University of South Carolina-Columbia vs Auburn University

University of South Carolina-Columbia and Auburn University are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: Auburn University is more selective with a 50.5% acceptance rate compared to University of South Carolina-Columbia's 61.5%. Average SAT scores are 1297 and 1318 respectively.

Cost: Auburn University offers a lower average net price at $23,897, which is $635 less than University of South Carolina-Columbia ($24,532). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Auburn University earn a median salary of $65,337 ten years after enrollment, which is $3,160 more than University of South Carolina-Columbia graduates ($62,177).

Graduation: Auburn University leads with a 80.0% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 90.7% vs 93.2%.

Campus Size: University of South Carolina-Columbia is the larger campus with 28,113 total students, while Auburn University has 25,732.

Bottom Line: Auburn University stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.