Because of its current housing limitations, SC State has launched three major projects to increase residential capacity.
ORANGEBURG, S.C. – With hopes of accommodating as many students as possible this fall, South Carolina State University will offer an incentive to eligible juniors and seniors to find off-campus housing.
With record applications for admission and a high retention rate among continuing students, the university anticipates a housing crunch again this fall because of limited bed space both on campus and in off-campus complexes affiliated with the SC State University Real Estate Foundation.
SC State has again this year capped the size of the freshmen class, and a housing waitlist is in effect.
“SC State is clearly a top choice for students looking to improve their lives by advancing their education,” President Alexander Conyers said. “We are taking several measures to increase our housing inventory through renovations and new construction.
“Within two years as those projects come online, we will be in a much better place to accommodate the university’s growing student body, but until then, we have to manage the available space as best we can,” he said.
To help alleviate the crunch, Conyers has authorized a one-time $1,000 incentive for up to 150 students classified as juniors and seniors to secure their own off-campus housing in the community.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for this incentive, the student must:
-Be classified by SC State as a junior or senior for the 2025–2026 academic year.
-Have submitted an on-campus or off-campus university-affiliated housing application for the 2025-2026 academic year.
-Be enrolled and financially cleared for the Fall 2025 semester.
-Be among the first 150 eligible students to submit a completed agreement. The incentive will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
-Withdraw any existing on-campus or off-campus university-affiliated housing application.
-Accurately confirm their classification and provide any required documentation upon request.
Once a recipient has financially cleared and validated enrollment for the Fall 2025 semester, the university will disburse the incentive. This assistance is only available once during the 2025–2026 academic year.
A student seeking the incentive should submit a signed agreement to the Office of Residence Life and Housing by Thursday, June 19, 2025. Incentives will be awarded in the order received, ending once 150 incentives have been awarded.
SC State and the Office of Residence Life and Housing do not provide housing referrals or placement services for unaffiliated off-campus accommodations.
For questions, contact the Office of Residence Life and Housing at scsuhousing@scsu.edu or 803-533-3675.
This fall, the administration expects to serve about 3,300 students. A high percentage of SC State students prefer to live on campus or in university-affiliated housing, but the university cannot accommodate every request. SC State has 1,361 beds available on campus for the fall, along with another 859 beds in off-campus facilities leased by the SC State Housing Foundation for a total of 2,220 beds.
Thus, SC State has initiated several projects to accommodate more students on the campus:
Queens Village Student Apartments: The first phase of renovations is complete, adding 24 beds to the university’s housing inventory. The second phase, set for this summer, will renovate additional units. The university expects to have the complex ready for occupancy in the fall.
Sojourner Truth Hall Renovation: A $15 million state-funded overhaul of the 14-story residence hall will begin this summer. Because the building lacks a fire suppression system, only the lower floors have remained in use in recent years. The renovation will include critical infrastructure upgrades, allowing upper floors to reopen and increasing housing capacity.
New 500-Bed Residence Hall: Slated for construction next to Mitchell Hall, this new housing complex is expected to open in 2027.
Meanwhile, private developers are building apartments near the campus and in downtown Orangeburg, and Orangeburg’s nearby Railroad Corner project also will include residential space for students. So, between the university’s on-campus efforts and the off-campus initiatives in Orangeburg, Conyers expects SC State’s housing needs to be met within a few years.
Having received more than 15,000 applications for admission, university is no longer accepting applications for the Fall 2025 Semester. New applicants are encouraged to apply to enter in the Spring 2026 Semester or the Fall 2026 Semester.
