University of South Carolina

Columbia, SC

University of South Carolina Columbia Campus - Columbia, SC Area Guide

USC defines the southern collegiate experience

Public • Urban • Walkable • USC • Gamecocks • Historic •

As one of the oldest and most prestigious academic institutions in the Southeast, the University of South Carolina remains an innovative educational facility and a cultural hub for the state and the region. The university enjoys a prime location at the center of the action in Columbia, with the campus only a few blocks away from the South Carolina State House and all the resources and attractions of Downtown and Midtown. Congaree Vista to the northwest and Five Points to the east are both within easy walking distance of the main campus, giving you countless convenient options for a quick bit to eat or a night out with friends. Apartments, condos, and rental houses are readily available all around the relatively compact urban campus, giving you numerous options of living arrangements to fit your budget and allow you to easily walk to any of the classroom buildings as well as the broader cityscape.

Rent Trends

As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Columbia, SC is $980 for a studio, $1,173 for one bedroom, $1,372 for two bedrooms, and $1,798 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Columbia has increased by 0.1% in the past year.

  • Studio

  • 452 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $980/month

    Average Rent

  • 1 BR

  • 730 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,173/month

    Average Rent

  • 2 BR

  • 1,062 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,372/month

    Average Rent

  • 3 BR

  • 1,316 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,798/month

    Average Rent

Getting Around

Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly University of South Carolina Columbia Campus - Columbia, SC (University) is for everyday living.

Moderately Walkable

Walkability

60 / 100

Good Public Transit

Transit

70 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

100 / 100

Moderately Bikeable

Bikeability

60 / 100

Daily Essentials

University of South Carolina Columbia Campus - Columbia, SC (University) offers all daily essentials, but they’re limited to a few main areas.

Supermarket Within a 20 Minute Walk

Groceries

40 / 100

Good Restaurant Variety Nearby

Restaurants

70 / 100

Good Café Variety Nearby

Cafes

60 / 100

Fair Variety of Shops Nearby

Shopping

40 / 100

Local Vibe

Get a sense of what it’s like to live in University of South Carolina Columbia Campus - Columbia, SC (University) from everyday activity to noise and nightlife.

Vibrant Atmosphere at Times

Vibrancy

40 / 100

Fair Nightlife Variety Nearby

Nightlife

40 / 100

Very Noisy

Quiet Score

20 / 100
Scores provided by

Schools

Brockman Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

268 Students

9/10

Brockman Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

268 Students

9/10

Satchel Ford Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

631 Students

8/10

Satchel Ford Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

631 Students

8/10

Logan Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

233 Students

8/10

Crayton Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

905 Students

7/10

Crayton Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

905 Students

7/10

W. G. Sanders Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

533 Students

6/10

W. G. Sanders Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

533 Students

6/10

Hand Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

652 Students

5/10

Spring Valley High

Public

Grades 9-12

2,187 Students

8/10

Spring Valley High School

Public

Grades 9-12

2,187 Students

8/10

Richland One Charter Middle College

Public

Grades 9-12

79 Students

8/10

A. C. Flora High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,352 Students

7/10

A. C. Flora High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,352 Students

7/10
School data provided by http://www.greatschools.org The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology Data provided by GreatSchools.org © 2026. All rights reserved.

Points of Interest

Shopping Centers

Parks and Recreation

  • Melton Memorial Observatory
  • McKissick Museum
  • South Carolina State Museum
  • EdVenture Children's Museum
  • Riverbanks Zoo

Commuter Rail

Military Bases

Airports

  • Columbia Metro

Colleges

Top Apartments Near University of South Carolina

The Lady

The Lady

1310 Lady St,
Columbia, SC 29201

$1,299 - $4,375

Studio - 3 Beds

The Babcock

The Babcock

2110 Pickens St,
Columbia, SC 29201

$1,450 - $2,825

1 Bed

Cornell Arms Apartments

Cornell Arms Apartments

1230 Pendleton St,
Columbia, SC 29201

$950 - $1,500

Studio - 2 Beds

1321 Lofts

1321 Lofts

1321 Lady St,
Columbia, SC 29201

$1,113 - $1,856

1 Bed

Main Street Living

Main Street Living

1604 Main St,
Columbia, SC 29201

$1,047 - $1,793

Studio - 3 Beds

Vista Commons Apartments

Vista Commons Apartments

1100 Pulaski St,
Columbia, SC 29201

$1,500 - $2,408 Total Monthly Price

1-3 Beds

Rivers Edge at Carolina Stadium

Rivers Edge at Carolina Stadium

1 Catawba Cir,
Columbia, SC 29201

$754 - $1,515

1-3 Beds

1813 Main

1813 Main

1813 Main St,
Columbia, SC 29201

$1,450 - $2,100

1-3 Beds

Advenir at One Eleven

Advenir at One Eleven

111 Knox Abbott Dr,
Cayce, SC 29033

$1,445 - $3,797

Studio - 2 Beds

Houses Near University of South Carolina

1221 Pickens St

1221 Pickens St,
Columbia, SC 29201

$3,500 Total Monthly Price

3 Beds | 3 Baths | 12 Month Lease

310 Virginia St

310 Virginia St,
Columbia, SC 29201

$1,720

4 Beds | 2 Baths

1106 Page St

1106 Page St,
Columbia, SC 29205

$1,097

2 Beds | 1 Bath

2210 Corning Rd

2210 Corning Rd,
Columbia, SC 29205

$1,447

3 Beds | 1 Bath

617 Lexington Ave

617 Lexington Ave,
Cayce, SC 29033

$1,300

2 Beds | 1 Bath

1 Tempo Ct

1 Tempo Ct,
Columbia, SC 29205

$1,745

3 Beds | 1.5 Baths

View More Houses for Rent Near University of South Carolina

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.