Students should prepare for the challenges at USC Aiken by taking a strong college preparatory curriculum in high school. High school courses selection, standardized test scores, and an Admissions Index are all used to determine admissibility. We search for students who will be USC Aiken's future community of leaders, learners and thinkers, and whose education will be enhanced by diverse experiences and who will be prepared to serve and participate in all segments of society. To be admitted, students will need to:
- Complete the 21 high school course prerequisites at the college prep or higher level (honors, Advance Placement, dual credit, etc)
Course Unit English 4 units Mathematics (Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, higher level) 4 units Laboratory Science (Biology, Chemistry, higher level) 3 units Social Science 3 units Foreign Language (must be sequential) 2 units Academic Electives 4 units Physical Education or ROTC 1 unit - Demonstrate strong high school performance (through curriculum attempted, grades earned, and class rank)
- Exceed minimum SAT or ACT standards (excluding writing test results)
- Score appropriately on the Admissions Index, a formula which uses two variables: the high school grade point average computed on core college prep courses and the SAT/ACT scores. Of these two variables, the high school grade point average is the more important and has twice as much weight in the formula.
REQUIRED CREDENTIALS
All freshman applicants must submit the following items:
- Freshman Application with $45 application fee
- Official high school transcript
PROVISIONAL ADMISSION
The University may offer provisional admission for high school students who do not meet requirements for regular freshman admissions, but who demonstrate academic potential.
Frequently Asked Questions
USC Aiken accepts applications on a rolling basis throughout the year. It’s recommended for students in their final year of high school complete the application for admission during the fall to allow plenty of time to process the application. Once we have all pieces of your application of admissions (application, transcript, and fee), we will work diligently to determine your admissions status.
Make sure that you have submitted all material for admission (application fee, high school transcript). You are welcome to call the Office of Admissions to check on your status.
Make sure to apply and be admitted before February 1st of your senior year to potentially qualify for our merit-based scholarships. Scholarships are awarded based on a combination of test scores (optional, but preferred for scholarship consideration), GPA and class rank.
We offer 61 majors and academic programs, ranging from Applied Computer Science to Special Education!