Spartanburg, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Upstate is the best baccalaureate college in South Carolina, according to Washington Monthly Magazine. And it is one of the highest-enrolling public baccalaureate colleges nationwide, as cited by The Chronicle of Higher Education.
USC Upstate was ranked No. 9 (out of 216) on the Washington Monthly’s 2019 list of the nation’s top undergraduate institutions, climbing from No. 12 on the 2018 list. Additionally, the university was listed at No. 23 (out of 276) among colleges in the Best Bang for the Buck Southeast, a regional list that showcases colleges that “do a good job promoting social mobility,” according to the magazine. USC Upstate rose from No. 24 in this category in the publication’s rankings from the prior year.
On Aug. 23, The Chronicle of Higher Education published its 2019-20 Almanac, which recognizes USC Upstate as having the seventh-highest enrollment among public baccalaureate institutions nationwide, based on 2017 U.S. Department of Education data.
“The University of South Carolina Upstate is extremely proud to be recognized as one of the top baccalaureate colleges in the country in contributing to the public good,” said Chancellor Brendan Kelly. “We are committed to providing rigorous, accessible, career relevant education to all of our students, and we are honored to be recognized for our efforts to expand educational opportunity.”
USC Upstate began its fall 2019 semester on Aug. 22. The university welcomed about 900 freshmen from every county in the state, including nine high school valedictorians, 30 Palmetto Fellows and 443 Life Scholars. Approximately 900 new transfer students also joined the university this fall.
Washington Monthly said its college rankings are based on the institution’s contribution to the public good in three broad categories, including social mobility, research and service. The rankings are based on U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) data. More information about the magazine’s methodology can be found here.
Founded in 1969, Washington Monthly is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit magazine known for its coverage of politics and government. The publication cites support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and other organizations.
The Chronicle of Higher Education is a privately owned, industry-leading, independent news and information organization founded in 1966.
About USC Upstate
The University of South Carolina Upstate is a regional comprehensive university offering more than 40 undergraduate and graduate programs in the liberal arts and sciences, business administration, nursing, and education. Located along the I-85 corridor in Spartanburg between Greenville and Charlotte, USC Upstate is ranked by U.S. News & World Report at #2 among Top Public Schools. It serves as a major talent producer for the region, with more than 6,000 students, approximately 1,300 new graduates a year, and nearly 30,000 alumni, many of whom live and work in the state. The USC Upstate Spartans compete in 17 NCAA Division 1 sports as a member of the Big South Conference. For more information, visit www.uscupstate.edu.
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