Best Hotel: The Graduate

The Graduate can be found just off-campus, appearing as a well-groomed brick home from the street. Any passerby would recognize the building, as it is a staple hotel for students and families at the University of South Carolina.

The hotel can be found within the historic Cain-Matthews-Tompkins House, which was built in 1911 by Columbia businessman John Jefferson Cain. The building changed hands multiple times over the 20th century until being purchased by the University of South Carolina in 1974. Just over three decades later, in 2005, the property became the Inn at USC. Throughout the building's existence, its essential characteristics of architecture and design have been maintained, but they have been updated over time. 

The Graduate can accommodate up to 120 guests simultaneously and is the quintessential boutique hotel of Columbia, SC. Walking into the Graduate for the first time, any newcomer would be thoroughly impressed, as they are met with the smiling concierge in a colorfully decorated foyer. Various sitting rooms emerge to each side of the main hallway, providing spaces with eccentric atmospheres for each guest’s taste. Upon entering the hotel room, one would be surprised to see an artistic rendering of a Gamecock as the headboard for the bed. On the walls, another reflection of USC culture; there is themed art corresponding to different organizations and sports teams on campus. 

Each element of the Graduate in Columbia is carefully curated to suit its patrons, most of whom are likely visiting because of something to do with the University of South Carolina.

USC sophomore Ella Lukowiak has stayed at the Graduate multiple times. From Admitted Student Day to Family Weekend, she found during her stays here that the hotel does an exceptional job of making its guests feel at home. 

“(The staff) really have a way of making the guests feel cared for and like they have a good understanding of the surrounding area, especially when visiting the university,” Lukowiak said. 

As a prospective student, Lukowiak was unfamiliar with what Columbia had to offer, but she was able to “learn about great places to eat and locations on campus that would be interesting to check out as a potential student, amongst many other things.”

The Graduate can differentiate itself from other hotels in Columbia through its unique design flair and above-and-beyond customer service, feeling like a “luxury cottage,” according to Lukowiak. Beyond these aspects, she remarks that the prime location is a significant plus to staying at the Graduate. 

“The location of the Graduate is a huge asset to staying there. It is very easy to walk to almost any place on campus, and you can't say the same for a lot of other hotels in Columbia in which you would have to drive and find parking around the city,” Lukowiak said.

Lukowiak remains so impressed by her experiences as a guest that she has returned to the hotel as a student in her day-to-day life. 

“After my stay at the Graduate, I found the environment so warm and welcoming that as a student, I often go back to study and do homework in some of the various lounge areas, taking in the ambiance,” she said. 

The Graduate is an asset to the University of South Carolina community and gets glowing recommendations from its patrons, making it Best of Carolina’s Best Hotel.