Best Online Colleges in South Carolina for 2023

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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.

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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.

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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.

What are the Best Online Associate & Community College Programs in South Carolina?


More and more community colleges are offering online programs in South Carolina. Online community colleges are typically accredited to award associate-level degrees. Major options available vary, but students can generally choose between a wide variety of subjects. Notably, however, some majors are better suited to distance learning than others.

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Online community colleges often offer some of the most flexible learning solutions for prospective students. These institutions also tend to be more affordable, with lower tuition and fee rates than four-year institutions.

Graduates with online community college degrees can either apply for employment or transfer the credits they have earned to other accredited colleges and universities. It’s easiest to transfer credits from regionally accredited institutions. As most associate degrees consist of 60 credit hours, those pursuing bachelor’s degrees will likely be admitted as juniors with two years of classes remaining instead of as freshmen.

Trident Technical College
College Type
2-year, Public
Student Population
11,650
Graduation Rate
18%
Net Price
$2,506
Grads Salary
$35,100
Tri-County Technical College
College Type
2-year, Public
Student Population
5,582
Graduation Rate
32%
Net Price
$8,603
Grads Salary
$33,600
Central Carolina Technical College
College Type
2-year, Public
Student Population
2,885
Graduation Rate
18%
Net Price
$5,499
Grads Salary
$29,300
Greenville Technical College
College Type
4-year, primarily associate's, Public
Student Population
10,536
Graduation Rate
12%
Net Price
$7,332
Grads Salary
$35,200

What are the Best Online Universities & College Programs in South Carolina?


Prospective students can choose from numerous online college programs in South Carolina. The state makes it easy to earn degrees of every kind, with options available at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Many institutions also offer online professional certificates for undergraduate and graduate students.

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Distance learning provides students with the ability to pursue their education from nearly anywhere in the world. This is particularly beneficial to non-traditional students who cannot attend classes in person. Those with full-time jobs and/or other responsibilities can study from their offices or homes instead of institution campuses. Additionally, online college programs usually have more flexible scheduling options, with courses taught during the day and evening.

While outcomes vary, most graduates will have the knowledge, skills, and academic experience needed to pursue further education or professional employment in their chosen fields. Prospective students should, however, always verify institutional accreditation status prior to enrolling.

Clemson University
College Type
4-year, Public
Student Population
26,406
Graduation Rate
85%
Net Price
$22,935
Grads Salary
$71,000
Bob Jones University
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit
Student Population
3,029
Graduation Rate
65%
Net Price
$15,669
Grads Salary
$65,000
University of South Carolina
College Type
4-year, Public
Student Population
35,470
Graduation Rate
78%
Net Price
$21,784
Grads Salary
$65,000
Southern Wesleyan University
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit
Student Population
1,345
Graduation Rate
54%
Net Price
$18,614
Grads Salary
$69,000
Francis Marion University
College Type
4-year, Public
Student Population
4,148
Graduation Rate
44%
Net Price
$12,380
Grads Salary
$57,000
Coastal Carolina University
College Type
4-year, Public
Student Population
10,118
Graduation Rate
46%
Net Price
$14,716
Grads Salary
$58,000
Columbia International University
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit
Student Population
2,098
Graduation Rate
68%
Net Price
$18,651
Grads Salary
$54,000
Winthrop University
College Type
4-year, Public
Student Population
5,576
Graduation Rate
61%
Net Price
$19,300
Grads Salary
$59,000
Lander University
College Type
4-year, Public
Student Population
3,513
Graduation Rate
49%
Net Price
$15,541
Grads Salary
$55,000
Charleston Southern University
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit
Student Population
3,350
Graduation Rate
44%
Net Price
$17,496
Grads Salary
$60,000
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