2026 Best Value English Schools in South Carolina
[English](/majors/english-language-literature/general-english-language-literature/english/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 31 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value english schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value English Schools in South Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the english degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value English Schools
Trident Technical College tops our 2026 list of the best value english schools in South Carolina. Set in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,546, compared with $8,620 for out-of-state students. English graduates carry a median of $18,116 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Trident Technical College generally make around $50,166. Set against $18,116 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of South Carolina Upstate came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value english schools. Set in the suburb of Spartanburg, University Of South Carolina Upstate is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,588, while out-of-state students pay about $23,090. Typical student debt for english graduates is $25,000. Early-career english graduates make about $30,150. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. University Of South Carolina Upstate admits about 67% of applicants.
Lander University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in english, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Greenwood, Lander University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,700, while out-of-state students pay about $21,300. Students borrow a median of $22,644 to complete the english program here. English graduates of Lander University earn a median of $37,548 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Coastal Carolina University earned it the #4 place for english. Coastal Carolina University is a large public school located in the city of Conway. In-state tuition and fees average $11,640, with out-of-state students paying around $29,628. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the english program here. English graduates of Coastal Carolina University earn a median of $25,310 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Coastal Carolina University admits about 75% of applicants.
Francis Marion University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in english, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Florence, Francis Marion University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,170, compared with $21,544 for out-of-state students. English graduates carry a median of $30,999 in student loans. Early-career english graduates make about $41,456. That is a strong return on a $30,999 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Winthrop University came in at #6 for value in english this year. Set in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,678 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,676 for out-of-state students. English graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Early-career english graduates make about $28,219. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
College Of Charleston landed the #7 spot for english value this year. Located in the city of Charleston, College Of Charleston is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,978, compared with $38,296 for out-of-state students. English graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career english graduates make about $29,544. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Presbyterian College landed the #8 spot for english value this year. Presbyterian College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Clinton. In-state tuition and fees average $44,910. English graduates carry a median of $25,803 in student loans. English graduates of Presbyterian College earn a median of $45,393 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,803 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Clemson University came in at #9 for value in english this year. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. Students from in state pay about $15,554 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. English graduates carry a median of $23,123 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $33,509. That is a strong return on a $23,123 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
University Of South Carolina Columbia earned the #10 position for value in english this year. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Students from in state pay about $12,688 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the english program here. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia generally make around $25,729. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Anderson University Sc ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value english schools. Set in the city of Anderson, Anderson University Sc is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,970 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,034 to complete the english program here. Early-career english graduates make about $49,036. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Wofford College landed the #12 spot for english value this year. Set in the city of Spartanburg, Wofford College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,005. Typical student debt for english graduates is $25,941. English graduates of Wofford College earn a median of $34,478 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Furman University landed the #13 spot for english value this year. Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Greenville. In-state tuition and fees average $59,770. Students borrow a median of $23,764 to complete the english program here. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Furman University generally make around $16,583. That is a strong return on a $23,764 median debt. Furman University admits about 43% of applicants.
View All English Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
