Is USDC under Ethereum?

I'm curious, is USDC, the stablecoin, actually under the umbrella of Ethereum? I've heard rumors about it being an ERC-20 token, but I'm not entirely sure if that's accurate. Could you clarify for me? It's important for me to understand the technicalities behind these cryptocurrencies, as I'm considering investing in them. If USDC is indeed based on Ethereum, that would mean it enjoys the security and scalability of the Ethereum blockchain, doesn't it? Could you also explain the implications of this, especially for investors like me? Thank you for your time and assistance.