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2021 Best Colleges for International Students in South Carolina

25 Colleges
$28,564 Avg Tuition & Fees*
41% Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*

With all of the options international students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its Best Colleges for International Students in South Carolina ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

We analyzed 25 colleges and universities across South Carolina to determine which were the best for international students in South Carolina. To come up with this ranking, we look at a number of factors that are all objective measurements. These factors include the school's overall quality as determined by our Best Colleges ranking and the percentage of international students on campus.

See what other factors we include in our ranking methodology.

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Top Colleges in South Carolina for International Students

See which schools came out on top of our ranking:

1

Clemson University tops this year’s ranking as the best school for international students in South Carolina. Clemson is located in Clemson, South Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5,155 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.

International students make up 4.9% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at Clemson are India, China, and Iran.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Clemson University Report

2

The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at University of South Carolina - Columbia helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools for international students in South Carolina. Located in Columbia, South Carolina, the large public school handed out 7,272 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 4.6% are international. Students from as far away as China, India, and Saudi Arabia come to UofSC to study.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.

Full University of South Carolina - Columbia Report

3
Furman crest
Furman University
Greenville, SC

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Furman University. The school came in at #3 in this year’s ranking. Furman is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Greenville, South Carolina. It awarded 780 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 2.4% are international. Students from as far away as China, United Kingdom, and Canada come to Furman to study.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a bachelor’s degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Furman University Report

4
Wofford crest
Wofford College
Spartanburg, SC

Out of the 25 schools in South Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, Wofford College landed the #4 spot on the list. Wofford is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It awarded 493 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 1.8% of the total student population at the school is international. Students from as far away as China, Canada, and Spain come to Wofford to study.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read More…

5

Out of the 25 schools in South Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, Presbyterian College landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Clinton, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 175 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 2.4% are international. Students from as far away as China, Japan, and Spain come to PC to study.

Read full report on Presbyterian College

6

With a ranking of #6, Citadel Military College of South Carolina did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in South Carolina. Located in Charleston, South Carolina, the small public school awarded 716 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Around 0.6% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at The Citadel come from such countries as Taiwan, Thailand, and China.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on Citadel Military College of South Carolina

7
C of C crest
College of Charleston
Charleston, SC

College of Charleston did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in South Carolina ranking, coming in at #7. College of Charleston is a fairly large public school located in Charleston, South Carolina that handed out 2,134 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 0.9% are international. Students from as far away as Japan, Germany, and China come to C of C to study.

Full College of Charleston Report

8
Winthrop crest
Winthrop University
Rock Hill, SC

Winthrop University did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in South Carolina ranking, coming in at #8. Rock Hill, South Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,001 students in 2020-2021.

Around 1.5% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at Winthrop come from such countries as Saudi Arabia, China, and Australia.

Read More…

9

Columbia International University landed the #9 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in South Carolina. Located in Columbia, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 185 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 12.8% are international. Students studying at CIU come from such countries as China, Brazil, and Costa Rica.

Read More…

10

North Greenville University did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in South Carolina ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Tigerville, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 404 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 0.7% are international. Students from as far away as Brazil, Nigeria, and Colombia come to North Greenville to study.

Full North Greenville University Report

11
Converse crest
Converse College
Spartanburg, SC

With a ranking of #11, Converse College did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in South Carolina. Converse is a private not-for-profit institution located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 237 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 3.3% are international. Students from as far away as China, Canada, and Australia come to Converse to study.

Full Converse College Report

12
Claflin crest
Claflin University
Orangeburg, SC

Claflin University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Colleges for international Students in South Carolina list. Located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 437 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Around 2.6% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at Claflin come from such countries as Panama, Nigeria, and Mexico.

Read full report on Claflin University

13

With a ranking of #13, Coastal Carolina University did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in South Carolina. Coastal Carolina University is a public institution located in Conway, South Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,941 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 1.2% are international. Students from as far away as South Africa, Netherlands, and France come to Coastal Carolina University to study.

Read full report on Coastal Carolina University

14

Francis Marion University landed the #14 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in South Carolina. Francis Marion University is a small public school located in Florence, South Carolina that handed out 600 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 1.0% are international. Students from as far away as Germany, United Kingdom, and Sweden come to Francis Marion University to study.

Read full report on Francis Marion University

15

University of South Carolina - Aiken did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in South Carolina ranking, coming in at #15. University of South Carolina - Aiken is a small public school located in Aiken, South Carolina that handed out 602 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 1.6% of the total student population at the school is international. The top three countries sending students to study at UofSC Aiken are Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and France.

Full University of South Carolina - Aiken Report

16

Charleston Southern University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for international Students in South Carolina ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Charleston, South Carolina, and it awarded 541 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 1.6% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as China, Canada, and Brazil come to CSU to study.

Full Charleston Southern University Report

17

With a ranking of #17, Southern Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in South Carolina. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Central, South Carolina, and it awarded 259 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 1.0% of the total student population at the school is international. Students from as far away as Colombia, Canada, and Germany come to SWU to study.

Read full report on Southern Wesleyan University

18

Limestone College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for international Students in South Carolina ranking. Limestone College is located in Gaffney, South Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 408 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.

Of the total number of students at the school, 3.0% are international. The top three countries sending students to study at Limestone College are Canada, United Kingdom, and Brazil.

Read full report on Limestone College

19

University of South Carolina - Upstate landed the #19 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in South Carolina. USC Upstate is a public institution located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,139 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 1.4% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at USC Upstate are Germany, Brazil, and United Kingdom.

Full University of South Carolina - Upstate Report

20
Newberry College crest
Newberry College
Newberry, SC

Newberry College did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in South Carolina ranking, coming in at #20. Newberry College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Newberry, South Carolina that handed out 278 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 5.8% of the total student population at the school is international. The top three countries sending students to study at Newberry College are Australia, Spain, and Canada.

Read More…

21
Lander University crest
Lander University
Greenwood, SC

Lander University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for international Students in South Carolina ranking. Lander University is a public institution located in Greenwood, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 536 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 0.5% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at Lander University are China, United Kingdom, and France.

Read More…

22
Coker crest
Coker University
Hartsville, SC

Coker University did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in South Carolina ranking, coming in at #22. Coker is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hartsville, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 180 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 4.6% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as United Kingdom, Brazil, and Denmark come to Coker to study.

Read More…

23

South Carolina State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for international Students in South Carolina ranking. This small public school is located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, and it awarded 309 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 0.2% are international. Students from as far away as Nigeria, Czech Republic, and Nepal come to South Carolina State University to study.

Read full report on South Carolina State University

24

University of South Carolina - Beaufort did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in South Carolina ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Bluffton, South Carolina, the small public school handed out 407 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 1.3% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as Canada, United Kingdom, and Sweden come to USCB to study.

Read More…

25
Voorhees College crest
Voorhees College
Denmark, SC

Voorhees College landed the #25 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in South Carolina. Located in Denmark, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 75 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

International students make up 1.9% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at Voorhees College are Nigeria, Liberia, and Cameroon.

Read More…

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*Avg Tuition and Fees and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top 25 schools only.

References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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