School Spotlight: University of South Carolina Upstate

There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges. As such, we are highlighting a new college each week in our School Spotlight series. Check out the college below, along with the other posts in our series, and you may just stumble upon your dream school! School Spotlight: University of South Carolina Upstate Spartanburg, South Carolina Home to about 6,000 undergraduates, Upstate is just one of seven colleges and universities in the local region. Spartanburg has a quaint downtown and offers easy access to the rich nature surrounding the city. The university has a strong relationship with Spartanburg, embodied through multiple service learning and community engagement programs, from an academic outreach camp to a watershed ecological center. Upstate houses the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; the College of Science and Technology; the College of Business and Economics; the School of Nursing; and the School of Education, Human Performance, and Health. Dozens of majors are offered; some of the more unique offerings: advanced manufacturing management, commercial music, community health, cybersecurity, and health informatics. Minors include child advocacy studies, Spanish translation/interpretation, public relations, jazz studies, and nonprofit administration. Upstate undergraduates have abundant access to research opportunities, grants, and mentorships. The university also hosts an annual research symposium that welcomes faculty, undergraduates, and high school students from the upstate region to share their findings and network. Upstate students can have their research published in the university’s student research journal; the most recent issue featured topics ranging from the land rights of indigenous Colombians to breast cancer awareness to bitcoin. Outside of the classroom, there are over 70 student organizations, including fraternities and sororities, for undergrads to join. A popular spot on campus is the 60,000-square-foot Spartan Rec Center, which features gyms and an aquatic center. Students can also rent camping equipment and take advantage of a bike-share program. Upstate hosts 13 Division I NCAA teams: men’s and women’s basketball, cross-country, track and field, golf, soccer; men’s baseball; and women’s softball and volleyball. Club sports include jujitsu, basketball, and Super Smash Bros (not kidding!), and there are also intramural offerings. While the majority of students opt to live off campus, those on campus have three options to choose from, and housing is available to students at every level, from freshmen to seniors. Visit the website to learn more about admissions and financial aid at University of South Carolina Upstate. Image Credit: Top, Courtesy of USC Upstate