USC Trustees Approve 2026 Budget; No Tuition Increase for SC Residents

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University of South Carolina trustees approved a 2025-26 fiscal year budget Friday (June 20, 2025) that holds tuition flat for South Carolina students systemwide while, officials said, enhancing teaching, research, and the overall student experience.

The officials said USC received historic support from state leaders this year, with state funding for a new neurological hospital and rehabilitation center at the BullStreet district, tuition mitigation to keep the cost of attendance affordable, and strategic investments in energy innovation and health science research.

Under the budget approved Friday, academic units across the Columbia campus will receive additional funds to support the hiring of additional faculty and provide greater academic support for students, the officials said.

“The General Assembly has demonstrated its robust support for higher education in this year’s state budget,” USC President Michael Amiridis said.

He added, “With support for key educational, research and health sciences initiatives, this funding will open doors for more students seeking to earn a college degree and prepare them for our state’s workforce needs. It will also empower USC to deliver the scientific inquiry and discoveries that are improving the lives of South Carolina citizens.”

“This budget makes clear that an institution we are focused on priorities that improve the lives of our students while contributing to the health and wellbeing of all South Carolina residents through service, research and innovation,” said Board of Trustee Chairman Thad West ook.

Additional budget details include:

* Thanks to tuition mitigation funds from the state and strong student enrollment and retention, tuition for South Carolina residents will remain the same for the seventh year in a row (the eighth year for our comprehensive institutions). Nonresident student tuition will increase by 3 percent. On the Columbia campus, per semester undergraduate tuition will remain $6,344 for resident students while tuition for non-resident students in Columbia will total $18,694 per semester.

* To keep pace with inflationary costs in housing operations and food, the budget includes a $233 increase in housing (average) and a $96 increase in meal plans for the fall 2025 semester. This represents the smallest increase for these fees in five years. Housing and food services are auxiliary services that don’t receive state funding for operations.

* The approved budget also includes a new annual $300 athletics auxiliary fee designed to continue student access to athletics events/ticket lottery, address increased event/program operating costs, and enhance the student experience across multiple USC sporting venues. Enhancements will include student centered in game activity and promotions, facility upgrades and additional support for health/safety staffing at athletics events.

The fee approved Friday won’t be used for recently approved Williams-Brice stadium renovations, Name Image and Likeness, or coaching contracts.