University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class, unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlight the best programs in South Carolina.
Featured Online Programs
Are you interested in online colleges and universities in South Carolina? Even if you feel like you don’t have time to attend college, there are many great distance learning options available in the state, making it easy for residents and non-residents to earn degrees. Prospective students who want to enroll remotely can choose from a wide variety of majors at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate levels. While doctoral programs are rarely offered 100% online, hybrid options are available and can make earning degrees of all kinds easier. Professional certificates also exist online, though it’s important to note that some subject areas better suited to online learning than others.
While there are many traditional colleges and universities offering in-person instruction in South Carolina, online programs offer several benefits. The top advantage of earning degrees remotely is scheduling flexibility, but the option is good for anyone hoping to find professional employment. Graduates fare significantly better in the job market than those without higher education degrees and often qualify for better-paying employment opportunities.
Online Higher Education in South Carolina
Opportunities vary based on degree type and the field entered, but online programs in South Carolina typically prepare students for professional success. As of March 2022, the state’s civilian labor force was 2,384,364. Of those, 2,303,592 were employed, leaving 80,772 without jobs. However, the state’s unemployment rate was 3.4%, down significantly from a high of 11.6% in April 2020.
Find Your Online South Carolina Program
As of May 2021, South Carolina had a mean hourly wage of $17.91 and an annual mean wage of $47,490. It should be noted that this is well below the national average of $56,310 for all occupations, but cost of living is also different for each state. Prospective students should also realize that some online degrees may lead to more lucrative professions than others. Some of the highest paying jobs in the state include chief executive, physicist, dentist, nurse anesthetist, cardiologist, dermatologist, physician, gynecologist, and surgeon.
As of the 2021-2022 academic year, the total student population in South Carolina was 238,111. This includes 208,708 undergraduate and 29,403 graduate school students. Overall, online education in the state is quite popular. A total of 84,330 students are enrolled in online classes exclusively, while an additional 94,973 students are enrolled in some online classes. This means that over 75% of undergraduate and graduate students will take at least one online course during the 2021-2022 academic year.
Education costs in South Carolina are comparable to other states. The average amount residents can expect to spend on tuition and fees in 2022 is $8,019. For those living outside the state, however, the average cost is $15,543. Additional expenses to keep in mind include room, board, books, and supplies. The average living costs for those who choose to live on campus in 2022 is $13,717, while those living off campus will pay an average of $14,586. Notably, the cost of books and supplies has spiked drastically in the last year. In 2021, students could expect to pay $1,537, but in 2022 the average is $3,448. This is an increase of over 224%.
Prospective students interested in online classes are likely to spend slightly less than traditional enrollees. This is because remote learning can cost less, especially when room, board, parking, and activity fees are not needed. While distance learning does not eliminate the need to pay for housing and food, certain circumstances can make these expenses less significant. Additionally, online students can still qualify for financial aid and can take advantage of grants, scholarships, and loans. In fact, all prospective students should complete and submit the FAFSA to their institutions.
Our School Rankings Methodology
College and university rankings help prospective students identify which academic programs align best with their personal and professional goals. This tool often simplifies the selection process, allowing students to compare and contrast their options.
Our proprietary ranking system assesses the many colleges and universities offering online programs in South Carolina, ensuring both accuracy and applicability. Students of all kinds will find the information provided useful.
Some of the data types utilized to generate our rankings include:
- Graduation Rate
- Net Price
- Average Graduate Salary
- Retention Rate
- Reputation
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio
The resulting data is highly relevant to prospective students, who can use it to make the best possible academic decisions. Our team is extremely thorough during investigations in order to provide a reliable list of top online programs available in the state. Notably, only properly accredited colleges and universities offering credible online courses are considered for our rankings. Additionally, all institutions included meet our overall quality and affordability standards.
Best Online Associate & Community Colleges in South Carolina
Trident Technical College
Score: 86.07
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,059
- Out-of-State:$8,606
- Net Price: $2,135
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 60%
- Graduation Rate: 24%
- Total Enrollment: 11,789
- Undergrad Students: 11,789
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $38,800
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
Tri-County Technical College
Score: 80.89
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,008
- Out-of-State:$11,096
- Net Price: $6,521
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 55%
- Graduation Rate: 35%
- Total Enrollment: 5,629
- Undergrad Students: 5,629
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $39,700
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Central Carolina Technical College
Score: 73.96
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,594
- Out-of-State:$9,016
- Net Price: $5,521
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 61%
- Graduation Rate: 22%
- Total Enrollment: 3,314
- Undergrad Students: 3,314
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $33,900
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Greenville Technical College
Score: 57.62
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,235
- Out-of-State:$10,657
- Net Price: $6,792
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: N/A
- Graduation Rate: 17%
- Total Enrollment: 11,380
- Undergrad Students: 11,380
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $37,200
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Top 15 Best Online Colleges in South Carolina
Clemson University
Score: 83.37
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,554
- Out-of-State:$39,498
- Net Price: $24,577
- Acceptance Rate: 43%
- Retention Rate: 92%
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- Total Enrollment: 28,466
- Undergrad Students: 22,566
- Graduate Students: 5,900
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Southern Wesleyan University
Score: 80.51
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $27,870
- Out-of-State:$27,870
- Net Price: $17,639
- Acceptance Rate: 51%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 60%
- Total Enrollment: 1,175
- Undergrad Students: 896
- Graduate Students: 279
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
University of South Carolina-Columbia
Score: 78.81
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,688
- Out-of-State:$34,934
- Net Price: $22,427
- Acceptance Rate: 64%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 78%
- Total Enrollment: 35,653
- Undergrad Students: 27,343
- Graduate Students: 8,310
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Bob Jones University
Score: 76.78
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $23,400
- Out-of-State:$23,400
- Net Price: $18,733
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 3,095
- Undergrad Students: 2,665
- Graduate Students: 430
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Lander University
Score: 73.24
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,700
- Out-of-State:$21,300
- Net Price: $15,524
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
- Retention Rate: 66%
- Graduation Rate: 45%
- Total Enrollment: 4,167
- Undergrad Students: 3,562
- Graduate Students: 605
- Grads Salary: $68,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Winthrop University
Score: 72.51
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,956
- Out-of-State:$30,286
- Net Price: $17,008
- Acceptance Rate: 70%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 61%
- Total Enrollment: 4,712
- Undergrad Students: 3,741
- Graduate Students: 971
- Grads Salary: $60,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Francis Marion University
Score: 72.28
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,160
- Out-of-State:$21,544
- Net Price: $12,614
- Acceptance Rate: 83%
- Retention Rate: 65%
- Graduation Rate: 39%
- Total Enrollment: 4,045
- Undergrad Students: 3,635
- Graduate Students: 410
- Grads Salary: $65,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Coastal Carolina University
Score: 72.16
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,640
- Out-of-State:$29,628
- Net Price: $14,016
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 48%
- Total Enrollment: 10,337
- Undergrad Students: 9,794
- Graduate Students: 543
- Grads Salary: $62,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
North Greenville University
Score: 72.12
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $24,650
- Out-of-State:$24,650
- Net Price: $11,705
- Acceptance Rate: 76%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 54%
- Total Enrollment: 2,125
- Undergrad Students: 1,839
- Graduate Students: 286
- Grads Salary: $52,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Columbia International University
Score: 71.33
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $27,900
- Out-of-State:$27,900
- Net Price: $19,911
- Acceptance Rate: 48%
- Retention Rate: 66%
- Graduation Rate: 70%
- Total Enrollment: 2,481
- Undergrad Students: 1,001
- Graduate Students: 1,480
- Grads Salary: $56,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Anderson University-South Carolina
Score: 66.4
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $33,580
- Out-of-State:$33,580
- Net Price: $21,633
- Acceptance Rate: 45%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 60%
- Total Enrollment: 4,121
- Undergrad Students: 3,237
- Graduate Students: 884
- Grads Salary: $53,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Charleston Southern University
Score: 65.7
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $31,030
- Out-of-State:$31,030
- Net Price: $17,536
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 44%
- Total Enrollment: 3,418
- Undergrad Students: 2,836
- Graduate Students: 582
- Grads Salary: $60,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Claflin University
Score: 65.65
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,046
- Out-of-State:$17,046
- Net Price: $19,951
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 1,830
- Undergrad Students: 1,749
- Graduate Students: 81
- Grads Salary: $59,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Columbia College-Columbia,SC
Score: 64.13
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $21,450
- Out-of-State:$21,450
- Net Price: $18,779
- Acceptance Rate: 98%
- Retention Rate: 55%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 1,514
- Undergrad Students: 1,173
- Graduate Students: 341
- Grads Salary: $58,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Coker University
Score: 62.21
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $31,854
- Out-of-State:$31,854
- Net Price: $19,345
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 42%
- Total Enrollment: 1,160
- Undergrad Students: 1,060
- Graduate Students: 100
- Grads Salary: $61,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
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