A shield shaped embroidered item, blazon as follows: Azure, a bulldog head erased Gules, detailed and collared of the first, eyes, teeth and collar spiked Argent; all within a 1/8 inch (.32 cm) blue border. Attached above the shield a blue scroll, edged with a 1/8 inch (.32 cm) blue border, inscribed SCSU in white. Overall dimensions are 3 1/2 inches (8.89 cm) height and 2 7/8 inches (7.30 cm) in width.

The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved on 27 November 1956.  It was amended due to the school name change on 23 December 1992, currently amended to update the manufacturing drawings on 28 December 2015. (TIOH Drawing number A-10S-105)

A silver colored metal and epoxied shield shaped device, 1 3/16 (3.02 cm) high overall a blazoned as follows: Per bendsinister arched Azure and Gules, on a stylized arrow issuant from dexter to sinister chief Or, between a crescent and a palm tree, all Argent (Silver), the inscription ACTION Sable.  Attached below the shield, a silver scroll inscribed SCSU, in black.

Red and blue are the colors of South Carolina University. The palmetto tree is symbolic of the fort on Sullivans Island which was built of palmetto logs.

The shoulder loop insignia was originally authorized on 22 October 1951. It was amended to change the crest base for S.C.S.A.M.C. to S.C.S.C, on 30 June 1975, it was cancelled due to the school name change to South Carolina State University on 23 December 1992, currently amended to update the manufacturing drawing on 28 December 2015.