University of South Carolina budget freezes in-state tuition and boosts workforce programs

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The University of South Carolina Board of Trustees recently approved a new annual budget that makes significant investments in health sciences initiatives and workforce development programs while also keeping in-state tuition flat for the fifth year in a row.

The 2023-24 systemwide budget takes effect on Saturday, July 1.

 The trustees voted to freeze tuition for in-state students on all system campus. On the Columbia campus, per-semester undergraduate tuition will remain $6,344 for resident students. Tuition for non-resident students in Columbia will increase by three percent to $17,467. State tuition mitigation funds provided to USC made the tuition freeze possible by offsetting inflationary costs, according to a news release.

The budget includes $4.5 million for the expansion of USC’s student internship program, which matches students with employers in the technology sector and other high demand areas.

The trustees also approved $30 million in one-time funds to establish a Brain Health Center in the upcoming Health Sciences Campus. An additional $5 million in recurring funds will support the Rural Brain Health Network, a group of satellite clinics statewide to treat patients with complex brain issues.

The budget also allocates $29 million for renovation and construction of classrooms and innovative learning spaces in the science and technology area on the Columbia campus, and $4.45 million for South Carolina teacher recruitment and retention programs.

“This is a fiscally responsible budget that prioritizes the needs of our students to gain meaningful skills while also reflecting USC’s mission of service to the entire state,” said board chairman Thad Westbrook.