UofSC Housing Costs

$8,162 On-Campus Room Typical Cost

$5,462 On-Campus Meals Typical Cost

$1,438 Books & Supplies Typical Cost

$5,505 Other Living Expenses Typical Cost

What Are the Living Expenses at UofSC?

Understanding all of the expenses related to attending college can allow you to make the best decision at University of South Carolina-Columbia.

On this page you will find:

Living Expenses Outline
Room & Board Trends and Total Expenses
Meal Plans and Housing Requirements
References

Living Expenses at UofSC

This school prices housing and dining separately. The on-campus housing cost for a typical student was $8,162 in 2026, with the price of an average meal plan at $5,462. Altogether, a typical student living on campus at University of South Carolina-Columbia can expect to spend about $25,007 in 2026 across housing, dining, books and other living expenses.

The table below shows the expected costs of on-campus and off-campus housing and dining plans for University of South Carolina-Columbia.

Expense	On Campus	Off Campus
Room and Board	$18,064	$18,124
— Housing	$8,162
— Meals	$5,462
Other Living Expenses	$5,505	$5,505
Books and Supplies	$1,438	$1,438
Total	$25,007	$25,067

Will You Spend Four Years On Campus? Estimated Four-Year Cost: $111,184

Housing and dining costs rarely hold still from one year to the next. Looking at the trend gives you a realistic picture of what you will actually spend by graduation.

The projected four-year total comes to about $111,184 for living costs.

Here is how combined on-campus room and board has moved over the last few reported years, with a projection of where it is headed, at University of South Carolina-Columbia.

Year	Room & Board
Three Years Ago	$15,376
Two Years Ago	$19,126
One Year Ago	$18,063
Most Recent Year (2026)	$18,064
One Year From Now *	$19,116
Two Years From Now *	$20,230
Three Years From Now *	$21,409
Four Years From Now *	$22,657

* estimated

Most recently, on-campus costs increased an average of 5.8% annually. If that pace holds, room and board would land around $26,059 for their first year on campus.

Projected forward, the last year of a four-year degree runs about $29,600 in year four — and a two-year student about $27,173 in the final year of a two-year (associate) degree.

Over the entire degree (assuming you graduate on time), the total comes to about $111,184 for four years, or about $53,232 for a two-year (associate) degree.

Do Not Ignore Yearly Increases

Room and board tends to rise year over year at most schools, so a freshman should expect to pay more by senior year.

Answers to Questions About Living and Dining at UofSC

Meal plan structures vary widely. At this school, the maximum meal plan covers a fixed number of meals per week, shown in the table below. Curious about campus housing? The table below summarizes the on-campus living details for this school.