Best Colleges in South Carolina

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?

Clinton College

College Type 4-year, Primarily associate's, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 190 Graduation Rate 76% Net Price $15,617

Southeastern Institute-Columbia

College Type 2-year, Private for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 196 Graduation Rate 76% Net Price $29,304

Southeastern Institute-Charleston

College Type 2-year, Private for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 192 Graduation Rate 65% Net Price $29,576

Fortis College-Columbia

College Type 2-year, Private for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 497 Graduation Rate 61% Net Price $20,445

Forrest College

College Type 2-year, Private for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 27 Graduation Rate 46% Net Price $20,384

Spartanburg Methodist College

College Type 4-year, Primarily associate's, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 933 Graduation Rate 40% Net Price $12,672

University of South Carolina-Sumter

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 1,361 Graduation Rate 31% Net Price $10,219

Tri-County Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 6,181 Graduation Rate 29% Net Price $8,995

Platt College-Miller-Motte Technical-Charleston

College Type 2-year, Private for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 411 Graduation Rate 26% Net Price $21,912

University of South Carolina-Union

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 1,153 Graduation Rate 26% Net Price $11,665

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University of South Carolina-Salkehatchie

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 964 Graduation Rate 25% Net Price $13,401

Aiken Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 2,236 Graduation Rate 23% Net Price $3,525

Platt College-Miller-Motte Technical-Conway

College Type 2-year, Private for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 600 Graduation Rate 23% Net Price $23,403

York Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 4,529 Graduation Rate 23% Net Price $6,655

Spartanburg Community College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 4,633 Graduation Rate 22% Net Price $3,965

Horry-Georgetown Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 6,705 Graduation Rate 21% Net Price $5,587

Denmark Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 483 Graduation Rate 20% Net Price $13,639

Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 2,298 Graduation Rate 20% Net Price $6,438

Piedmont Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 4,747 Graduation Rate 20% Net Price $9,126

University of South Carolina-Lancaster

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 1,640 Graduation Rate 20% Net Price $9,273

Northeastern Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 1,276 Graduation Rate 19% Net Price $4,813

Trident Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 12,351 Graduation Rate 19% Net Price $2,559

Central Carolina Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 3,361 Graduation Rate 15% Net Price $5,366

Technical College of the Lowcountry

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 2,308 Graduation Rate 14% Net Price $8,246

Florence-Darlington Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 3,558 Graduation Rate 13% Net Price $4,249

Midlands Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 9,160 Graduation Rate 12% Net Price $5,864

Greenville Technical College

College Type 4-year, Primarily associate's, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 11,123 Graduation Rate 11% Net Price $6,992

Williamsburg Technical College

College Type 2-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 832 Graduation Rate 8% Net Price $8,971

W L Bonner College

College Type 4-year, Primarily associate's, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population NA Graduation Rate NA Net Price NA

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.

Wofford College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,720 Graduation Rate 85% Net Price $28,033

Clemson University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 25,822 Graduation Rate 84% Net Price $21,482

Furman University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,828 Graduation Rate 83% Net Price $35,621

University of South Carolina-Columbia

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 35,364 Graduation Rate 77% Net Price $21,787

Clinton College

College Type 4-year, Primarily associate's, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 190 Graduation Rate 76% Net Price $15,617

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,767 Graduation Rate 74% Net Price $17,723

Presbyterian College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,353 Graduation Rate 71% Net Price $19,778

American College of the Building Arts

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 94 Graduation Rate 67% Net Price $28,367

Anderson University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,543 Graduation Rate 67% Net Price $21,599

Bob Jones University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,008 Graduation Rate 66% Net Price $14,570

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College of Charleston

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 10,545 Graduation Rate 66% Net Price $19,764

Winthrop University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 5,865 Graduation Rate 63% Net Price $19,115

Columbia College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,243 Graduation Rate 60% Net Price $18,359

North Greenville University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,426 Graduation Rate 59% Net Price $19,124

Converse College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,455 Graduation Rate 58% Net Price $14,849

Newberry College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,271 Graduation Rate 54% Net Price $19,623

Southern Wesleyan University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,430 Graduation Rate 54% Net Price $17,978

Claflin University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,070 Graduation Rate 51% Net Price $18,136

Columbia International University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,649 Graduation Rate 51% Net Price $18,242

University of South Carolina-Upstate

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 6,308 Graduation Rate 48% Net Price $15,838

Coastal Carolina University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 10,484 Graduation Rate 47% Net Price $15,111

Erskine College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 912 Graduation Rate 45% Net Price $35,421

Lander University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,226 Graduation Rate 45% Net Price $13,009

Francis Marion University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 4,240 Graduation Rate 44% Net Price $12,973

Charleston Southern University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,477 Graduation Rate 41% Net Price $17,866

Voorhees College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 510 Graduation Rate 41% Net Price $16,542

Coker University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,113 Graduation Rate 39% Net Price $15,037

University of South Carolina Aiken

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,720 Graduation Rate 39% Net Price $15,042

South Carolina State University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,479 Graduation Rate 35% Net Price $20,007

Limestone College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,206 Graduation Rate 33% Net Price $23,023

University of South Carolina Beaufort

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,119 Graduation Rate 31% Net Price $16,807

Morris College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 600 Graduation Rate 25% Net Price $15,823

Benedict College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,040 Graduation Rate 24% Net Price $13,581

Allen University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 817 Graduation Rate 22% Net Price $14,303

Strayer University-South Carolina

College Type 4-year, Private for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 3,079 Graduation Rate 20% Net Price $21,546

South University-Columbia

College Type 4-year, Private for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 797 Graduation Rate 17% Net Price $22,435

Greenville Technical College

College Type 4-year, Primarily associate's, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 11,123 Graduation Rate 11% Net Price $6,992

Medical University of South Carolina

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 2,971 Graduation Rate NA Net Price NA

W L Bonner College

College Type 4-year, Primarily associate's, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population NA Graduation Rate NA Net Price NA

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 84% Net Price $21,482

Furman University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,828 Graduation Rate 83% Net Price $35,621

University of South Carolina-Columbia

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 35,364 Graduation Rate 77% Net Price $21,787

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,767 Graduation Rate 74% Net Price $17,723

Presbyterian College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,353 Graduation Rate 71% Net Price $19,778

Anderson University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,543 Graduation Rate 67% Net Price $21,599

Bob Jones University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,008 Graduation Rate 66% Net Price $14,570

College of Charleston

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 10,545 Graduation Rate 66% Net Price $19,764

Winthrop University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 5,865 Graduation Rate 63% Net Price $19,115

Columbia College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,243 Graduation Rate 60% Net Price $18,359

Full Ranking Report

North Greenville University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,426 Graduation Rate 59% Net Price $19,124

Converse College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,455 Graduation Rate 58% Net Price $14,849

Southern Wesleyan University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,430 Graduation Rate 54% Net Price $17,978

Claflin University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,070 Graduation Rate 51% Net Price $18,136

Columbia International University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,649 Graduation Rate 51% Net Price $18,242

University of South Carolina-Upstate

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 6,308 Graduation Rate 48% Net Price $15,838

Coastal Carolina University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 10,484 Graduation Rate 47% Net Price $15,111

Erskine College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 912 Graduation Rate 45% Net Price $35,421

Lander University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,226 Graduation Rate 45% Net Price $13,009

Francis Marion University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 4,240 Graduation Rate 44% Net Price $12,973

Charleston Southern University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,477 Graduation Rate 41% Net Price $17,866

Coker University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 1,113 Graduation Rate 39% Net Price $15,037

University of South Carolina Aiken

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 3,720 Graduation Rate 39% Net Price $15,042

South Carolina State University

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,479 Graduation Rate 35% Net Price $20,007

Limestone College

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,206 Graduation Rate 33% Net Price $23,023

University of South Carolina Beaufort

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing Yes Student Population 2,119 Graduation Rate 31% Net Price $16,807

Allen University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing Yes Student Population 817 Graduation Rate 22% Net Price $14,303

Strayer University-South Carolina

College Type 4-year, Private for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 3,079 Graduation Rate 20% Net Price $21,546

South University-Columbia

College Type 4-year, Private for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 797 Graduation Rate 17% Net Price $22,435

Charleston School of Law

College Type 4-year, Private for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 612 Graduation Rate NA Net Price NA

Medical University of South Carolina

College Type 4-year, Public Campus Housing No Student Population 2,971 Graduation Rate NA Net Price NA

Sherman College of Chiropractic

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Campus Housing No Student Population 464 Graduation Rate NA Net Price NA

Best Online Degree Colleges in South Carolina (Distance Learning Only)

If flexibility and affordability are crucial in your college selection, an online degree program would be a good fit for you. Every school makes its own decisions when setting up their online degree programs, so you may need to learn more about each one before making your decision, but this list is an excellent place to start. Some of the online programs available in the state include health informatics, engineering technology management, elementary education, criminal justice, and computer science or cyber security. Find your perfect program now.

Colorado Technical University

College Type 4-year, Private for-profit Student Population 27,232 Graduation Rate 26% Net Price $16,260

Purdue

College Type 4-year, Public Student Population 38,138 Graduation Rate 27% Net Price NA

Southern New Hampshire University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Student Population 113,514 Graduation Rate 44% Net Price $39,743

Western Governors University

College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit Student Population 136,139 Graduation Rate 21% Net Price $7,785

Capella University

College Type 4-year, Private for-profit Student Population 37,859 Graduation Rate NA Net Price $17,368

Walden University

College Type 4-year, Private for-profit Student Population 48,420 Graduation Rate 33% Net Price NA

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.