University of South Carolina-Upstate Athletics

USC Upstate competes in NCAA Division I, meaning the Spartans offer athletic scholarships and face top-tier competition. The school awards $3.7 million in athletic scholarships across 11 varsity sports. With 276 total athletes among 4,008 students, about 7% of the student body competes at the varsity level. The Spartans compete in the Big South Conference for most sports. The basketball programs have shown flashes of success, with the men's team making NCAA tournament appearances that brought national attention to the small Spartanburg campus. The athletic department punches above its weight for a school of USC Upstate's size. Women outnumber men 66% to 34% on campus, which creates strong support for both men's and women's teams during the competitive seasons.