Columbia, SC · Clery Act 2024 · Public

University of South Carolina-Columbia

Across 2022–2024, University of South Carolina-Columbia reported 152 incidents in the Clery Criminal Offenses section, and the yearly count rose over that span (largest filed category: Motor Vehicle Theft). Nearby same-state same-level comparison: Clemson University.

2.57
Incidents / 1k students
#1,195
Rank of 2,072
#41
SC rank
38,532
Enrolled students

2.57 reported score-category incidents per 1,000 students

University of South Carolina-Columbia reports 2.57 2024 score-category incidents per 1,000 - 27% below North Carolina State University at Raleigh. Similar-enrollment scored peers: North Carolina State University at Raleigh (2.99/1k); The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (3.41/1k); California State University-Northridge (3.55/1k); University of Colorado Boulder (6.47/1k); Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (1.16/1k). Same-state same-level set also includes Clemson University (2.82/1k); Greenville Technical College (0.08/1k); College of Charleston (2.43/1k); Coastal Carolina University (0.70/1k); University of South Carolina-Upstate (2.03/1k); Winthrop University (5.52/1k); Anderson University (1.49/1k); Lander University (0.91/1k). Largest Criminal Offenses total across filed years: Motor Vehicle Theft.

Data source U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety and Security Survey

incidents / 1,000 students
2.57
of 2,072 ranked nationally
#1,195
report fewer incidents than this campus
58%
Criminal Offenses, 2024
54
View my watchlist

Data updated August 2026

Clery Act plate

Sheet 218663 · University of South Carolina-Columbia 2.57/1k score rate · #1,195/2,072

RATE-MID · RANK-LOWER · ST-MID · BELOW-PEER · ZERO-NONE · TREND-UP · CAT-LEAD · ENR-LARGE · FIRE-REPORT

  • RATE-MID 2.57/1k
  • RANK-LOWER #1,195/2,072
  • ST-MID #41 in state
  • BELOW-PEER North Carolina State University · 0.42 back
  • ZERO-NONE Scored
  • TREND-UP ↑ 4%
  • CAT-LEAD Motor Vehicle Th…
  • ENR-LARGE 38,532
  • FIRE-REPORT 3 fires

Nearest enrollment peer: North Carolina State University at Raleigh (+0.42/1k)

University of South Carolina-Columbia sheet RATE-MID · RANK-LOWER · ST-MID · BELOW-PEER · ZERO-NONE · TREND-UP · CAT-LEAD · ENR-LARGE · FIRE-REPORT · peer North Carolina State University at Raleigh. Codes from this campus OPE filing: score-category rate, national/state rank, named enrollment peer, zero posture, Criminal Offenses trend, lead category, enrollment band, fire filing. Not a moving recommendation.

Clery plate RATE-MID · RANK-LOWER · ST-MID · BELOW-PEER · ZERO-NONE · TREND-UP · CAT-LEAD · ENR-LARGE · FIRE-REPORT. Nearest similar-enrollment peer is North Carolina State University at Raleigh (+0.42/1k). National rank #1,195 of 2,072 scored campuses. Instrument codes from this campus OPE sheet; compare similarly sized peers before treating any single rate as decisive.

University of South Carolina-Columbia reports 2.57 2024 score-category incidents per 1,000 - 27% below North Carolina State University at Raleigh. Similar-enrollment scored peers: North Carolina State University at Raleigh (2.99/1k); The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (3.41/1k); California State University-Northridge (3.55/1k); University of Colorado Boulder (6.47/1k); Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (1.16/1k). Same-state same-level set also includes Clemson University (2.82/1k); Greenville Technical College (0.08/1k); College of Charleston (2.43/1k); Coastal Carolina University (0.70/1k); University of South Carolina-Upstate (2.03/1k); Winthrop University (5.52/1k); Anderson University (1.49/1k); Lander University (0.91/1k). Largest Criminal Offenses total across filed years: Motor Vehicle Theft.

Peer-rate neighbourhood around University of South

Lowest/highest enrollment peers plus campuses nearest University on score-category rate. Full ladder: /rankings/safest-campuses.

per 1,000 students

What this shows Neighbourhood of similar-enrollment peers around University of South Carolina-Columbia's 2.57/1k rate, not a full-corpus distribution reprint.

Source U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety and Security Survey (Clery Act) As of 2024

Reporting-period change

What changed in 2024

+8 reported incidents

University of South Carolina-Columbia increased from 46 to 54 reported on-campus incidents between the 2023 and 2024 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.

This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.

See national reporting-year changes

Signature insight · size does not equal danger

Campus size vs reported safety rate

Among 37 SC 4-year peers in this comparison, University of South Carolina-Columbia is larger than 100% and safer-reporting than 42% - the larger, higher-reporting quadrant. Axes are within-sample percentiles so outliers share the same frame; a higher safety percentile means a lower Clery incidents-per-1,000 rate.

Smaller · Safer-reportingLarger · Safer-reportingSmaller · Higher-reportingLarger · Higher-reporting026.352.578.8105020.541.061.481.9Enrollment size, percentile in sampleSafer-reporting percentile (lower rate)Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 97 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 39Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 94 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 75Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 92 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 44Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 89 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 69Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 86 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 53Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 83 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 22Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 81 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 56Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 78 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 67Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 75 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 64Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 72 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 72Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 69 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 50Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 67 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 36Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 64 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 11Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 61 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 8Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 58 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 78Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 56 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 61Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 53 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 6Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 50 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 33Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 47 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 31Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 44 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 58Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 42 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 17Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 39 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 14Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 36 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 28Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 33 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 47Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 31 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 78Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 28 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 3Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 25 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 25Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 22 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 0Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 19 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 19Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 17 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 78Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 14 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 78Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 11 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 78Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 8 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 78Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 6 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 78Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 3 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 78Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 0 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 78University of South Caroli…: Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 100 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 42
Enrollment vs Clery incidents per 1,000 (inverted to safety percentile), 2024 reporting year
Read the chart as text
  • Point 1: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 97, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 39
  • Point 2: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 94, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 75
  • Point 3: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 92, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 44
  • Point 4: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 89, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 69
  • Point 5: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 86, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 53
  • Point 6: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 83, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 22
  • Point 7: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 81, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 56
  • Point 8: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 78, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 67
  • Point 9: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 75, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 64
  • Point 10: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 72, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 72
  • Point 11: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 69, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 50
  • Point 12: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 67, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 36
  • Point 13: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 64, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 11
  • Point 14: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 61, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 8
  • Point 15: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 58, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 78
  • Point 16: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 56, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 61
  • Point 17: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 53, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 6
  • Point 18: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 50, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 33
  • Point 19: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 47, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 31
  • Point 20: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 44, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 58
  • Point 21: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 42, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 17
  • Point 22: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 39, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 14
  • Point 23: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 36, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 28
  • Point 24: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 33, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 47
  • Point 25: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 31, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 78
  • Point 26: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 28, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 3
  • Point 27: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 25, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 25
  • Point 28: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 22, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 0
  • Point 29: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 19, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 19
  • Point 30: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 17, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 78
  • Point 31: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 14, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 78
  • Point 32: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 11, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 78
  • Point 33: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 8, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 78
  • Point 34: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 6, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 78
  • Point 35: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 3, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 78
  • Point 36: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 0, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 78
  • University of South Caroli…: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 100, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 42
Read the chart as a table
CampusEnrollmentRate / 1kSize pctSafety pct
Sherman College of Chiropractic3870.00078
South University-Columbia5040.00378
Voorhees University5780.00678
Allen University6100.00878
Charleston School of Law6920.001178
Erskine College9120.001478
Southern Wesleyan University9800.001778
Presbyterian College1,0956.391919
Spartanburg Methodist College1,11914.30220
Coker University1,3254.532525
Newberry College1,53611.72283
University of South Carolina-Columbia (this campus)38,5322.5710042

Sample of 12 campuses from the plot (sorted by enrollment). Source: U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey + IPEDS enrollment. Rate = on-campus Criminal Offenses and VAWA incidents per 1,000 students; lower is safer-reporting, not a personal-risk forecast.

Enrollment scale

How campus size shapes the safety figures

With 38,532 enrolled students, University of South Carolina-Columbia is the 67th largest of the 5,585 institutions in this dataset with a reported enrollment, ahead of 5,518 of them. Closest same-state same-level scored peers by enrollment: Clemson University (2.82/1k); Greenville Technical College (0.08/1k); College of Charleston (2.43/1k); Coastal Carolina University (0.70/1k); University of South Carolina-Upstate (2.03/1k); Winthrop University (5.52/1k); Anderson University (1.49/1k); Lander University (0.91/1k). The score above normalizes 2024 Criminal Offenses and VAWA incidents per 1,000 students, so compare it with similarly sized campuses instead of treating a higher raw count as evidence that a campus is less safe (North Carolina State University at Raleigh is the nearest similar-enrollment comparison on this profile).

What changed between 2023 and 2024

Reported on-campus incidents at University of South Carolina-Columbia rose from 46 to 54 (+17%). The increase shows up in Fondling (7 to 15) and Rape (9 to 17). Falling over the same period: Burglary (14 to 10) and Motor Vehicle Theft (14 to 10).

This describes reported incidents, not crime. Clery counts move with reporting policy, awareness campaigns and how a campus staffs its security authorities, so a rise can reflect better capture of reports and a fall can reflect worse capture. One year of movement at a single campus is not a trend.

What actually gets reported at University of South Carolina-Columbia

Across 3 reporting years, on-campus incidents were recorded in 7 Clery Act categories here: Motor Vehicle Theft, Rape, Burglary, Fondling, Aggravated Assault, Arson and Robbery.

The remaining 4 categories were reported with no on-campus incidents, Incest, Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter, Negligent Manslaughter and Statutory Rape. Under the Clery Act that zero is an affirmative report that nothing in the category occurred, not an absence of data, which is why the table below lists those rows rather than dropping them.

Counts describe incidents reported under the Clery Act for the on-campus geography. Reporting practice varies between institutions, so counts are not a direct measure of relative safety.

Crime Statistics by Year

11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus only

University of South Carolina-Columbia: Criminal Offenses by year

Rising 4% (52 → 54 incidents)

455055 202220232024 On-campus incidents, 2022: 52On-campus incidents, 2023: 46On-campus incidents, 2024: 54 52 54 ▲ +3.8%
Read the chart as text
Period On-campus incidents
2022 52
2023 46
2024 54
Crime Type 202420232022
Motor Vehicle Theft 101419
Rape 17913
Burglary 101413
Fondling 1574
Aggravated Assault 112
Arson 110
Robbery 001
Incest 000
Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter 000
Negligent Manslaughter 000
Statutory Rape 000

Source: US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Table figures show the Criminal Offenses section; other Clery tables are separate

Fire Safety

Year Fires Inj. Deaths Cat I Cat II
2024 3 0 0 0 0

Arrests & Disciplinary Actions

9 category-year records
Disposition26%47%27%ArrestsDisciplinary referralsNo action
9 reported records
Category Year Arrests Discipline
Drugs 2024 0 49
Liquor 2024 0 505
Weapons 2024 2 1
Drugs 2023 3 61
Liquor 2023 4 589
Weapons 2023 4 0
Drugs 2022 4 119
Liquor 2022 1 770
Weapons 2022 4 1

University of South Carolina-Columbia vs peer institutions

Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment

Scores are $2024 Criminal Offenses and VAWA incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer in those categories).

Selected

SC

University of South Carolina-Columbia

2.57 incidents / 1,000 students
National rank
#1,195
Enrollment
38,532
Data year
2024

Cost context

Where University of South Carolina-Columbia sits on price and outcomes

See South Carolina's cost ranking

At $22,811, University of South Carolina-Columbia's reported average net price is cheaper than 84% among 81 South Carolina colleges with a reported figure. The state median is $16,525.

$22,811
average net price
$16,525
South Carolina median
2.4×
six-year earnings to median debt
$15,491
reported income-bracket spread

Aid here is steeply income-scaled. Families reporting under $30,000 of income record a net price of $12,634, while those above $110,000 record $28,125 - roughly 2.2 times as much. A published average of $22,811 therefore describes very few families well; the bracket nearest your own income is the more useful figure.

Six-year median earnings of $50,621 run about 2.2 times the annual net price. The margin is real but narrow, so how many years of price a student actually pays matters a great deal here.

Average net price reflects grant and scholarship aid for aided students, not a personal offer. Earnings cover former students who received federal aid; neither measure predicts an individual's outcome.

Academic & Financial Profile

Tuition & Costs

In-State Tuition
$12,688
Out-of-State Tuition
$35,972
Avg Net Price
$22,811
Median Debt
$21,500
Pell Grant Recipients
19%
How does this cost rank in SC? →

Admissions

Acceptance Rate
60%
SAT Average
1297
SAT Math Range
580-680
ACT Average
29
ACT Range
26-32

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate
78%
Retention Rate
92%
Median Earnings (6yr)
$50,621
Median Earnings (10yr)
$62,177
Loan Repayment (3yr)
76%

Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.

Similar Institutions

Showing 5 of 215 similar institutions by enrollment size.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · 38,464 enrolled
Safety Score 2.99
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · 38,728 enrolled
Safety Score 3.41
California State University-Northridge
Northridge, CA · 38,313 enrolled
Safety Score 3.55
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO · 38,799 enrolled
Safety Score 6.47
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA · 38,857 enrolled
Safety Score 1.16

Closest by National Rank

University of South Carolina-Columbia (national rank #1195) sits near Michigan Technological University (#1194) and Onondaga Community College (#1196) on the scored national list, nearest by rank, not by size or state.

Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI
National Rank #1194
Onondaga Community College
Syracuse, NY
National Rank #1196
Carroll University
Waukesha, WI
National Rank #1193
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Memphis, TN
National Rank #1197
Minot State University
Minot, ND
National Rank #1192

Nationwide campuses with similar scale or Clery rate

Two Clery-derived peer sets for University of South Carolina-Columbia, both outside SC so the neighborhoods are not state containment (Similar Institutions and national-rank neighbors above stay enrollment- or rank-based).

Similar enrollment (nationwide)

North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · 38,464 enrolled
Safety score 2.99
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · 38,728 enrolled
Safety score 3.41
California State University-Northridge
Northridge, CA · 38,313 enrolled
Safety score 3.55
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO · 38,799 enrolled
Safety score 6.47
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA · 38,857 enrolled
Safety score 1.16
Boston University
Boston, MA · 37,737 enrolled
Safety score 1.67
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA · 37,661 enrolled
Safety score 2.28
Collin County Community College District
Mckinney, TX · 39,548 enrolled
Safety score 0.56

Similar 2024 Clery rate (nationwide)

Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI · 7,403 enrolled
Safety score 2.57
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Memphis, TN · 3,101 enrolled
Safety score 2.58
Union University
Jackson, TN · 2,713 enrolled
Safety score 2.58
Wheeling University
Wheeling, WV · 774 enrolled
Safety score 2.58
Carroll University
Waukesha, WI · 3,138 enrolled
Safety score 2.55
Minot State University
Minot, ND · 2,751 enrolled
Safety score 2.54
Murray State University
Murray, KY · 10,020 enrolled
Safety score 2.59
California State University-East Bay
Hayward, CA · 12,326 enrolled
Safety score 2.60

Frequently Asked Questions

Is University of South Carolina-Columbia safe?
University of South Carolina-Columbia has a safety score of 2.57 (2024 on-campus Criminal Offenses and VAWA incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #1,195 nationally out of 2,072 ranked institutions - nearest similar-enrollment comparison: North Carolina State University at Raleigh (2.99/1k). Same-state same-level set: Clemson University (2.82/1k); Greenville Technical College (0.08/1k); College of Charleston (2.43/1k); Coastal Carolina University (0.70/1k); University of South Carolina-Upstate (2.03/1k); Winthrop University (5.52/1k); Anderson University (1.49/1k); Lander University (0.91/1k).
What crimes are reported at University of South Carolina-Columbia?
For calendar year 2024, University of South Carolina-Columbia reported Rape (17), Fondling (15), Burglary (10), Motor Vehicle Theft (10) and Aggravated Assault (1), and 1 further category in the Criminal Offenses section. Every other category in that section was reported at zero; other Clery tables are separate.
How does University of South Carolina-Columbia compare to similar schools?
University of South Carolina-Columbia reports 27% fewer 2024 score-category incidents per 1,000 than North Carolina State University at Raleigh. Scored similar-enrollment peers on this page: North Carolina State University at Raleigh (2.99/1k); The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (3.41/1k); California State University-Northridge (3.55/1k); University of Colorado Boulder (6.47/1k); Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (1.16/1k). Same-state same-level set: Clemson University (2.82/1k); Greenville Technical College (0.08/1k); College of Charleston (2.43/1k); Coastal Carolina University (0.70/1k); University of South Carolina-Upstate (2.03/1k); Winthrop University (5.52/1k); Anderson University (1.49/1k); Lander University (0.91/1k).
Does University of South Carolina-Columbia have fire safety data?
Yes. University of South Carolina-Columbia reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. 3 fires were reported in the most recent year.

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice.