Wikipedia

University of South Carolina Aiken

The University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA, formerly USC Aiken) is a public university in the Aiken, South Carolina area. It is part of the University of South Carolina System and offers undergraduate degree programs as well as master's degrees. Additional graduate courses and degree programs are offered through the University of South Carolina Extended Graduate Campus program. The University of South Carolina Aiken awards baccalaureate degrees in more than 30 major areas of study including the bachelor of science in business administration online through Palmetto College.[4]

The University of
South Carolina Aiken
TypePublic university
Established1961; 64 years ago (1961)
Parent institution
University of South Carolina System
ChancellorDaniel Heimmermann[1]
ProvostPhillip Bridgmon
Academic staff
251
Students3,840[2]
Undergraduates3,145
Postgraduates695
Location
Aiken, South Carolina (portions)
,
U.S.

33°34′23.91″N 81°46′06.34″W / 33.5733083°N 81.7684278°W / 33.5733083; -81.7684278
CampusUrban, 453 acres (183 ha)
ColorsUSCA Midnight & USCA Fire Red[3]
   
NicknamePacers
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division II – Peach Belt
MascotAce the Pacer
Websiteusca.edu
Map

Campus

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The quad fountain on USCA's main campus

The campus is located on 453 acres (183 ha) in the Aiken area, 18 miles (29 km) from Augusta, Georgia, and 60 miles from Columbia, South Carolina.[5]

 
The Double Knot sculpture at the Robert E. Penland Administration Building

As of 2020 portions of the campus are in the Aiken city limits, though the majority is outside of the Aiken city limits in an unincorporated area.[6]

Academics

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The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Many of its programs are accredited or approved by program- or discipline-specific accreditors:

  • The School of Education's undergraduate programs in early childhood, elementary, secondary, and special education are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Its graduate program for the M.Ed. in educational technology also is accredited by CAEP.
  • The School of Business Administration is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.[7]
  • The School of Nursing's program is approved by the South Carolina State Board of Nursing and is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.
  • USCA's master of science in applied clinical psychology degree program is accredited by the Master's in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC).
  • USCA's department of chemistry and physics is nationally certified by the American Chemical Society. USCA is the smallest university in the state of South Carolina to be nationally certified by the American Chemical Society and one of only nine in the state.

The University of South Carolina Aiken was ranked number 49 among "Regional Universities" in the southern US in the 2023 edition of U.S. News & World Report's guide America's Best Colleges. In 2019, the university was ranked #1 among top public regional colleges in the southern US. The university has frequently been ranked in the top three public regional colleges and has been ranked first eleven times: 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021.[8]

Students

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As of the fall of 2021, USCA had an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 3,101 undergraduate students and 768 graduate students. Students enjoy a low faculty-to-student ratio of 14:1 and 69% of classes consisting of 20 or fewer students.[9] The university reached record enrollment rates in the fall of 2018.

Student life

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Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023[10]
Race and ethnicity Total
White 60%
 
Black 22%
 
Hispanic 8%
 
Two or more races 6%
 
International student 2%
 
Asian 1%
 
Unknown 1%
 
Economic diversity
Low-income[a] 41%
 
Affluent[b] 59%
 

Greek life

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The Greek system at USCA consists of five fraternities and seven sororities. In fall 2021, seven percent of undergraduate men and six percent of undergraduate women were active in USCA's Greek life community.[11]

Student publications

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The school newspaper is the weekly Pacer Times,[12] Founded in 1963 as the Rebellaire,[13] physical copies of the Pacer Times were once printed by the Aiken Standard.[14] The school also has a student-run literary journal, Broken Ink.[15]

Athletics

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The Convocation Center, home of USCA's basketball and volleyball programs
Main article: USC Aiken Pacers

USCA's athletic teams are the Pacers. Competing in intercollegiate athletics at the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the Pacers have been members of the Peach Belt Conference since the 1990–91 academic year.

The school's teams were initially known as the Rebels. The mascot name was changed to Pacers in 1971.[13]

The Pacers compete in ten intercollegiate varsity sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, and soccer; women's sports include basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, and volleyball. Men's and women's tennis were discontinued at the end of the 2018–19 school year. The Pacers have also formerly offered both a cheerleading program and an award-winning dance team, with both replaced by a combined co-ed spirit squad.

Notable alumni

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Notes

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  1. ^ The percentage of students who received an income-based federal Pell grant intended for low-income students.
  2. ^ The percentage of students who are a part of the American middle class at the bare minimum.

References

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  1. ^ "Dr. Daniel Heimmermann Named UofSC Aiken Chancellor". 9 April 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  2. ^ "University of South Carolina Aiken". Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  3. ^ "Colors". Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  4. ^ "Palmetto College - Palmetto College - University of South Carolina".
  5. ^ "Campus Info". Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  6. ^ "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Aiken city, SC" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. p. 1 (PDF p. 2/10). Retrieved 2024-10-25. Univ of South Carolina Aiken
  7. ^ "About AACSB Accreditation". Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  8. ^ "USC Aiken #1, Again". USC Aiken Office of Marketing. Sep 9, 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  9. ^ "University of South Carolina Aiken". Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  10. ^ "College Scorecard: University of South Carolina Aiken". College Scorecard. United States Department of Education. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  11. ^ "Student Life". Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  12. ^ Pacer Times official website (accessed January 21, 2023).
  13. ^ a b Pacer Times, Vol. 50 no. 1, p.1 (August 8, 2013).
  14. ^ "Wright named editor-in-chief of Pacer Times", Aiken Standard, August 31, 2012.
  15. ^ "'Broken Ink' garners All-American status", Aiken Standard, August 17, 2013.
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