Quick Facts About SCICU

Contributing to the Educational and Economic Welfare of South Carolina

Since 1826, the independent sector of postsecondary education has been a vital part of the cultural, educational, and economic development of South Carolina. The independent colleges and universities continue to provide rich, robust, and diverse higher educational opportunities that are an integral part of the development and maintenance of a balance educational system in the state. Consider the following:

• SCICU’s colleges and universities serve the needs of more than 34,400 students.
• While enrolling approximately 14 percent of all undergraduates in the state, SCICU member colleges and universities produce more than 24 percent of the state’s bachelor degrees.
• Our colleges and universities have an average Student to Faculty Ratio of 15 to 1.
• Our independent institutions are marvelously diverse and have served the state’s minority communities for many generations. Our overall minority enrollment is 46 percent; excluding the historically black colleges, minority enrollment is 30 percent.
• Our total undergraduate female enrollment is 61 percent; excluding our two women’s colleges, female enrollment is 59 percent.
• Although most of our students are South Carolina residents, 29 percent of our undergraduate students are non-residents or from another country.
• 96 percent of the students attending SCICU member schools receive financial assistance.
• Direct institutional financial assistance ($183,188,227) accounts for 38 percent of all student aid received by students attending SCICU member institutions.
• South Carolina’s independent colleges and universities employ more than 6500 faculty and staff and are economic engines and cultural centers adding almost $652 million annually to the state’s economy.

Source:  SCICU Statistical Abstract, 2010