The University of South Carolina ranks No. 11 nationally and No. 6 among public universities for artificial intelligence readiness, according to AIREDEX, an independent research organization that evaluates how well colleges and universities are preparing students for an AI-driven world.
The national rankings evaluate institutions on their efforts to prepare students for an AI-enabled future, looking at areas such as institutional commitment, curriculum, partnerships and their research. USC earned a score of 9.2 out of 10, placing it among the nation’s top institutions for AI-readiness.
“USC’s high ranking in AIREDEX’s national AI-readiness ranking is both a recognition to celebrate and an incentive to keep moving forward,” says Provost Mary Anne Fitzpatrick, executive vice president for academic affairs. “The strong partnership between the Office of the Provost and the Division of IT is central to that momentum. Our goal is not simply to keep pace with AI, but to prepare our students to help shape its future.”
To prepare students for an AI-driven world, USC has made university-wide commitments to providing students, faculty and staff with the guidance, tools, trainings and resources needed to use AI thoughtfully and effectively.
“USC is pleased to see this recognition of our comprehensive AI efforts to prepare our students, advance our faculty research, protect our university data and address the ethical and responsible challenges of this exciting technological advance,” says Brice Bible, vice president for information technology and chief information officer.
The impact of AI is already visible across campus. During the first year of USC’s ChatGPT partnership, more than 24,00 users sent over 24 million messages. Custom tools, including Cocky Scholar and the MGSC 291 Code Tutor, also have been utilized to provide support for students. These initiatives showcase the university’s commitment to integrating AI into the student experience while promoting responsible and ethical use.
“AI-readiness is about more than adopting new tools. It is about preparing students to evaluate and use AI responsibly,” says Mark Uline, associate vice president and vice provost for AI strategy. “At the University of South Carolina, our AI strategy centers on equipping graduates with the sound judgment, creativity and ethical grounding they need to thrive in an AI-enabled workplace.”
AIREDEX was founded in early 2026 and the rankings offer a national assessment of institutional efforts to advance AI-readiness.
Learn more about USC’s AI initiatives at AI at South Carolina.