The University of the Sunshine Coast is a five-star performer, according to the 2008 Good Universities Guide.

The Guide has awarded top marks (five stars) for USC’s staff qualifications, teaching quality, and graduates’ satisfaction with the general skills they gained while at the University.
USC also scored impressive results (four stars) for graduate employment, overall satisfaction, gender balance, Indigenous participation and for access by equity groups.

The university is developing research strengths through its research centres, including:

Centre for Healthy Activities, Sport and Exercise
Areas of strength include:

• understanding and enhancing sports performance
• developing healthy activities in the community

National Seniors Productive Ageing Centre
Areas of strength include:

• productive ageing and work
• productive ageing and recreation
• productive ageing and education
• productive ageing and community service
• productive ageing and personal quests

GeneCology Research Group
Areas of strength include:

• individual species biology, physiology, and ecology
• sustainable production systems in aquaculture, forestry and horticulture
• ecological communities and habitats
• conservation management
• species recovery and restoration
• regional engagement through collaborations

Regional Sustainability Research Group
Areas of strength include:

• coastal management
• climate change
• water management
• natural and cultural heritage
• innovation
• adaptive growth
• community wellbeing