Best Colleges in South Carolina for Associate, Bachelor’s & Master’s

Most Popular Degrees and Careers in South Carolina

Best Associate Degrees in South Carolina

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You can earn your associate degree in South Carolina in an in-demand program like nuclear medicine technology, radiation therapy, physical therapy assisting, radiologic technology, or occupational therapy if you’re looking to enter the healthcare field. If this isn’t your passion, there are plenty of other options available in IT, accounting, business, and more. You can find the best associate degrees available from the following colleges and universities. Why not take a look?

University of South Carolina-Lancaster

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 1,810 Graduation Rate 22% Net Price $8,914 Grads Salary $44,900

Spartanburg Methodist College

College Type 4-year, primarily associate's, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,051 Graduation Rate 48% Net Price $12,457 Grads Salary $37,900

Spartanburg Community College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 4,108 Graduation Rate 28% Net Price $4,023 Grads Salary $33,100

Trident Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 11,650 Graduation Rate 18% Net Price $2,506 Grads Salary $35,100

Tri-County Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 6,181 Graduation Rate 32% Net Price $8,603 Grads Salary $33,600

Aiken Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 1,925 Graduation Rate 26% Net Price $4,362 Grads Salary $25,500

Horry-Georgetown Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 6,409 Graduation Rate 24% Net Price $4,753 Grads Salary $25,800

York Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 4,178 Graduation Rate 25% Net Price $7,870 Grads Salary $31,200

Northeastern Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 1,465 Graduation Rate 27% Net Price $6,246 Grads Salary $28,500

Florence-Darlington Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 3,315 Graduation Rate 17% Net Price $3,176 Grads Salary $25,800

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Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 2,257 Graduation Rate 23% Net Price $6,632 Grads Salary $30,400

Greenville Technical College

College Type 4-year, primarily associate's, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 10,536 Graduation Rate 12% Net Price $7,332 Grads Salary $35,200

Central Carolina Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 3,361 Graduation Rate 18% Net Price $5,499 Grads Salary $29,300

Midlands Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 8,794 Graduation Rate 12% Net Price $6,107 Grads Salary $29,000

Piedmont Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 4,712 Graduation Rate 24% Net Price $11,626 Grads Salary $31,800

Technical College of the Lowcountry

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 2,119 Graduation Rate 11% Net Price $7,833 Grads Salary $29,100

Williamsburg Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 635 Graduation Rate 16% Net Price $7,700 Grads Salary $25,400

Denmark Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 491 Graduation Rate 24% Net Price $11,966 Grads Salary $17,200

Clinton College

College Type 4-year, primarily associate's, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 119 Graduation Rate 8% Net Price $15,653 Grads Salary $24,400

Best Bachelor's Degrees in South Carolina

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You can make it even easier for yourself when looking for gainful employment with a bachelor's degree from a South Carolina college or university. There are many bachelor's programs offered in the state including some in chemical engineering, actuarial mathematics, mechanical engineering, computer science, management information systems, business administration, finance, and much, much more. Here you’ll find our list of the top schools in the state, which you can use to find a program that matches your needs.

Clemson University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 25,822 Graduation Rate 85% Net Price $22,935 Grads Salary $69,900

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,740 Graduation Rate 71% Net Price $17,920 Grads Salary $71,000

University of South Carolina-Columbia

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 35,364 Graduation Rate 78% Net Price $21,784 Grads Salary $64,400

Bob Jones University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,008 Graduation Rate 65% Net Price $15,669 Grads Salary $62,400

Wofford College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,764 Graduation Rate 80% Net Price $30,431 Grads Salary $63,400

Presbyterian College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,309 Graduation Rate 64% Net Price $21,959 Grads Salary $63,900

College of Charleston

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 10,384 Graduation Rate 66% Net Price $20,351 Grads Salary $60,600

Southern Wesleyan University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,430 Graduation Rate 54% Net Price $18,614 Grads Salary $64,700

Furman University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,567 Graduation Rate 81% Net Price $37,761 Grads Salary $67,500

Winthrop University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 5,865 Graduation Rate 61% Net Price $19,300 Grads Salary $58,100

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Columbia International University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,098 Graduation Rate 68% Net Price $18,651 Grads Salary $54,000

Charleston Southern University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,350 Graduation Rate 44% Net Price $17,496 Grads Salary $61,000

Newberry College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,256 Graduation Rate 52% Net Price $20,205 Grads Salary $59,000

Coastal Carolina University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 10,484 Graduation Rate 46% Net Price $14,716 Grads Salary $56,800

Francis Marion University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 4,148 Graduation Rate 44% Net Price $12,380 Grads Salary $55,400

Columbia College-Columbia,SC

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,218 Graduation Rate 66% Net Price $20,277 Grads Salary $51,000

Lander University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,226 Graduation Rate 49% Net Price $15,541 Grads Salary $55,000

Coker University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,113 Graduation Rate 53% Net Price $16,647 Grads Salary $52,000

Claflin University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,070 Graduation Rate 50% Net Price $20,806 Grads Salary $56,200

Anderson University-South Carolina

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,848 Graduation Rate 57% Net Price $21,576 Grads Salary $53,000

South Carolina State University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,339 Graduation Rate 30% Net Price $20,022 Grads Salary $64,200

Benedict College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,731 Graduation Rate 28% Net Price $12,155 Grads Salary $54,200

North Greenville University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,426 Graduation Rate 51% Net Price $20,627 Grads Salary $49,900

Converse College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,377 Graduation Rate 52% Net Price $25,534 Grads Salary $53,000

Voorhees College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 368 Graduation Rate 41% Net Price $16,223 Grads Salary $48,000

Strayer University-South Carolina

College Type 4-year, Private for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 2,806 Graduation Rate 50% Net Price $22,605 Grads Salary $49,000

Erskine College and Seminary

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 943 Graduation Rate 52% Net Price $35,573 Grads Salary $57,300

Morris College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 395 Graduation Rate 26% Net Price $16,326 Grads Salary $40,700

Allen University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 705 Graduation Rate 19% Net Price $13,858 Grads Salary $37,000

Greenville Technical College

College Type 4-year, primarily associate's, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 10,536 Graduation Rate 12% Net Price $7,332 Grads Salary $31,500

Best Master's Degrees in South Carolina

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An advanced degree is ready for you at one of South Carolina's best graduate schools. You could pursue a master's or doctorate in library science, public administration, cognitive neuroscience, zoology, infectious disease epidemiology, or juridical science. No matter your expertise, you can use the available programs to move your career forward. Check out our list of excellent schools and programs. It will give you a great place to start when you start looking to earn your terminal degree.

Clemson University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 25,822 Graduation Rate 85% Net Price $22,935 Grads Salary $69,900

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,740 Graduation Rate 71% Net Price $17,920 Grads Salary $71,000

University of South Carolina-Columbia

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 35,364 Graduation Rate 78% Net Price $21,784 Grads Salary $64,400

Bob Jones University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,008 Graduation Rate 65% Net Price $15,669 Grads Salary $62,400

Presbyterian College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,309 Graduation Rate 64% Net Price $21,959 Grads Salary $63,900

College of Charleston

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 10,384 Graduation Rate 66% Net Price $20,351 Grads Salary $60,600

Southern Wesleyan University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,430 Graduation Rate 54% Net Price $18,614 Grads Salary $64,700

Furman University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,567 Graduation Rate 81% Net Price $37,761 Grads Salary $67,500

Columbia International University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,098 Graduation Rate 68% Net Price $18,651 Grads Salary $54,000

Winthrop University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 5,865 Graduation Rate 61% Net Price $19,300 Grads Salary $58,100

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Charleston Southern University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,350 Graduation Rate 44% Net Price $17,496 Grads Salary $61,000

Coastal Carolina University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 10,484 Graduation Rate 46% Net Price $14,716 Grads Salary $56,800

Francis Marion University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 4,148 Graduation Rate 44% Net Price $12,380 Grads Salary $55,400

Lander University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,226 Graduation Rate 49% Net Price $15,541 Grads Salary $55,000

Columbia College-Columbia,SC

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,218 Graduation Rate 66% Net Price $20,277 Grads Salary $51,000

Coker University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,113 Graduation Rate 53% Net Price $16,647 Grads Salary $52,000

Claflin University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,070 Graduation Rate 50% Net Price $20,806 Grads Salary $56,200

Anderson University-South Carolina

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,848 Graduation Rate 57% Net Price $21,576 Grads Salary $53,000

South Carolina State University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,339 Graduation Rate 30% Net Price $20,022 Grads Salary $64,200

North Greenville University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,426 Graduation Rate 51% Net Price $20,627 Grads Salary $49,900

Converse College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,377 Graduation Rate 52% Net Price $25,534 Grads Salary $53,000

Strayer University-South Carolina

College Type 4-year, Private for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 2,806 Graduation Rate 50% Net Price $22,605 Grads Salary $49,000

Limestone University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,943 Graduation Rate 33% Net Price $24,967 Grads Salary $57,000

Erskine College and Seminary

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 943 Graduation Rate 52% Net Price $35,573 Grads Salary $57,300

Allen University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 705 Graduation Rate 19% Net Price $13,858 Grads Salary $37,000

Cost of South Carolina College Education & Salaries

The cost of your overall education is highly important to consider. If you take out $100,000 in financial aid and only make $25,000 a year, you may struggle to pay your bills for the rest of your life. It is important to think about potential careers and the cost of your education before you select a school. Most four-year public colleges and universities are highly affordable for those paying in-state tuition. If you are not a state resident, you will have to pay out-of-state tuition which is often significantly more. If you plan to attend a four-year private school, it will cost in-state residents roughly double in most cases if not more. Private schools typically have the same tuition costs for in-state and out-of-state residents.

Do not forget to include the cost of living and your book and class fees. These will all add up. It might be less expensive to live on campus in some towns or cities. In other cities, it will cost more to live on campus. These are all financial aspects to consider before you choose the right school for you, and remember that online courses can help you save money and provide you with greater flexibility in your life.

Best Scholarships for South Carolina

CCCS

Cancer for College Carolinas Scholarship

https://cancerforcollege.org/available-scholarships/
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: January 31
The Cancer for College Carolinas Scholarship is dedicated to applicants who have been diagnosed with cancer themselves. The applicants must also plan to attend an accredited degree program rather than a certificate program. You will have to be a full-time undergraduate student or a part-time graduate student to qualify. The recipient and their parent or guardian cannot earn more than $150,000 to be awarded this scholarship. You will be required to present financials, letters of recommendation, and your intent to attend a college or university in South Carolina or North Carolina.

AAN

African American Network

https://fftcscholarships.communityforce.com/Funds/Search.aspx
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: March 1
The African American Network Carolina Chapter is managed by the Fund For the Carolinas. This is also a part of Duke Energy which is a major employer in South Carolina. Applicants must be interested in one of several specific degrees, such as accounting, business administration, computer science, engineering, finance, mathematics, or science. You must be a graduating high school senior from either North Carolina or South Carolina, and your GPA and need for financial assistance will be important factors. You must attend a college or university in North Carolina or South Carolina.

ANSWE

Anderson Nontraditional Scholarship for Women’s Education

http://answerscholarship.org/
Amount: $2,000-$4,000
Deadline: March 1
The Anderson Nontraditional Scholarship for Women’s Education (ANSWER) is for women who are at least the age of 25 or older. Applicants must be raising children at home who are school-aged. ANSWER provides the scholarship and a network of women to offer advice and encouragement to other women who wish to continue their education. To be eligible, you must enter a two-year program for nursing or a CPCC health career. If you enroll in a four-year degree program, you will also qualify. Scholarships are based solely on donations from the ANSWER network, including individuals, businesses, houses of worship, and others.

BRMS

Bobbi Rossi Memorial Scholarship

https://www.yourfoundation.org/BobbiRossiScholarship
Amount: Varies
Deadline: March 17
The Bobbi Rossi Memorial Scholarship is part of the Central Carolina Community Foundation. Applicants must be working toward a nursing degree at the University of South Carolina and must be in the upper division of the program at the time of their application. They must also have at least a 3.0 GPA and be a full-time student the entire traditional school year. Applicants must demonstrate the ways in which they participate within the community and in campus life and prove their financial need to be considered.

CVRHS

Carolinas-Virginias Retail Hardware Scholarship

https://fftcscholarships.communityforce.com/Funds/Search.aspx
Amount: $1,250
Deadline: March 1
The Carolinas-Virginia Retail Hardware Association is managed by the Foundation for the Carolinas. Eligible individuals must be the child of an employee of a business that is a member of the Carolinas-Virginia Retail Hardware Association and a resident of South Carolina, North Carolina, West Virginia or Virginia. Eleven scholarships in total will be awarded each year. Recipients will have at least a 2.5 GPA, and a parent or guardian must have been a full-time employee of a member business for at least two years.