University of South Carolina Aiken

The University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA) School of Business Administration offers a face-to-face, cohort Master of Business Administration (MBA). Each cohort begins in the Fall semester and upon successful completion of all courses would graduate at the end of the following Spring semester. Students enrolled in the USCA Daytime MBA can expect to attend classes during standard business hours (M-F, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.). Our program allows students networking opportunities among classmates and industry leaders through in-person coursework, visiting lecturers, and on-campus events. USCA's School of Business Administration provides a curriculum that meets AACSB accreditation standards and expectations to ensure students obtain and maintain successful careers.

History of USC Aiken

Building partnerships has been the cornerstone of the University of South Carolina Aiken since its inception in 1961. It was then that the citizens of the Aiken community voiced the need for a local institution of higher education. In a true demonstration of grassroots politics, the community rallied to show their support for a college to be founded in the area. Through state legislation, a governing board was formed, the Aiken County Commission for Higher Education, which continues to oversee the University’s mission.

The University of South Carolina, the state’s flagship university founded in 1801, began offering courses in Aiken for students interested in completing their degrees in Columbia. USC Aiken became the fourth campus founded of the eight that would eventually comprise the USC System. Three full-time faculty members, a secretary, and 139 students joined for the university’s first academic semester in September 1961. Classes took place in "Banksia," a former winter-colony mansion in downtown Aiken. For 11 years, the university’s first students attended college in a structure that was developed as living quarters, studying composition in an area that was once a ballroom and algebra in a former sitting room.

Over the years, the student population grew and the need for a new physical location for campus arose. The university purchased the property from the Graniteville Company and moved from Banksia to its present site in 1972. One multipurpose building was constructed, which was later named the Robert E. Penland Administration Building. This building’s open courtyard features one of the campus’ most notable landmarks, the Double Knot sculpture by artist Charles Perry, which symbolizes the University's close ties with the local community. At the time, most assumed that this would be the only building ever needed for the campus; however, the university grew to occupy more than 20 buildings and athletics facilities in the years that followed.

As a natural next step, USC Aiken began to seek autonomy in the USC system so students could begin and complete their degrees in Aiken. In 1977, the university was fully accredited as a senior college by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges, now known as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and granted its first baccalaureate degrees. Master degree programs began being offered on campus in 1994.

The institution began forming a limited number of sports teams as part of the NAIA in the 1960s. USC Aiken student-athletes adopted the Pacers as their mascot, named for Aiken’s well-known status as an equestrian community. In 1990, USC Aiken achieved NCAA Division II status and became a charter member of the highly competitive Peach Belt Conference. Today, Pacer Athletics hosts 11 varsity men’s and women’s sports teams, including the three-time national champion men’s golf team.

Since 1961, six leaders have navigated the university’s path. Mr. Chris Sharp (1961-1962), Mr. Bill Casper (1963-1983), Dr. Robert Alexander (1983-2000), Dr. Thomas Hallman (2000-2012), and Dr. Sandra Jordan (2012–2021), and Dr. Daniel Heimmermann (2021-present) have overseen the campus as it has grown from a commuter institution to a more traditional, residentially-based campus.

Today, USC Aiken has ranked in the top three public baccalaureate colleges in the South by U.S. News & World Report’s guide "Best Colleges" for twenty-two consecutive years. More than 3,500 students attend the university, and approximately 500 students graduate each year. USC Aiken provides bachelor’s and master’s degrees in over 50 programs of study while delivering many of the offerings of a large university on a small, friendly campus with intimate class sizes and personal attention. The commitment to continuing partnerships is woven into the fabric of the campus culture.

Mission Statement

The USC Aiken School of Business Administration provides a transformative business education that empowers students to achieve their career goals and make a positive impact on society.

Vision Statement

The USCA School of Business Administration’s vision is to fully engage the business community to create business leaders with forward-thinking views for the betterment of society.

Graduate Admission

Please have electronic transcripts sent directly by the university to [email protected].

Students are admitted to the MBA Program according to the following criteria:

1. Successful completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher learning with an overall GPA of greater than or equal to 3.0
2. For students with a GPA of 2.50 to 2.99:
   
   • May choose to be conditionally admitted and must maintain a GPA of 3.0 in the first twelve credit hours of their graduate course work, or
   • May submit a GMAT/GRE score which will be reviewed by the committee and considered wholistically along with grades, degree program, and universities attended. The committee can elect to fully admit the applicant or admit them conditionally as above.

Graduate Application

In addition to the Graduate Application, proof of immunization, proof of citizenship and official transcripts from all universities attended should be submitted.

International Admissions

USC Aiken welcomes students from all over the world. We have students from more than 28 countries on our campus, including Canada, Angola, France, Germany, Bermuda, Bahamas, China, Brazil, Argentina, Tanzania, Nigeria and many others. International students are among our most academically and socially successful students and an integral part of our very diverse campus. This helps to enrich our campus by adding unique social, personal, and academic experiences for all of our students.

What type of application should you complete?

All applications will be submitted online.

For the MBA cohort, they will need to choose the MBA On-Campus Full Time Daytime (Fall Start Only) option.

English Proficiency Requirements

• Applicants who do not use English as their language of everyday use must demonstrate the ability to be successful in an English-medium academic curriculum. This helps to ensure a student's success both academically and socially. USC Aiken accepts the TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, and Duolingo exams to demonstrate English proficiency for those students for whom English is not their language of everyday use. Students must meet at least one of the requirements to be considered for admission. Score results must be sent directly to USC Aiken Admissions from the testing agency to be considered official. Scores provided by students are unofficial and cannot be used to make an official admission decision
• A waiver for this requirement is automatically granted to students from countries where English is the native language and/or the official language for academic instruction. English proficiency tests are not required if the applicant's native country is one of the following

TOEFL Paper Based Test (PBT)

• Regular Admission - A student must receive a score of 551 or better
• Provisional Admission - Students that receive a score between 500-550 may be admitted but will be required to take English 110, III, or both, English as a Second Language, in their first semester of attendance. Placement for provisional admission will be based on your Band scores.

TOEFL Internet Based Test (IBT)

• Regular Admission - A student must receive a score of 80 or better
• Provisional Admission - Students that receive a score between 61-79 may be admitted but will be required to take English 110, III, or both, English as a Second Language, in their first semester of attendance. Placement for provisional admission will be based on your Band scores.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

• Regular Admission - A student must receive a score of 6.0 or better
• Provisional Admission - Students who receive a score between 5.5 and 6.0 may be admitted but will be required to take English 110, III, or both, English as a Second Language, in their first semester of attendance. Placement for provisional admission will be based on your Band scores.

Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic)

• Regular Admission – A student must receive a score of 53 or higher
• Provisional Admission – Students that receive a score between 42 – 52 may be admitted but will be required to take English 110, 111, or both, English as a Second Language, in their first semester of attendance. Placement for provisional admission will be based on your Band scores.

Duolingo English Test (DET)

• Regular Admission – A student must receive a score of 105 or higher
• Provisional Admission – Students that receive a score between 95 – 100 may be admitted but will be required to take English 110, 111, or both, English as a Second Language, in their first semester of attendance. Placement for provisional admission will be based on your Band scores.

Conditional Admission

For students with a GPA of 2.50 to 2.99:

• May choose to be conditionally admitted and must maintain a GPA of 3.0 in the first twelve credit hours of their graduate coursework, or
• May submit a GMAT/GRE score which will be reviewed by a committee and considered wholistically along with grades, degree program, and universities attended. The committee can elect to fully admit the applicant or admit them conditionally as above.

Weekday Campus Tours

Join us for a quick presentation from one of our Enrollment Counselors to set the stage, including quick facts and figures you need to know about USC Aiken. We’ll run through the admissions process and timeline, the basics of financial aid and the cost of attendance, and answer any questions you may have. Then you’ll walk the campus with a small group of prospective Pacer families, seeing our beautiful quad, classrooms, apartment-style housing, dining facilities, and more, led by one of our student volunteer ambassadors. Please note our tour usually lasts 75 minutes and the campus includes hilly terrain and several sections in which the group will be exposed to the elements. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriately for the day’s weather.

Starlight Tours

Experience the same great weekday campus tour experience under the light of the stars. Tour our beautiful campus under the stars to view freshman apartments, learn what to expect in our classrooms and from our faculty, and get details on admissions, financial aid, student life, and other key areas of campus life.

Open House

Held several times each year, these are our most comprehensive campus visit opportunities. The Open House experience will not only take you on a tour of our beautiful campus and freshman apartments but also allow you to hear from our faculty about what to expect in our classrooms. You’ll also gather details on admissions, financial aid, student life, and other key areas of campus life. Students will also have (parentless) Q&A time with current students to ask any questions that might be on their minds! A delicious complimentary lunch will be served in the dining hall as part of the program. If you haven’t already applied, you will have an opportunity to do so before you leave. Appropriate for both prospective freshmen and transfer students. Please note our walking campus tour usually lasts 75 minutes and the campus includes hilly terrain and several sections in which the group will be exposed to the elements. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriately for the day’s weather.

Saturday Visits

Join us for a quick presentation from one of our Enrollment Counselors on all the necessary information regarding USC Aiken’s opportunities and the admissions and enrollment process/timeline. Then take a one-hour walking tour of campus led by our student volunteer ambassadors, where you will see our housing options, dining facilities, a classroom, and more! After the tour, you’ll have the option to ask follow-up questions and even work through the next steps in your admission/enrollment process. The event begins at 10 a.m. and should conclude by noon. Please note our walking campus tour usually lasts 75 minutes and the campus includes hilly terrain and several sections in which the group will be exposed to the elements. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriately for the day’s weather.

Focused Fridays

If you are looking for more in-depth academic content, in a fun and interactive atmosphere, you have found the right event! USC Aiken’s Focused Fridays are smaller events held for prospective students interested in a particular major or field of study. During the day, you will hear from the deans of the school or college, interact with professors and students while participating in hands-on activities, have a quick admissions/financial aid session, and enjoy a campus tour with our student volunteer ambassadors.