Side-by-side
University of South Carolina-Columbia vs Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
The numbers that actually decide it — net price after aid, how hard each is to get into, and how many students finish — compared straight across. Net price beats sticker price every time.
Same c campus feel and a comparable size (31k undergrads vs 30k undergrads) — students often consider these side-by-side.
| University of South Carolina-Columbia | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 60% | 55% |
| Net price (in-state) what the average family actually pays after aid | $12,688 | $15,948 |
| Net price (out-of-state) | $35,972 | $37,764 |
| Sticker tuition (in-state) | $12,688 | $15,948 |
| Sticker tuition (out-of-state) | $35,972 | $37,764 |
| Graduation rate | 78% | 86% |
| Total enrollment | 29,820 | 30,923 |
Net price = sticker price minus the average grant aid for that school (IPEDS / Dept. of Education data). Real numbers vary by family income and student stats — verify each school's own Net Price Calculator before committing. Canonical: /compare/university-of-south-carolina-columbia-vs-virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university.