22.4%) and White Female (4.67%).

    Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

    76%
    Full-Time Enrollment

    The total enrollment at South University-Columbia in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 504 students. The full-time enrollment at South University-Columbia is 383 and the part-time enrollment is 121. This means that 76% of students enrolled at South University-Columbia are enrolled full-time compared with 77.3% at similar Doctoral Universities.

    This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at South University-Columbia (in red) compares to similar universities.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Retention Rate over Time

    57%
    2024 Retention Rate

    Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at South University-Columbia was 57%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (82%), South University-Columbia had a retention rate lower than its peers.

    This chart shows the retention rate over time at South University-Columbia (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

    Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)
    1. Black or African American
      339 enrolled students
    2. White
      60 enrolled students
    3. Two or More Races
      18 enrolled students

    The enrolled student population at South University-Columbia is 67.3% Black or African American, 11.9% White, 3.57% Two or More Races, 2.58% Hispanic or Latino, 0.992% American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.992% Asian, and 0.397% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.2% White, 16.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 10.4% Black or African American.

    Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 56 students (11.1%) did not report their race.

    View Data
    Save Image
    View Data
    Save Image

    Graduates

    In 2024, 71 more women than men received degrees from South University-Columbia. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at South University-Columbia is black or african american (83 degrees awarded). There were 3.46 times more black or african american recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white (24 degrees).

    The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at South University-Columbia is Registered Nursing (46 degrees awarded), followed by Health Care Administration & Management (8 degrees) and General Business Administration & Management (8 degrees).

    In 2024,  the most specialized majors across all degree types at South University-Columbia, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Health (98 degrees awarded), Protective Services (4 degrees), and Psychology (4 degrees).

    Common Jobs by Major

    Registered nurses
    Most Common Job

    The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at South University-Columbia are Registered nurses (1,653,164 people), Accountants & auditors (1,061,081 people), Other managers (947,016 people), Financial managers (567,528 people), and Chief executives & legislators (464,689 people).

    The most specialized majors at South University-Columbia in 2024 are Health (98 degrees awarded), Protective Services (4 degrees), Psychology (4 degrees), Business (14 degrees), and Public Administration and Social Service (1 degrees) (as of 2024).

    View Data
    Save Image

    Highest Paying Jobs by Major

    Surgeons
    Highest Paying Job

    The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at South University-Columbia are Surgeons, Physicians, Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, Geoscientists and hydrologists, except geographers, and Photographic process workers & processing machine operators

    The most specialized majors at South University-Columbia are Health (98 degrees awarded), Protective Services (4 degrees), Psychology (4 degrees), Business (14 degrees), and Public Administration and Social Service (1 degrees) (as of 2024).

    View Data
    Save Image

    Common Industries by Major

    General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals
    Most Common Industry

    The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at South University-Columbia are General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (2,171,208 people), Elementary & secondary schools (1,209,917 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (696,511 people), Computer Systems Design (676,712 people), and Outpatient care centers (608,182 people).

    The most specialized majors at South University-Columbia are Health (98 degrees awarded), Protective Services (4 degrees), Psychology (4 degrees), Business (14 degrees), and Public Administration and Social Service (1 degrees) (as of 2024).

    View Data
    Save Image

    Majors Awarded

    IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by South University-Columbia.
    Most Common (2024)
    1. Occupational Therapist Assistant
      8 degrees awarded
    2. Physical Therapy Technician
      7 degrees awarded
    3. Medical Assistant
      1 degrees awarded

    In 2024, the most common associates degree concentration at South University-Columbia was Occupational Therapist Assistant with 8 degrees awarded.

    This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from associates degree programs at South University-Columbia according to their major.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

    26
    Degrees Awarded to Men
    in 2024
    97
    Degrees Awarded to Women
    in 2024

    In 2024, 26 degrees were awarded to men at South University-Columbia, which is 0.268 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (97).

    This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at South University-Columbia by degrees awarded.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Most Common Male Majors

    In 2024, 5 degrees were awarded to men at South University-Columbia in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1 times approximately the same the 5 female recipients with that same degree.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Most Common Female Majors

    In 2024, 44 degrees were awarded to men at South University-Columbia in Registered Nursing, which is 22 times more than the 2 male recipients with that same degree.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Time to Complete

    5%
    150% Completion Time

    In 2024, 5% of students graduating from South University-Columbia completed their program within 150% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 5% completed their degrees within 200% of the normal time.

    The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

    Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Race & Ethnicity by Share

    Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)
    1. Black or African American
      83 degrees awarded
    2. White
      24 degrees awarded
    3. Hispanic or Latino
      8 degrees awarded

    The most common race/ethnicity at South University-Columbia is black or african american (83 degrees awarded). There were 3.46 times more black or african american recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white (24 degrees).

    3.25% of degree recipients (4 students) did not report their race.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Race & Ethnicity by Sex

    Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)
    1. Black or African American Female
      188 degrees awarded
    2. Black or African American Female
      176 degrees awarded
    3. Black or African American Female
      168 degrees awarded

    The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at South University-Columbia is black or african american female (188 degrees awarded). There were 1.07 times more black or african american female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american female (176 degrees).

    View Data
    Save Image

    Operations

    In 2024, South University-Columbia had a total salary expenditure of 11.1M. South University-Columbia employs 5 Assistant professors, 3 Instructors and 1 Professors. Most academics at South University-Columbia are Female Assistant professor (4), Female Instructor (2), and Male Instructor (1).

    The most common positions for non-instructional staff at South University-Columbia are: Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services, with 18 employees, Management, with 7 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 3 employees.

    Salary Expenditure

    $4.46M
    2024 Salaries
    0.395%
    growth from 2023

    In 2024, South University-Columbia paid a median of $4.46M in salaries, which represents 40% of their overall expenditure ($11.1M) and a 0.395% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 16.9% decline between 2022 and 2023, and a 20.4% decline between 2021 and 2022.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Instructional Salaries

    $764k
    Instructional Salaries
    9
    Number of Employees

    In 2024, South University-Columbia paid a total of $764k to 9 employees working as instructors, which represents 17.1% of all salaries paid.

    This is compared to a median of $4.1M (2.29%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Occupations by Share

    In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at South University-Columbia were Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 18 employees, Management with 7 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 3 employees.

    View Data
    Save Image