The University of South Carolina is a red-hot school that is rocketing up the U.S. News rankings. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to gain admission, especially for the honors college, which many consider to be the best in the United States. If you got your acceptance letter and are heading to Columbia in the fall, congratulations — that is no small feat these days.
South Carolina offers the quintessential college experience, complete with SEC football, tailgating, and Greek life. And Columbia is an underrated college town — not too big, not too small, and it largely revolves around the university.
A good dorm can make all the difference when it comes to starting your college experience at South Carolina off on the right foot. As an incoming freshman, you have a variety of dorm options to choose from, but not all are created equal. Getting your housing deposit in as early as possible is critical if you want to secure the best living arrangements.
This article lists the five best freshman dorms at the University of South Carolina and details the benefits and costs of each.
The 5 Best Freshman Dorms at the University of South Carolina
Based on amenities, location, privacy, and conversations with current students, the five best University of South Carolina dorms for freshmen are Woodrow Residence Hall, Honors Residence, Preston Residential College, Patterson Hall, and Columbia Hall.
Woodrow Residence Hall
- Room types: Two-person apartments
- Bedroom occupancy: Singles
- Air conditioning: Yes
- Laundry facilities: Yes
Woodrow Residence Hall is one of the only housing options at the University of South Carolina that provides apartment-style living for freshmen. Even better, instead of offering shared bedrooms (or even worse, triples) like most freshman dorms, Woodrow gives each resident their own bedroom within the apartment.
Each apartment unit houses two people and contains two small bedrooms, a modest-sized living/dining/kitchenette area, and a bathroom shared by both residents. This setup gives you a roommate to bond with but also a private room with a door you can close if you want some peace and quiet.
The apartments are fully furnished, not just in the bedrooms but also in the living and dining area.
The location of Woodrow, right across from the student union, is also a major selling point. If privacy and space are at the top of your dorm requirements, Woodrow should definitely be at the top of your list.
Honors Residence
- Room types: Suites
- Bedroom occupancy: Doubles
- Air conditioning: Yes
- Laundry facilities: Yes
If you were admitted to South Carolina’s prestigious honors college, the Honors Residence is an excellent option. Living in Honors means being surrounded by high-achieving students like yourself, which can be a great motivator and provide a supportive community.
The Honors Residence tends to have a quieter, more studious vibe than other freshman dorms, which many honors students prefer. However, if you’re someone who enjoys the party scene and doesn’t mind living in the thick of it, you might get bored from time to time in Honors.
The living arrangements in Honors are pretty nice for a freshman dorm. All the rooms are arranged into suites, meaning you won’t have to deal with a community bathroom. Two rooms with two residents in each share a connecting bathroom in a Jack-and-Jill style setup.
The amenities are extensive and include laundry facilities, air conditioning, and a dining hall and coffee bar located within the building. Its location right next to Thomas Cooper Library is also a major convenience.
Preston Residential College
- Room types: Suites and pods
- Bedroom occupancy: Doubles
- Air conditioning: Yes
- Laundry facilities: Yes
Preston Residential College is the University of South Carolina’s only Residential College, where students not only live but also share meals in the in-house dining hall and have access to classes designated exclusively for Preston residents.
The dorm also offers a variety of in-house organizations, which you can participate in and even become an officer of. Many students compare Preston to Hogwarts because of the tight-knit feel and camaraderie it seems to engender every year.
The living arrangements at Preston are way above average for a freshman dorm. As for the room configurations, you can choose between a suite or a pod. Either way, you’ll share a bedroom with one (but ONLY one) other student.
The pod rooms each have their own bathroom, and three rooms share a common area with living space and a full-size fridge. The suites are typical Jack-and-Jill college dorm suites, with two two-person rooms sharing a connecting bathroom.
Another benefit of Preston is that the double rooms are quite spacious, measuring an average of 18 feet by 12 feet. Additionally, the dorm hosts a variety of cultural events and social mixers throughout the year to help residents get to know each other. This makes it a great option for incoming freshmen who don’t know many people at USC, especially those coming from out of state.
Patterson Hall
- Room types: Suites
- Bedroom occupancy: Doubles
- Air conditioning: Yes
- Laundry facilities: Yes
Patterson Hall is a popular dorm for incoming freshmen at USC who want plush, spacious living arrangements but also an active social scene and an energetic vibe.
Nursing students in particular gravitate to Patterson because it’s close to where most of their classes are. Another cool benefit of Patterson is that while the majority of its residents are freshmen, it’s open to all class years, so every year it has a smattering of sophomores, juniors, and even seniors. (As a general rule, South Carolina is a school where most students choose to move out of the dorms after freshman year, either into off-campus apartments nearby or into their Greek houses if they pledge a frat or sorority).
Patterson has double rooms arranged into two-room suites sharing a connecting bathroom. The rooms are pretty spacious at roughly 16 feet by 12 feet plus an entryway with a sink. It has a centralized location across from the student union.
Columbia Hall
- Room types: Suites
- Bedroom occupancy: Doubles
- Air conditioning: Yes
- Laundry facilities: Yes
Columbia Hall is another dorm that often serves as a social hub for freshmen at USC, making it a popular choice for outgoing, extroverted students. But it is a far cry from your stereotypical “Animal House” style party dorm, with grimy bathrooms, trashed rooms, and a pervasive smell of bodily functions.
The living arrangements are upscale for a freshman dorm, bordering on plush. Columbia has double rooms that are about 18 and a half feet long by 11 feet wide. Each two-person room shares a connected bathroom with another two-person room, and there is a kitchen on every floor if you get tired of the dining hall and want to cook for yourself (or for your friends or a date).
A cool, unique feature of Columbia is that it has its own student success office inside the dorm. If you’re struggling in a class, need academic advising, want to check out internship opportunities, or just feel overwhelmed and need someone to talk to you, you don’t have to go hunt down your advisor or trek to the university counseling center; you don’t even have to leave the dorm!
