Dr. Bennie Harris is Chancellor of USC Upstate and chair-elect of AASCU (American Association of State Colleges and Universities). Regional public universities like Upstate serve more than 4.9 million students nationally, about 70% of all students enrolled in SC’s public institutions. Their students are mostly first-generation, working adults, veterans, transfers, and low-income or Pell-eligible.
USC Upstate is rooted in place, training nurses, teachers, engineers, public servants, and more. Many graduates stay in the region making the university a major economic driver for the state.
Access, opportunity, and impact bring a degree that delivers real value tied to workforce outcomes and economic advancement. Success is measured by what happens across the region, not just on campus.
Founded in 1967 to bring quality education to Spartanburg, USC Upstate later expanded across the Upstate in response to community needs.
Enrollment is at 5,554 and tuition is $11,500. A large cost burden is life costs: housing, food security, jobs, and childcare.
USC Upstate plans for growth include a doctoral nursing program, master’s programs in every college, three new buildings, new Industrial Engineering (manufacturing demand) and Hospitality & Tourism programs.
Retention, the key student-success measure, rose from 61.3% to about 70%. About 85% of students work 20-30 hours a week.
Spartanburg County students can receive up to $4,000 to attend through “Big Mo, “ a college-readiness and post-secondary support movement.
USC is celebrating a new Student Learning Center, an Athletics program with multiple championships and athletes at a 3.36 cumulative GPA, and a five-state region Upstate Talent Forum.
USC Upstate will celebrate its 60th anniversary 2027 and plans to keep student success at the center, strengthen the link between education and regional workforce needs and pursue growth and sustainability, and visibility and pride.