The University of the Southern Caribbean is a private, coeducational institution with a diverse student body. It is operated by the Caribbean Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists, which consists of the following territories: Barbados, Guyana, Surinam, Trinidad & Tobago, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Windward and Leeward Islands, excluding the French Dependencies.

USC is fully recognized as a tertiary level educational institution by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, through its accrediting body, the ACTT. It is also recognized as a teacher training institution by the Ministry of Education of Trinidad and Tobago.

USC is also fully accredited by the Board of Regents, Department of Education, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Washington D.C., USA. USC further is affiliated with Andrews University (AU), Berrien Springs, Michigan, USA.

Nationals of Trinidad and Tobago can access Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) while pursuing any degree at the University.