Honors College At Usc: How Many Students?

how many students at university of south carolina honors college

The University of South Carolina's Honors College offers over 600 courses to its students, with an average class size of 16 students. The college is highly selective, with the middle 50% of students admitted scoring between 1430 and 1530 on the SAT or between 32 and 35 on the ACT. Students at the Honors College can benefit from a range of opportunities, including research, study abroad programs, internships, and service learning.

Characteristics Values
Number of courses 600
Average class size 16 students
SAT score range 1430-1530
ACT composite score range 32-35
Average weighted GPA 4.5-4.51
Fee per semester $575

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Student life: a community of high-achieving, supportive peers

The University of South Carolina's Honors College is a community of high-achieving, supportive peers. The college is home to nearly 600 honors classes, with small class sizes that allow students to engage deeply with their classmates, professors, and course content. The middle 50% of students admitted to the college have SAT scores between 1430 and 1530 or an ACT composite score between 32 and 35. On average, admitted students were in the top 5% of their high school class with a weighted GPA of 4.5-4.51.

Honors College students are motivated and driven intellectuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and passions. They are involved in a wide range of extracurricular activities, including band, Greek life, athletics, student government, and community service, holding nearly 30% of leadership positions on campus. The college provides opportunities for creative learning, personal development, and incredible achievement, with a focus on applying knowledge through research projects, study abroad programs, service learning, and internships.

The Honors Ambassadors, a diverse group of involved students, embody the qualities of leadership, service, scholarship, and global citizenship. They have achieved success in various fields, from winning national awards to interning with Fortune 500 companies and participating in cutting-edge research. The college also boasts distinguished alumni, such as Goldwater scholars Linden McGregor and Michael Pitre, who serve as mentors to current students, and Ella Michel, a rising senior awarded the 2025 Udall Undergraduate Scholarship for her work at the intersection of energy, environment, and community.

The Honors College offers a supportive community, with a devoted team of faculty and staff, as well as access to a vast alumni network. Students have the opportunity to live in special campus housing and engage in social events that foster a sense of community. The college provides an enhanced academic experience, with priority registration, advisors specializing in the Honors curriculum, and funding for research, internships, and study abroad programs.

Overall, the University of South Carolina's Honors College offers a challenging and enriching environment, nurturing the growth of high-achieving students and providing them with a supportive network of peers, mentors, and alumni.

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Admissions: competitive, requiring essays, grades, and recommendations

Admission to the South Carolina Honors College is highly competitive. The college offers creative learning, personal development, and opportunities for remarkable achievements. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions manages all applications to the college and provides comprehensive information on the application process on its website.

Prospective students can apply to the University of South Carolina through the USC Application or the Common Application. There is no preference for either format, and students are advised to choose the application that works best for them. The application includes an interest question, asking if the applicant would like to apply to the South Carolina Honors College. If the applicant answers yes, the Honors College application will be sent to them within 24-48 hours of submitting their university application.

The South Carolina Honors College requires students to submit their high school courses and grades for their senior year, choose a major, complete an essay, and list their extracurricular activities, honors, and awards. Students can also decide whether they want their ACT/SAT scores to be considered in the review process. The middle 50% of students admitted to the college have an SAT score between 1430-1530 or an ACT composite score between 32-35. On average, admitted students were in the top 5% of their high school class and had a weighted GPA of 4.5-4.51. Additionally, applicants are required to submit a personal interest statement answering the question, "What motivated you to apply to the South Carolina Honors College?"

The application deadline for the South Carolina Honors College is December 1, and admission notifications are sent via email by mid-February. The college also offers merit-based scholarships to all admitted students, with offers released by mid-March.

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Campus: housing and amenities

The University of South Carolina's Honors College offers special campus housing for its students, who belong to a close-knit community that supports each other intellectually and academically. The Honors Residence is a sustainable, LEED Gold-certified building near the library, with in-building classrooms, a coffee bar, and a dining hall. Students have access to suite-style living with both shared and individual rooms, with two internet connections per room.

The Honors College application fee is $575 per semester, which helps cover the costs of providing almost 600 Honors courses per year, as well as funding student research, internships, study abroad programs, service learning, and senior thesis research.

Honors College students are required to apply what they learn beyond the classroom through research projects, internships, study abroad, and service learning. The college encourages students to take on challenging coursework and engage in creative learning, personal development, and incredible achievement.

The middle 50% of students admitted to the Honors College have an SAT score between 1430 and 1530 or an ACT composite score between 32 and 35. On average, admitted students were in the top 5% of their high school class and had a weighted GPA of 4.5-4.51.

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Courses: over 600 options, small class sizes

The University of South Carolina's Honors College offers a curriculum of between 550 to 600 courses per year, composed of both Honors versions of standard and required courses, and unique courses that satisfy various requirements but are not part of the standard curriculum. This extensive selection of courses allows students to explore their interests and find classes that align with their majors and passions.

The college's course structure promotes small class sizes, with an average of 16 to 18 students per class. Certain specialised courses may have even smaller class sizes, with as few as five students. This intimate learning environment fosters a sense of community and encourages active participation in class discussions and activities.

The Honors College prioritises experiential learning and encourages students to apply their knowledge beyond the classroom. Students are required to undertake research projects, internships, study abroad programmes, service learning, and internships. This practical approach enhances their academic experience and provides them with valuable real-world skills.

One of the unique aspects of the Honors College is the opportunity for students to graduate "with honours." To achieve this distinction, students must earn 45 Honors credits, complete a senior thesis, and engage in extracurricular activities such as internships, service learning, or research. The college provides robust funding and support for these endeavours, ensuring that students can make the most of these opportunities.

The Honors College at the University of South Carolina offers a rich academic experience, combining a wide range of course options with small class sizes and a focus on experiential learning. This approach empowers students to pursue their academic interests, develop their skills, and build a strong foundation for their future endeavours.

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Alumni: awards, events, and scholarships

The University of South Carolina's Honors College actively encourages its alumni to keep in touch by attending events on campus and across the country. These events are a great way to stay connected with classmates and other alumni. Alumni events are also a great opportunity to connect with local prospective students and share experiences. The Honors College also hosts an Annual Homecoming Brunch, where awards are presented, including the Distinguished Honors Alumni Award and the Young Honors Alumni Award.

Honors College graduates are encouraged to nominate their classmates for awards, as celebrating achievements is an important part of the college's culture. Alumni awards and events provide a great opportunity to open doors and forge relationships with fellow alumni.

The University of South Carolina offers a wide range of scholarships for both residents and non-residents of South Carolina. The university also offers merit-based scholarships, with the Provost Scholars Award being one example that can be added to other merit-based scholarships for qualifying students. The university's most prestigious awards for incoming first-year students are the Stamps, Carolina, McNair, 1801, and Horseshoe Scholarships. These awards provide automatic admission to the Honors College and are collectively known as Top Scholars.

The University of South Carolina also has a strong record of producing Goldwater scholars. Linden McGregor and Michael Pitre are the university's most recent Goldwater scholars. In addition, rising Honors College senior Ella Michel has been awarded the 2025 Udall Undergraduate Scholarship to continue her work in the fields of energy, environment, and community.

Frequently asked questions

There are around 600 honors courses offered per year, with an average class size of 16 students. This suggests that there are around 9600 students enrolled in the Honors College.

The Honors College offers a range of benefits, including access to over 600 honors courses, small class sizes, and individualized attention. Students also have the opportunity to design their major or fast-track their pre-professional undergraduate education.

The current fee is $575 per semester, which helps to offset the costs of offering honors courses and funding student research, internships, study abroad, and other educational and social events.

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