USC Upstate ranked No. 2 among Southern Regional Public Colleges by U.S. News & World Report

The University of South Carolina Upstate once again ranks at No. 2 among Southern Regional Public Colleges, according to new rankings just released by U.S. News & World Report. Additionally, in its list of Best Regional Colleges, USC Upstate again landed at No. 10 among all Southern Regional Colleges, which includes private institutions as well.

“As the largest public, regional comprehensive university in Upstate South Carolina, USC Upstate plays a critical role in providing career-relevant education to the citizens of this state,” said Chancellor Brendan Kelly. “These rankings are significant recognition of USC Upstate’s impact.”

Key numbers the magazine cited in its overview of the university included a low student-faculty ratio with more than 25 percent of classes at fewer than 20 students. With an emphasis on smaller class sizes, faculty work closely with students, encouraging them to excel not only in the classroom, but in internships, research and civic learning as well.

“USC Upstate is committed to providing students with opportunities to participate in high-impact, experiential learning,” said Provost Clif Flynn. “These opportunities contribute to success on campus and upon graduation.”

USC Upstate ranks No. 5 among Best Colleges for Veterans, which includes schools that participate in federal initiatives helping veterans and active-duty service members pay for their degrees. In 2016, USC Upstate was designated as a Military Friendly Campus.

U.S. News & World Report rankings are calculated using up to 16 indicators of academic excellence, including graduation and first-year student retention rates, undergraduate academic reputation, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving, and graduation rate performance. The magazine describes its ranking formula as using “quantitative and qualitative measures that education experts have proposed as reliable indicators of academic quality.” Regionally accredited schools are categorized by criteria developed by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
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.