USC logs record-breaking number of freshman applications - again
South Carolina is one of the fastest growing states in the nation — its flagship university is no different.
The University of South Carolina received a record-breaking number of freshman applications during the latest admissions cycle, exceeding 50,000 and counting — about a 13% hike from the previous year, officials said. And though priority applications were due Dec. 1, Scott Verzyl, vice president of admissions, said some will still continue to trickle in.
“We are one of the leaders in terms of growth,” Verzyl said.
Reputation and location are often significant factors in deciding where to apply for college, Verzyl said, and large, public universities across the United States are gaining popularity.
In the two decades since Verzyl began working for the university, almost every year has been a “record year” for applications, he said. When he started at USC, the school received around 10,000 applications per year. Last year, USC received more than 46,000 applications.
The increase in interest is evident in USC’s ever-expanding student body, which has grown by nearly a third in the last 20 years. The fall 2023 semester was the first time the university welcomed a freshman class of more than 7,200 — 800 more students than in 2022.
And the university is still planning for more growth, Verzyl said, but on a much smaller, incremental scale. It will focus on new students, of course, while also working to retain the ones it already has.
Final admissions decisions will be available in the spring.
The surge in applications comes amid the university’s attempt to become more accessible to in-state students, though it is too soon to say what affect USC’s new admissions initiatives had on the application cycle, Verzyl said.
When college applications opened in the fall, USC announced it would be offering automatic admission to some of the state’s top students. Public high school students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class are guaranteed a spot at the school.
The initiative was praised by Gov. Henry McMaster, who called on South Carolina’s public colleges to reduce costs when he approved the state’s budget last June.
“Ensuring affordable, accessible higher education for our sons and daughters is vital to the future of our state,” McMaster said in an Aug. 1 post. “This initiative is a great start to accomplishing that goal.”
Soon after, USC announced that it would offer free tuition and fees for the Palmetto State’s highest-achieving students from low-income households, beginning fall 2024. Qualifying students must graduate in the top 10% of their class, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and have an annual family income below $80,000. While enrolled, they need to meet academic eligibility requirements. For these students, the university will pay for whatever scholarships and grants don’t cover.
”Access without affordability, in many cases, is meaningless,” Amiridis told The State.
This story was originally published January 5, 2024 at 9:14 AM.
