Undergraduate Tuition and Fees
The cost of attending college starts with tuition and fees and includes housing, meals, books and other supplies.
This information is what students are paying to attend the University of South Carolina Upstate during the upcoming school year. Individual costs will vary based on your choice of housing or type of course work.
Please be sure to apply for financial aid to determine if you qualify for assistance.
South Carolina Residents
Full-time students (12 to 16 credit hours)
$5,604 per semester, $80 per credit hour for each hour above 16 hours
Part-time students
$467 per semester hour
Summer School students
$467 per semester hour
Active Duty
$250 per semester hour
Non-South Carolina Residents
Full-time students (12 to 16 credit hours)
$11,355 per semester, $208 per credit hour for each hour above 16 hours
Part-time students
$946.25 per semester hour
Summer School students
$946.25 per semester hour
Matriculation Fee
one-time enrollment fee for degree-seeking students
$75
Technology Fee
promotes the development of state-of-the-art computer labs and classrooms
Full-time students (12 hours or more)
$140 per semester
Part-time and summer school students
$12 per credit hour
Health & Wellness Fee
provides confidential individualized quality health care including urgent care, vaccinations, limited lab services, self-care medication and health education.
Full-time students (12 hours or more)
$125 per semester
Part-time and summer school students
$10.50 per credit hour
Security Fee
Supports network security, traffic control, lighting, and sidewalk/parking lot construction and repair.
$50 per semester
During August to early December 2025, South Carolina high school students can apply to USC Upstate for free! This is a benefit from the College Applications Days organized through South Carolina high schools
Application Fee (Undergraduate & Graduate)
$45
Housing Application Fee (Fall and Spring)
$100 (non-refundable)
Clinical Course Fee
$100
Nursing Course Fee / Practicum Courses
$40 per credit hour
Upper Level Business and Economics Course Fee
$45 per course
Natural Sciences and Engineering Lab Fee
$80 per course
Visual Arts Studio/Lab Course Fee
$60 per course
Research Methods for Psychology Course Fee
$80 per course
Live Text Fee- All “ED” courses
$10 per credit hour
Exercise Science – All “EXSC” courses
$20 per credit hour
Applied Music Fee
(Required for students enrolled in private music instruction) provides twelve one-half hour lessons in voice, piano, saxophone, trumpet, bass, guitar, trombone or drums.
- One credit hour and $400 fee per course
Course and Testing Fee
Clinical Courses: These fees are for the Traditional BSN program.
- All Clinical Courses for the Traditional BSN program testing fee is $160 per course
Palmetto College Online Degree Completion Programs, South Carolina Residents and all RN to BSN majors
Full-time students (12 to 16 credit hours)
$5,199 per semester
Part-time students
$433.25 per semester hour
Non-South Carolina Residents (Palmetto College)
Full-time students (12 to 16 credit hours)
$10,428 per semester
Part-time students
$869.00 per semester hour
Online students in the Palmetto College RN-BSN program will be charged in-state tuition no matter where they reside.
Palmetto College Other Fees:
Full-time students (12 hours or more)
Technology Fee: $156 per semester
Security Fee: $50 per semester
Nursing Course Fee: $40 per credit hour
Matriculation Fee: $75 one-time enrollment fee
Part-time students
Technology Fee: $13 per semester hour
Security Fee: $50 per semester
Nursing Course Fee: $40 per credit hour
Matriculation Fee: $75 one-time enrollment fee
Books
The cost of books ranges from $500 to $1,000 per semester depending upon major. For more information, call the bookstore at 864-503-5167. Books may also be purchased online.
Housing
The Villas, a university-owned apartment community located in the midst of the campus and operated exclusively for USC Upstate students, offers furnished two-bedroom apartments. Housing is limited. Early application and admission to the University are strongly recommended. For more information, call The Villas at 864-503-5422.
Palmetto House, a 105,000-square-foot traditional-style complex, can house 350 upperclassmen students. Palmetto House features single and double rooms with full bathrooms and communal living spaces, common rooms for studying and socializing, and and on-site computer lab. All of the standard amenities are provided including basic electricity, local phone service utilizing the newest technology in Internet phones, basic cable, access to the University’s high speed Internet service, water service, garbage collection, laundry facilities, parking lot security cameras, emergency phones and well-illuminated parking lots. A card entry system is used to provide controlled access to the building’s lobby, your floor and suite. In addition, the entire complex is outfitted with a sprinkler system. Handicap-accessible units are also available.
Magnolia House, a 105,000-square-foot traditional-style complex, can house 350 freshman students. It offers many of the same features and amenities as Palmetto House, including single and double rooms with full bathrooms and communal living spaces, and common rooms for studying and socializing. All of the standard amenities are provided including basic electricity, local phone service utilizing the newest technology in Internet phones, basic cable, access to the University’s high speed Internet service, water service, garbage collection, laundry facilities, parking lot security cameras, emergency phones and well-illuminated parking lots. A card entry system is used to provide controlled access to the building’s lobby, your floor and suite. In addition, the entire complex is outfitted with a sprinkler system. Handicap-accessible units are also available.
Meals
Dining services, located in the Sansbury Campus Life Center, features a spacious dining hall and offers convenient access to a wide variety of menu selections and offerings including breakfast, lunch and dinner. Students that reside in the Palmetto House, the Villas, or Magnolia House are automatically assigned the minimum mandatory meal plan at the beginning of each semester. Villa Residents may modify or upgrade their meal plan through first 2 weeks of semester at the Cashiers Office in Health Education Complex (HEC). All non-residential full-time students are assigned $135 in Spartan Points each semester that can be used at all campus restaurants that accept cash, credit cards, Spartan Points and Carolina Cash.
For more information, call 864-503-5900
*Subject to change as approved by USC Board of Trustees.