USC sets another record for freshmen applications. Here’s how many are interested
The University of South Carolina has received a record-breaking number of applications once again.
More than 60,000 prospective students applied for the fall 2025 semester. It’s a sharp increase from the previous admissions cycle of about 13%, which had a record of about 52,000 applicants. The university has broken its record at least three years in a row.
Applications from South Carolina residents climbed by 8%, and nonresidents by 15%.
Final freshman admittance decisions are still pending, the university said, but it anticipates an increase in enrollment next fall too. If it happens, it will be the fourth year in a row of unparalleled growth. It comes as college enrollment is nearing pre-pandemic levels across the country, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, following a significant dip during the height of COVID-19.
“The University of South Carolina continues to see a rise in applications as students from South Carolina and across the country are drawn to our strong academics, vibrant sense of community and unmatched student experience,” Elizabeth Orehovec, executive director of undergraduate admissions, said in a news release. “Our welcoming campus offers the perfect environment for students to grow both academically and personally.”
Many students have already received their admissions decision. Those applying as transfer students to USC still have time to apply for fall 2025.
It’s an ongoing trend. Scott Verzyl, USC’s vice president of admissions, previously told The State that the university is a “leader” in growth, as large, public institutions gain 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.
The most recent freshman class peaked at nearly 7,300, the largest ever. And USC’s student body has grown by nearly a third in the last 20 years. Overall enrollment exceeded 38,300 for the first time in 2024.
In September, USC President Michael Amiridis predicted the school’s enrollment could reach a major milestone in the near future.
“As we continue to replace the smaller class sizes we had during COVID, our enrollment may exceed 40,000 students within the next two years,” Amiridis said at his State of the University address. “These numbers represent a strong vote of confidence in USC by students and their families.”
Enrollment is estimated to grow by about 2% per year. It has allowed for much of the projects outlined in USC Next, the new master plan, which lays groundwork for the next decade of development on the university’s campus.
USC has ambitions for improved athletic venues, more parking and transportation options, replacing a dorm and renovating several buildings. It hopes to be a key player in the city’s downtown development, including South Main Street.
The university broke ground on its sprawling health campus in the heart of Columbia’s BullStreet district in February, and has begun plans to update Williams-Brice Stadium. It also hopes to partner with a private developer to transform the hundreds of acres near the stadium to create an entertainment corridor.
