Return on InvestmentThe University of South Carolina Upstate’s first-year experience course helps students transition successfully to postsecondary education, understand how to succeed in college, explore their best-fit major, and connect with resources across campus. The course gives new students a structured introduction to both the academic and support systems they can use as they begin their college experience.
University of South Carolina Upstate
University of South Carolina Upstate has joined the National Student Success Project.
Joined October 2026
uscupstate.edu
Return on Investment
That means they finish their academic programs and flourish afterward, equipped with knowledge and skills that can lead to meaningful employment and a life of purpose.
The programs below are the ones the institution put forward against this commitment, with the outcomes it reports against each.
Helping First-Year Students Find Their Footing
Affordability
AffordabilityThat means full transparency about college costs; policies welcoming transfer students and credits they have already earned; and financial aid and other support for those in need.
The programs below are the ones the institution put forward against this commitment, with the outcomes it reports against each.
Using Targeted Financial Support to Help Students Cross the Finish Line
The University of South Carolina Upstate’s completion grants provide financial support to students who are within 30 hours of graduation and would otherwise have to stop out for financial reasons. By targeting assistance at students nearing the finish line, the program addresses a specific financial barrier that could prevent students from completing their degrees.
Academic Excellence
Academic ExcellenceThat means many things, including courses that challenge and inspire; continuous assessment of teaching tools and methods; student participation in cutting-edge research and discovery; close faculty engagement with students; and timely academic help for those who need it.
The programs below are the ones the institution put forward against this commitment, with the outcomes it reports against each.
Using Automation to Connect Students with Advisors Earlier
The University of South Carolina Upstate has automated the assignment of advisors, eliminating significant manual data entry and reducing errors in the process. The change also gives students an earlier connection to advising; students now know who their advisor is during orientation programming rather than waiting until the semester has started.
Career Pathways
Career PathwaysCareer preparation runs through the institution's advising, its employer relationships and its funding for work-based learning.
The programs below are the ones the institution put forward against this commitment, with the outcomes it reports against each.
Building Career Readiness into the Curriculum from the First Year Through Graduation
The University of South Carolina Upstate’s Quality Enhancement Plan weaves career readiness throughout the curriculum of each major. Students complete career-related assignments during their first, junior, and senior years, helping them evaluate their best-fit major, pursue internships and other experiential learning, develop résumés and application materials, and prepare for employment or graduate school.