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2024 Best Colleges in South Carolina

44 Colleges
$44,309 Avg Salary*
51% Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*

With all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Top South Carolina Colleges ranking is part of that endeavor.

After analyzing 44 schools in South Carolina, we came up with our list of those that offered the highest quality education. To come up with this ranking, we look at more than 20 factors that are all objective measurements. These factors include freshman retention, graduation rate, student-to-faculty ratio, and post graduate earnings, among other things.

Find out more about our ranking methodology.

Customizing Your List

We know that one set of rankings doesn't always help you determine the best school for you, so we've created the ability to narrow your list by location and field of study as well as alternative rankings that prioritize different factors such as those of importance to veterans and returning adults or those who value diversity and value for your money.

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One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head!

Top Colleges in South Carolina

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

1
Clemson crest
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina

Clemson University tops this year’s ranking as the best school in South Carolina for overall quality. Clemson University is a large public school located in Clemson, South Carolina that handed out 7,601 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Clemson make an average of $63,857 per year during the early years of their career.

Read More…

2

Out of the 44 schools in South Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, University of South Carolina - Columbia landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Columbia, South Carolina, the large public school awarded 10,191 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $54,109 during the early years of their career..

Read full report on University of South Carolina - Columbia

3
CIU crest
Columbia International University
Columbia, South Carolina

Out of the 44 schools in South Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia International University landed the #3 spot on the list. CIU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbia, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 456 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from CIU make an average of $36,834 a year.

Read More…

4
Wofford crest
Wofford College
Spartanburg, South Carolina

The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Wofford College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in South Carolina. Wofford College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Spartanburg, South Carolina that handed out 493 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. During the early years of their career, graduates from Wofford make an average of $67,530 a year.

Full Wofford College Report

5
Furman crest
Furman University
Greenville, South Carolina

The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Furman University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in South Carolina.Greenville, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 882 students in 2020-2021.

Bachelor’s degree students at the school tend to finish their degree on-time. The 4-year graduation rate is 77%, which is impressive compared to the national rate of 33%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Furman is $58,343 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Furman University

6

Citadel Military College of South Carolina landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in South Carolina ranking. The Citadel is located in Charleston, South Carolina and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,074 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from The Citadel make an average of $67,770 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Citadel Military College of South Carolina

7
Trident Technical College crest
Trident Technical College
Charleston, South Carolina

Trident Technical College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Colleges in South Carolina list. Trident Technical College is located in Charleston, South Carolina and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,180 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Trident Technical College go into careers with an average salary of $35,114 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

8
C of C crest
College of Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina

College of Charleston came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in South Carolina ranking.Charleston, South Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,417 students in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from C of C make an average of $49,534 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on College of Charleston

9
Anderson University South Carolina crest
Anderson University South Carolina
Anderson, South Carolina

Anderson University South Carolina did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in South Carolina ranking, coming in at #9. Anderson University South Carolina is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Anderson, South Carolina. It awarded 959 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Anderson University South Carolina make an average of $39,593 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Anderson University South Carolina

10
Columbia College South Carolina crest
Columbia College
Columbia, South Carolina

Columbia College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in South Carolina ranking. Located in Columbia, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 463 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Columbia College South Carolina make an average of $36,585 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Columbia College

11
GTC crest
Greenville Technical College
Greenville, South Carolina

Greenville Technical College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in South Carolina ranking. GTC is a fairly large public school situated in Greenville, South Carolina. It awarded 2,011 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from GTC make an average of $35,205 per year during the early years of their career.

Full Greenville Technical College Report

12
Bob Jones University crest
Bob Jones University
Greenville, South Carolina

Bob Jones University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in South Carolina ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Greenville, South Carolina, and it awarded 626 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Bob Jones University make an average of $40,853 per year during the early years of their career.

Full Bob Jones University Report

13
Winthrop crest
Winthrop University
Rock Hill, South Carolina

Winthrop University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Colleges in South Carolina list. Located in Rock Hill, South Carolina, the small public school awarded 1,368 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Winthrop is $41,504 during the early years of their career.

Full Winthrop University Report

14
PC crest
Presbyterian College
Clinton, South Carolina

Presbyterian College landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in South Carolina ranking.Clinton, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 227 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. During the early years of their career, graduates from PC make an average of $49,050 a year.

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15
North Greenville crest
North Greenville University
Tigerville, South Carolina

North Greenville University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in South Carolina ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Tigerville, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 509 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $40,031 during the early years of their career..

Read full report on North Greenville University

16
SWU crest
Southern Wesleyan University
Central, South Carolina

Southern Wesleyan University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in South Carolina ranking. SWU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Central, South Carolina. It awarded 394 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $41,792 during the early years of their career..

Full Southern Wesleyan University Report

17
Converse crest
Converse College
Spartanburg, South Carolina

Converse College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in South Carolina ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 374 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Converse go into careers with an average salary of $38,109 during the early years of their career.

Full Converse College Report

18
USC Upstate crest
University of South Carolina - Upstate
Spartanburg, South Carolina

University of South Carolina - Upstate came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in South Carolina ranking. USC Upstate is a small public school situated in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It awarded 1,248 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $42,949 during the early years of their career..

Read More…

19
Coastal Carolina University crest
Coastal Carolina University
Conway, South Carolina

Coastal Carolina University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in South Carolina ranking.Conway, South Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,203 students in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $44,305 during the early years of their career..

Read More…

20
CSU crest
Charleston Southern University
Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston Southern University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in South Carolina ranking, coming in at #20. CSU is located in Charleston, South Carolina and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 724 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

During the early years of their career, graduates from CSU make an average of $42,048 a year.

Full Charleston Southern University Report

21
MTC crest
Midlands Technical College
West Columbia, South Carolina

Midlands Technical College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Colleges in South Carolina list. MTC is located in West Columbia, South Carolina and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,802 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from MTC make an average of $33,780 per year during the early years of their career.

Full Midlands Technical College Report

22
Limestone College crest
Limestone College
Gaffney, South Carolina

Limestone College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Colleges in South Carolina list.Gaffney, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 473 students in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Limestone College go into careers with an average salary of $39,684 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Limestone College

23
Newberry College crest
Newberry College
Newberry, South Carolina

Newberry College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in South Carolina ranking. Located in Newberry, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 278 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from Newberry College make an average of $40,867 a year.

Read full report on Newberry College

24
OCtech crest
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College
Orangeburg, South Carolina

With a ranking of #24, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in South Carolina list. Located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, the small public school handed out 718 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from OCtech make an average of $30,416 a year.

Full Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Report

25
SMC crest
Spartanburg Methodist College
Spartanburg, South Carolina

Spartanburg Methodist College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in South Carolina ranking. SMC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 263 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from SMC go into careers with an average salary of $37,871 during the early years of their career.

Full Spartanburg Methodist College Report

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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