USCA Welcomes Students for the 2025–2026 Academic Year

USCA has welcomed back more than 3,000 students for the start of the 2025–2026 academic year, including the incoming freshman class of 2029.

The fall semester opened with Freshman Convocation on Monday, Aug. 18, at the Convocation Center. During the annual event, faculty and staff welcomed new students and distributed t-shirts featuring the slogan “Lead the Charge,” a message that previewed the university’s upcoming brand launch.

“Today marks the beginning of an exciting chapter,” said USCA Chancellor Daniel Heimmermann. “You are joining a proud tradition of scholars, leaders, and change-makers who all began their journey right here.”

Student Government Association President Kelly Palacios encouraged the new class to embrace opportunities and challenges. “When I first stepped on campus, I was honestly nervous like a lot of you are right now, but I had no idea what to expect,” she said. “One of my favorite things about USCA is how easy it is to build long-lasting connections here.”

She added that students should be patient as they adjust. “To all of you just starting out, you’re not alone. You’re exactly where you need to be, and you have an entire community behind you.”

Move-in activities began Aug. 13–14 with students in the USCA LIFE (Learning Is For Everyone) program, which serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This fall marks a milestone with the introduction of the Leadership & Civic Engagement (LCE) Program, an invitation-only initiative that builds on LIFE’s two-year foundation. Seven students were accepted into the inaugural LCE cohort, and overall the LIFE program will enroll more than 30 students this year.

Supporting the program are Living Resident Assistants (LRAs), including education major Allie Sheffield, who is in her second year as an LRA. “I'm looking forward to helping them out with learning how to be more independent in living cases,” Sheffield said.

The remainder of the student body moved in Aug. 16–17. Among them were sophomore biology major Jamyah Kemp of Columbia, S.C., and nursing major Gabriel Patterson, a first-generation college student. Kemp said she hopes to “have a good time and a good GPA” this year. Patterson, who aspires to work in either a neonatal intensive care unit or a trauma center, said, “Being able to help people and work in that setting, it’s amazing.”

This fall, USC Aiken will serve a student population of 3,306.

Class of 2029 Snapshot
Please note: These figures are preliminary and will be finalized in October.

• Total Freshmen Enrolled:567
• Most Represented State:South Carolina, with 513 students
• Top Hometowns:North Augusta (106 students) and Aiken (105 students)
• Most Represented High Schools:North Augusta High School, South Aiken High School, and Midland Valley High School
• International Representation:Students hail from Germany, Zambia, South Africa, the Philippines, and New Zealand
• Most Popular Majors:Biology, Business Administration, Applied Computer Science, and Nursing
• First-Generation College Students:168

For more information, contact USCA Marketing & Communication at news@usca.edu.