The University of South Carolina has been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best-In-State Employers for 2025, highlighting its commitment to supporting more than 10,000 faculty and staff across the USC system.
“Our university is able to fulfill its educational mission only through the dedicated contributions of our excellent faculty and staff,” said USC President Michael Amiridis. “This recognition is a strong indicator that they feel respected and appreciated for the important work that they do.”
In recent years, USC has made significant investments in employee compensation and benefits. Following a 2022 compensation study, the university implemented new pay structures, increased the minimum hourly wage for approximately 600 full-time staff in 2023, and committed $4.3 million toward raising salaries. Employees also benefit from tuition assistance, dependent scholarships, and early childhood education support.
Caroline Agardy, vice president for Human Resources, noted, “Our employees are the guiding force behind our success, and this recognition reflects our efforts to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered.”
USC employs more than 10,400 faculty and staff statewide, with over 8,000 based in Columbia. The system’s regional campuses—including Aiken, Beaufort, Upstate, and the two-year institutions—employ nearly 2,300 additional faculty and staff.
Forbes selected America’s Best-In-State Employers through independent surveys of more than 160,000 U.S. employees, incorporating over 2 million employer evaluations. Rankings were based on both employee feedback and public perception from peers, friends, and family.
Photo of South Caroliniana Library by John Griggs
