USC Union's primary purpose is to provide the first two years of a liberal arts university education to about 500 traditional and nontraditional students and to confer the Associate in Arts and the Associate in Science degrees.

Through the USC campuses in Columbia and Spartanburg. USC Union also provides access to upper-division courses, for minorities, women, and older students, as well as for traditional students who wish to work toward and eventually receive baccalaureate degrees. Upper-division courses are taught both by USC Union faculty and by faculty from other USC colleges.