South Carolina State University: Location, Legacy, and Land-Grant Mission

South Carolina State University (SC State) is located in Orangeburg, a city of ~13,000 in the state’s central "Midlands" region—about 45 miles southeast of Columbia (the capital) via I-26/US-601.

Quick Facts

• Founded: 1896 (as Colored Normal, Industrial, Agricultural and Mechanical College of SC).
• Designation: Public, Historically Black University (HBCU), 1890 Land-Grant Institution.
• Enrollment: ~2,500 (undergrad + grad).
• Academic Focus: STEM (nuclear engineering, cybersecurity), business, education, nursing, agriculture, transportation.
• Notable Alumni: Ernest Finney Jr. (first Black SC Chief Justice), Benjamin Mays (Morehouse president, MLK mentor), Harry Carson (NFL HOF), Juanita Goggins (first Black woman in SC legislature).

Campus & Community

The 160-acre campus centers on the historic Lowman Hall (1917) and the I.P. Stanback Museum & Planetarium (only HBCU planetarium). Orangeburg offers small-city affordability; Columbia’s amenities are a 50-minute drive.

Why It Matters

SC State is the only public 4-year HBCU in South Carolina—a critical engine for Black professional mobility in the state and region. Its land-grant mission drives agricultural research (small farms, hemp, food safety) and extension services for underserved communities.

Visit: 300 College St NE, Orangeburg, SC 29117. Virtual tours at scsu.edu.