University of South Carolina, Upstate

What University of South Carolina, Upstate does

University of South Carolina, Upstate is a public regional comprehensive university founded in 1967 and operating as one of four universities within the University of South Carolina System. Headquartered on a 330-acre campus in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with additional facilities in downtown Spartanburg and Greenville, the institution serves nearly 5,000 students through more than 50 undergraduate and graduate programs across five academic colleges: Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; Science and Technology; the George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics; the Mary Black College of Nursing; and Education, Human Performance, and Health. Student demographics span 36 states and 51 countries, with structured admissions funnels for first-year, transfer, graduate, international, adult learner, online, and veteran populations.

The institution delivers instruction across multiple modalities, including traditional on-campus programs, 18 fully online degrees, hybrid formats, and HyFlex course delivery that allows students to switch between in-person, synchronous virtual, and asynchronous attendance. Supporting technology includes Blackboard as the learning management system, SpartanHub as a unified student and employee portal, a Simulation Center for Teaching Excellence for clinical training, and the recently launched Spartan Safe safety app. Faculty headcount stands at 218 full-time and 377 total, supporting a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

USC Upstate's operating model blends tuition and fees, South Carolina state appropriations, federal and state financial aid administration (including $25.9M distributed to 11,081 students), continuing education and corporate training through the University Center of Greenville, and philanthropy through University Advancement. The institution pursues a multi-channel GTM combining admissions-led campus visits, direct-to-consumer online marketing (now partnered with Risepoint), and community-based employer partnerships with regional anchors such as BMW Manufacturing and Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System. SACSCOC accreditation and SARA membership underpin its regulatory standing.

Name

University of South Carolina, Upstate

Legal name

University of South Carolina Upstate

Website

https://uscupstate.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

University of South Carolina, Upstate is a public regional comprehensive university serving nearly 5,000 students in Spartanburg, SC with 50+ undergraduate and graduate programs, 18 online degrees, and employer-aligned workforce pipelines across the Upstate region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Community Colleges (EDAHADAA)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Public university education
• Online degree programs
• Continuing education programs
• Undergraduate and graduate degrees

Headquarters

HQ city

Spartanburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, including in-state and out-of-state rates, program-specific fees, and course material costs.
2. State Funding: Public university funded partially through South Carolina state appropriations and system funding as part of the University of South Carolina System.
3. Financial Aid Services: Processes federal student aid (FAFSA), grants, loans, work-study, and scholarship distribution totaling $25.9M in aid to 11,081 students.
4. Continuing Education and Professional Certifications: Revenue from professional certificates, corporate training, tech bootcamps, and online career training programs offered through University Center of Greenville.
5. Philanthropy and Alumni Giving: Donations through University Advancement division including annual giving, planned giving, Family Fund campaign, and capital campaigns for facilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

University of South Carolina Upstate is a public comprehensive university delivering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across liberal arts, sciences, business, nursing, and education through five academic colleges. The institution serves nearly 5,000 students via traditional on-campus instruction, Upstate Online (19 online/hybrid programs), HyFlex flexible delivery, Tech Bootcamps, Professional Certificates, and Continuing Education/Industry Credentials. Annual economic impact on South Carolina is reported at $624 million.

Product overview

USC Upstate is a comprehensive public university offering over 50 undergraduate and graduate programs through five academic colleges: College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; College of Science and Technology; George Dean Johnson Jr. College of Business and Economics; Mary Black College of Nursing; and College of Education, Human Performance, and Health. The institution delivers education through multiple modalities including traditional on-campus instruction, Upstate Online (19 online/hybrid programs), Tech Bootcamps, Professional Certificates, and Continuing Education courses. Student services are accessed through SpartanHub portal, while academic support is provided via the USC Upstate Library, Student Success Center, and various academic centers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics: The business school located in downtown Spartanburg, also referred to as 'The George'
• Mary Black College of Nursing
• Upstate Spartans
• Upstate Online
• SpartanHub

Products and services

• Upstate Online Comprehensive online and hybrid learning platform offering 19 online and hybrid programs with flexible course delivery options (asynchronous, synchronous, and HyFlex formats) for working adults and traditional students, ranked #1 Best Online College in South Carolina by SR Education Group.
• Tech Bootcamps Intensive technology training programs designed to help students enter new careers in tech fields, offered through continuing education at the University Center of Greenville.
• Professional Certificates Industry-recognized professional certification programs including Crime Analysis, Spanish Translation, Innovation Professional (CIP), and CompTIA A+, supporting career advancement for professionals.
• Graduate Programs Nine graduate degree programs including M.S. in Business Analytics, M.Ed. in Applied Learning & Instruction, M.Ed. in Special Education: Visual Impairment, M.S. in Exercise and Sport Science, M.S. in Informatics, M.S.N. programs, DNP, and M.S. in Criminal Justice, with application fees waived for all programs beginning Spring 2026.
• Continuing Education and Industry Credentials Flexible learning programs including online career training, customized corporate training, professional certifications, and industry credentials for working professionals and adult learners delivered through the University Center of Greenville.
• Undergraduate Programs Over 50 undergraduate programs across liberal arts and sciences, business administration, nursing, education, and more, offered through five academic colleges with pre-professional tracks (pre-med, pre-dental, pre-law, etc.).
• Nursing Programs (Mary Black College of Nursing) Nursing degree programs supported by the Simulation Center for Teaching Excellence offering hands-on clinical experience, ranked #135 (tie) Best Undergraduate Nursing nationally by U.S. News and World Report.

Quantifiable outcome

• $624 million annual economic impact on South Carolina
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Sherman College of ChiropracticcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2026Articulation agreement establishing collaborative undergraduate internship program at Sherman College's on-campus clinical teaching facility. USC Upstate students gain experiential learning through observation of clinic workflows, front desk operations, and sports chiropractic outreach. Additionally, Sherman interns provide supervised chiropractic care to USC Upstate student-athletes. Partnership formalized November 2025 for student-athlete care, expanded February 2026 for internship program.
• RisepointcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2026Education technology partnership to launch ten new online degree programs beginning June 2026. Programs target working adults and non-traditional learners in business, leadership, and health disciplines to address regional and national workforce needs. USC Upstate's Affordable Learning Initiative supports low-cost and no-cost course materials for online learners.
• Sherman College of ChiropracticcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2025Partnership formalized for Sherman College Chiropractic Center interns to provide regular chiropractic care to USC Upstate student-athletes under supervision of licensed faculty. Agreement signed by Sherman College President Dr. Jack Bourla and USC Upstate Chancellor Dr. Bennie L. Harris, establishing regular visits for Spartan student-athletes. Benefits Sherman interns through hands-on training in collegiate athletic environment.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• USC Aiken: USC Aiken is a public regional comprehensive university within the University of South Carolina System, serving roughly 3,500 students in Aiken, SC. It is the most directly comparable peer, sharing USC System governance, public funding model, regional-comprehensive mission, and similar undergraduate-focused programming.
• USC Beaufort: USC Beaufort is a public regional comprehensive university in the University of South Carolina System serving approximately 2,000 students in Bluffton, SC. It shares USC Upstate's system affiliation, regional-comprehensive mission, and similar size and program mix, making it a near-clone peer.
• Winthrop University: Winthrop University is a public regional comprehensive university in Rock Hill, SC serving around 5,000 students. Comparable to USC Upstate in enrollment scale, public funding model, NCAA Division I athletics, and mix of liberal arts and professional programs within the same South Carolina market.
• Coastal Carolina University: Coastal Carolina University is a public regional comprehensive university in Conway, SC serving approximately 10,000 students. Comparable in mission, public funding structure, NCAA Division I athletics (Sun Belt), and mix of liberal arts and professional programs, though larger in scale.
• Lander University: Lander University is a public regional comprehensive university in Greenwood, SC serving around 3,000 students. Directly comparable as a South Carolina public regional institution with similar program mix, NCAA Division II athletics, and tuition-supported enrollment model.
• Francis Marion University: Francis Marion University is a public regional comprehensive university in Florence, SC serving approximately 3,000 students. Comparable in scale, mission, public funding model, and program mix, with NCAA Division II athletics and similar regional workforce alignment.

Broad incumbents

• Clemson University: Clemson University is the flagship public research university in South Carolina serving over 28,000 students. It overlaps with USC Upstate in geography and undergraduate programs but operates at a much larger scale with extensive research funding and Power 4 athletics, positioning it as a broad incumbent rather than a direct competitor.
• College of Charleston: College of Charleston is a public liberal arts university in Charleston, SC serving approximately 11,000 students. Comparable as a South Carolina public institution with strong undergraduate programs and NCAA Division I athletics, though positioned as a broader, more selective institution than USC Upstate.

Regional players

• Furman University: Furman University is a private selective liberal arts university in Greenville, SC serving around 2,500 students. Geographically overlapping with USC Upstate's Greenville presence but differentiated by selectivity, tuition pricing, and private mission, making it a regional comparison point rather than a direct competitor.
• Anderson University: Anderson University is a private comprehensive university in Anderson, SC serving roughly 3,000 students. Operates in the same Upstate SC market with comparable program mix and faith-based positioning, making it a regional peer competing for similar student segments at different price points.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uscupstate
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@upstatespartans
• Facebookfacebook.com/41642545365
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/usc-upstate
• Instagraminstagram.com/usc_upstate

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of South Carolina, Upstate