2026 Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools in South Carolina
[Higher Education/Higher Education Administration](/majors/education/educational-administration/higher-education-higher-education-administration/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong higher education/higher education administration education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools in South Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the higher education/higher education administration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools
Coastal Carolina University tops our 2026 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools in South Carolina. Set in the city of Conway, Coastal Carolina University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,640, compared with $29,628 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,174 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Coastal Carolina University generally make around $38,272. That is a strong return on a $27,174 median debt. Coastal Carolina University admits about 75% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in higher education/higher education administration will find it at Citadel Military College Of South Carolina, which ranked #2. Citadel Military College Of South Carolina is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Charleston. Students from in state pay about $12,570 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,508. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $24,305. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Citadel Military College Of South Carolina earn a median of $67,451 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 23% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College South Carolina is a great value for students pursuing a degree in higher education/higher education administration, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Columbia, Columbia College South Carolina is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,054. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $28,158. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Columbia College South Carolina earn a median of $46,528 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Carolina Columbia earned it the #4 place for higher education/higher education administration. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,688, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. Students borrow a median of $24,472 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of University Of South Carolina Columbia earn a median of $54,087 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,472 median debt. University Of South Carolina Columbia admits about 60% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
