Academics
South Carolina State University, an active part of Orangeburg, South Carolina, is committed to providing affordable and accessible programs from the arts to the natural sciences. (A master鈥檚 program for education specialists and several doctoral degrees are also available.) The school鈥檚 mission statement is to prepare 鈥渉ighly skilled, competent, and socially aware graduates to enable them to work and live productively in a dynamic, global society,鈥 which is why it offers over 60 degree-earning or certificate programs, including the unique Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering, the only one of its kind in South Carolina or at an HBCU. That鈥檚 also why all incoming first-years are required to participate in the University 101 program, which aims to help them embrace learning strategies for academic success early on in their educational pursuits.
Career
Sports are a big part of the culture at SC State. Before a big game, the award-winning SC State band, Marching 101, takes the stage. The band was founded in 1918, and for over 100 years, crowds have enjoyed the excitement that comes with a great performance. The Champagne Dancers and the Color Guard take the excitement up several more notches. The Bulldogs won the Celebration Bowl in December of 2021 and have a huge fan-following that reaches well beyond the campus boundaries. As a member of the Division 1 MidEastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), the SC State Bulldog Athletic program currently offers six men鈥檚 and six women鈥檚 sports, from basketball and football to tennis, cross country, track and field, volleyball, and more. After games and on weekends, there is a thriving social scene to be found both on and off campus. With eight residence halls for women and four for men, approximately 60% of undergraduates live on campus. SC State also promotes student involvement in other extracurricular activities such as choral groups, concert/jazz/marching bands, dance, sororities and fraternities, the radio station and student newspaper, and many other groups to choose from.
Culture
Of the approximately 30,000 alumni, more than half continue to reside in South Carolina after graduation. More than 119 athletes have entered the ranks of professional sports. Graduates from SC State go on to succeed at a wide variety of professions in almost every industry. Notable alumni include actor, singer, and NFL football player Deacon Jones; writer, Baptist Minister, and civil rights leader Benjamin Mays; and South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn. The average base salary for graduates of SC State is $65,000 annually, according to Payscale.com.
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