# US public university enrollment trends

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-public-university-enrollment-trends
> Updated: 2026-09-10T14:56:52.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

Public university systems in the United States are reporting positive enrollment trends for the fall 2026 academic year.

The University of South Carolina reported record-setting figures, with a total system enrollment exceeding 60,300 students. President Michael Amiridis stated that the increase in applications and enrollment reflects the “perceived value of a USC degree.” Alongside academic growth, the university announced new endowed athletic scholarships for the 2026-27 period.

Other institutions also noted growth. The University of South Carolina Upstate saw a 7.7% increase in total enrollment, driven largely by a 17% rise in graduate students. In South Dakota, the public university system maintained a steady headcount of over 35,000 students, with Black Hills State University reporting its highest enrollment in five years.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-10: Public universities report enrollment growth for fall 2026

Public universities in South Carolina and South Dakota report enrollment growth for the fall 2026 term, with USC Upstate seeing a 7.7% increase and South Dakota's system maintaining over 35,000 students.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/public-universities-report-enrollment-growth-for-fall-2026

### 2026-08-31: University of South Carolina reports record enrollment and new scholarships

The University of South Carolina reports record enrollment approaching 42,000 students and has announced 28 endowed athletic scholarships for the 2026-27 academic year.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/university-of-south-carolina-reports-record-enrollment-and-new-scholarships

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Cite as: US public university enrollment trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-public-university-enrollment-trends