In this article, we will be providing a detailed comparison between Florida Atlantic University and the University of South Carolina-Columbia. Each of the sections below will provide an in-depth look into various aspects of each school, including costs and tuition, admissions, degrees offered, academics, diversity, student life, campus, alumni, rankings, and outcomes.
Florida Atlantic University Overview
Florida Atlantic University (FAU) is a public university founded in 1961 and located in Boca Raton, Florida. FAU offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields such as business, engineering, nursing, arts, and sciences. The university is known for its strong research focus and has been classified as a “high research activity” institution by the Carnegie Foundation.
Florida Atlantic University Costs & Tuition
The estimated cost of attendance for in-state students at FAU is around $23,893 per year, which includes tuition, fees, housing, and other expenses. For out-of-state students, the cost is approximately $40,478 per year. Financial aid packages are available to qualified students in the form of grants, scholarships, and loans.
Florida Atlantic University Admissions
Admission to FAU is considered moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of around 63%. The middle 50% of admitted students have an SAT score range of 1030-1220 and an ACT range of 20-25. Prospective students must submit a completed application, official high school transcripts, and standardized test scores for consideration.
Florida Atlantic University Degrees Offered
FAU offers over 170 degree programs, including undergraduate and graduate degrees. The most popular fields of study at the university are business, health professions, engineering, social sciences, and psychology.
Florida Atlantic University Academics
FAU has a student-to-faculty ratio of 20:1, providing students with relatively small class sizes and personalized instruction. The university has six colleges, offering a wide array of academic programs, including the College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the College of Nursing, and the College of Science.
Florida Atlantic University Diversity
FAU has a diverse student population, with students from various racial and ethnic backgrounds. Approximately 37% of students are White, 28% are Hispanic, 18% are Black, and 4% are Asian. The university also has a significant international student population, with students representing more than 100 countries.
Florida Atlantic University Students
FAU has a total enrollment of approximately 30,000 students, with around 25,000 undergraduate students and 5,000 graduate students. The university offers various clubs, organizations, and activities for students to engage in, fostering a sense of community and belonging on campus.
Florida Atlantic University Campus
The FAU campus spreads across 850 acres in Boca Raton, Florida. The campus features modern facilities, including state-of-the-art classrooms, research labs, and recreational spaces. On-campus housing options are available for students, with several residence halls and apartment-style accommodations.
Florida Atlantic University Alumni
FAU has a strong alumni network, with over 160,000 alumni worldwide. Notable alumni include Carrot Top (comedian), Herb Score (former MLB player and broadcaster), and Marti Coley (former member of the Florida House of Representatives).
Florida Atlantic University Rankings
FAU is ranked #298-#389 in the National Universities category according to the U.S. News & World Report 2021 rankings. Additionally, the university is ranked #58 in Top Performers on Social Mobility and #202 in Top Public Schools.
Florida Atlantic University Outcomes
Graduates of FAU have a strong record of success, with a 72.5% graduation rate and an 82% employment rate within six months of graduation. The average starting salary for FAU graduates is approximately $41,000 per year.
University of South Carolina-Columbia Overview
The University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC) is a public university founded in 1801 and located in Columbia, South Carolina. USC offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields such as business, engineering, education, arts, and sciences. The university has been recognized for its research focus and is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU).
University of South Carolina-Columbia Costs & Tuition
The estimated cost of attendance for in-state students at USC is around $28,278 per year, which includes tuition, fees, housing, and other expenses. For out-of-state students, the cost is approximately $49,962 per year. Financial aid packages are available to qualified students in the form of grants, scholarships, and loans.
University of South Carolina-Columbia Admissions
Admission to USC is considered moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of around 63%. The middle 50% of admitted students have an SAT score range of 1190-1360 and an ACT range of 25-30. Prospective students must submit a completed application, official high school transcripts, and standardized test scores for consideration.
University of South Carolina-Columbia Degrees Offered
USC offers over 320 degree programs, including undergraduate and graduate degrees. The most popular fields of study at the university are business, engineering, education, social sciences, and biological and biomedical sciences.
University of South Carolina-Columbia Academics
USC has a student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1, providing students with smaller class sizes and personalized instruction. The university has fourteen colleges and schools, offering a wide array of academic programs, including the Darla Moore School of Business, the College of Engineering and Computing, the College of Education, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Nursing.
University of South Carolina-Columbia Diversity
USC has a diverse student population, with students from various racial and ethnic backgrounds. Approximately 61% of students are White, 15% are Black, 5% are Hispanic, and 3% are Asian. The university also has a significant international student population, with students representing more than 100 countries.
University of South Carolina-Columbia Students
USC has a total enrollment of approximately 35,000 students, with around 27,000 undergraduate students and 8,000 graduate students. The university offers various clubs, organizations, and activities for students to engage in, fostering a sense of community and belonging on campus.
University of South Carolina-Columbia Campus
The USC campus spans over 480 acres in Columbia, South Carolina. The campus features modern facilities, including state-of-the-art classrooms, research labs, and recreational spaces. On-campus housing options are available for students, with several residence halls and apartment-style accommodations.
University of South Carolina-Columbia Alumni
USC has a strong alumni network, with over 260,000 alumni worldwide. Notable alumni include Ainsley Earhardt (Fox News host), John Abraham (former NFL player), and Nikki Haley (former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Governor of South Carolina).
University of South Carolina-Columbia Rankings
USC is ranked #118 in the National Universities category according to the U.S. News & World Report 2021 rankings. Additionally, the university is ranked #46 in Top Public Schools and #73 in Best Colleges for Veterans.
University of South Carolina-Columbia Outcomes
Graduates of USC have a strong record of success, with a 77% graduation rate and an 85% employment rate within six months of graduation. The average starting salary for USC graduates is approximately $45,000 per year.
Florida Atlantic University vs University of South Carolina-Columbia Cost Comparison
The cost of attendance at Florida Atlantic University is significantly lower for in-state students compared to the University of South Carolina-Columbia, with an estimated cost of $23,893 per year, as opposed to $28,278 at USC. For out-of-state students, FAU remains the more affordable option, with an estimated cost of $40,478 per year, compared to $49,962 at USC.
Both universities offer financial aid packages in the form of grants, scholarships, and loans to qualifying students. However, the difference in costs may be a deciding factor for some students when choosing between the two institutions.
Florida Atlantic University vs University of South Carolina-Columbia Admissions Difficulty
Both Florida Atlantic University and the University of South Carolina-Columbia have moderately selective admissions processes, with acceptance rates of around 63% for both institutions. However, USC has slightly higher average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students, with an SAT range of 1190-1360 and an ACT range of 25-30, as opposed to FAU’s 1030-1220 SAT range and 20-25 ACT range.
This indicates that USC may be slightly more competitive in terms of admissions, though both universities require similar application materials, including completed applications, official high school transcripts, and standardized test scores.
Florida Atlantic University vs University of South Carolina-Columbia Academic Difficulty
The academic difficulty at both FAU and USC can vary depending on the individual program and the student’s personal strengths and interests. Both universities offer a wide range of degree programs across various fields, with smaller class sizes and personalized instruction due to their respective student-to-faculty ratios of 20:1 (FAU) and 17:1 (USC).
While both institutions have strong programs in various fields, some students may find particular programs at one university to be more challenging or better suited to their needs and goals than at the other.
Florida Atlantic University vs University of South Carolina-Columbia Outcome Comparison
Graduation rates at both FAU and USC are relatively high, with a 72.5% graduation rate at FAU and a 77% graduation rate at USC. Employment rates are also strong for graduates from both universities, with 82% of FAU graduates employed within six months of graduation and 85% of USC graduates employed within the same time frame.
The average starting salary for FAU graduates is slightly lower at approximately $41,000 per year, compared to USC graduates’ average starting salary of $45,000 per year. However, both universities have strong alumni networks and a history of successful graduates, indicating that students from either institution can expect positive outcomes upon graduation.
