UofSC retains top spots for first-year student experience, international business

Also gains new undergraduate rankings in latest U.S. News report

The University of South Carolina has the top first-year student experience of any public college in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report’s annual undergraduate rankings released Monday (Sept. 13). This is the third consecutive year South Carolina has been ranked the No. 1 public institution in the category.

Contributing to the university’s top freshmen student experience is University 101, a first-year seminar started nearly five decades ago to help students adjust to college life and learn about the university’s offerings.

The university also retained its No. 1 ranking in international business for the 23^rd straight year.

“To earn the 23^rd consecutive year as the No. 1-ranked undergraduate international business program is a testament to the world-class faculty, top-performing students who go on to have illustrious careers and a challenging and robust curriculum that make a top-ranked program,” said Darla Moore School of Business Dean Peter Brews. “To not only have the No. 1 undergraduate IB program as well as the No. 1 International MBA program, as announced earlier this year, demonstrates the excellence and academic rigor of our programs and the career preparation we provide our graduates.”

Seven of the university’s undergraduate academic programs are ranked in the latest U.S. News listing, the most of any school in South Carolina.

“I am thrilled to see the continued growth and recognition of our academic programs,” says Stephen Cutler, interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at South Carolina. “We truly offer an excellent educational experience for our students across our university’s 15 colleges and schools and 324 unique degree offerings. Knowing the world-class faculty that we have and the unique opportunities we afford our students, it comes as no surprise to me that we continue to be well-represented within the U.S. News and World Report’s academic rankings.”

Other ranking highlights:

• Two programs in the Moore School of Business were added to the rankings this year. Undergraduate accounting is ranked 59th and marketing is ranked No. 39. The school’s undergraduate business program was ranked No. 49 overall.
• The campus also was listed among select schools in Best Learning Communities, Best Colleges for Veterans and Best Value Schools.
• The UofSC Columbia campus’ overall rank in the U.S. News & World Report’s guide is 117 among all institutions and No. 54 among public universities.
• The university’s undergraduate nursing program ranked No. 43. It is the first year U.S. News has ranked undergraduate nursing programs, and all of the university system’s four-year comprehensive universities’ nursing programs made the list.
• The College of Engineering and Computing moved up six spots from last year and now is ranked No. 96 for undergraduate engineering. The college also was ranked No. 122 for its computer science program.
• South Carolina’s comprehensive universities also were recognized in the new guide. Upstate is the No. 1 public regional college in South Carolina and the No. 2 public regional college in the South. USC Aiken ranked No. 3 for public regional colleges in the South. Upstate is the No. 1 Best Regional Colleges for Veterans in the South, while Aiken is No. 2.