Students of Major SEC University Forced to Pay Nearly $500 in Fees

Students at the University of South Carolina will be paying a lot more to watch their sports teams in 2025.

According to Jordan Kaye of The State, the school announced it is adding an annual — and mandatory — $300 "athletics auxiliary fee" in the 2025-26 school year, and that's on top of an existing $172 fee that allows students to attend all Gamecocks sporting events.

Previously, only full-time students had to pay $86 per semester ($172 per school year) for the same benefit. The new fee will be paid in halves of $150 per semester.

The new fee is estimated to create over $11 million in new revenue and comes in the wake of the recent House settlement, although USC says the new revenue won't be put toward settlement payouts, nor will it be used to pay for new scholarships or renovations to Williams-Brice Stadium.

Instead, the new stream of money will help "continue student access to athletics events/ticket lottery, address increased event/program operating costs, and enhance the student experience across multiple USC sporting venues," the university statement read. "Enhancements will include student centered in-game activity and promotions, facility upgrades and additional support for health/safety staffing at athletics events.”

South Carolina isn't the only university in the state instituting a new athletics fee. Clemson approved a $300 fee last year.