2026 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in South Carolina
[Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 48 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in South Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
Leading the list is Trident Technical College, our #1 best value for liberal arts / sciences & humanities in South Carolina. Located in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,546, with out-of-state students paying around $8,620. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $9,376 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Trident Technical College generally make around $50,166. Set against $9,376 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at York Technical College earned it the #2 place for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the city of Rock Hill, York Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,036 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,340 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $8,090. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from York Technical College generally make around $25,586. Set against $8,090 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Midlands Technical College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Midlands Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of West Columbia. Students from in state pay about $5,100 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,700 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $14,550 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $29,688. That is a strong return on a $14,550 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Horry Georgetown Technical College one of the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the city of Conway, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,518, compared with $10,978 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $26,724. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Tri County Technical College earned it the #5 place for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Tri County Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Pendleton. Students from in state pay about $4,448 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,007. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $8,750. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Tri County Technical College generally make around $22,578. That is a strong return on a $8,750 median debt.
Florence Darlington Technical College placed #6 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Set in the rural area of Florence, Florence Darlington Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,636, compared with $6,772 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,230 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Florence Darlington Technical College earn a median of $34,948 early in their careers. Set against $7,230 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Carolina Technical College placed #7 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the city of Sumter, Central Carolina Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,715, with out-of-state students paying around $9,016. Students borrow a median of $10,835 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Central Carolina Technical College generally make around $26,254. Set against $10,835 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Greenville Technical College earned the #8 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Greenville, Greenville Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,495, with out-of-state students paying around $10,775. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $12,190. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Greenville Technical College earn a median of $27,684 early in their careers. Set against $12,190 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Spartanburg Community College came in at #9 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Spartanburg. In-state tuition and fees average $5,071, while out-of-state students pay about $10,135. Students borrow a median of $8,250 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Spartanburg Community College earn a median of $28,222 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Technical College Of The Lowcountry earned the #10 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Technical College Of The Lowcountry is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Beaufort. Students from in state pay about $6,156 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,916 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Technical College Of The Lowcountry earn a median of $28,441 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Aiken Technical College landed the #11 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Located in the suburb of Graniteville, Aiken Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,174, compared with $7,924 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $13,325 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Aiken Technical College earn a median of $51,894 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeastern Technical College landed the #12 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Northeastern Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Cheraw. In-state tuition and fees average $5,664, with out-of-state students paying around $6,024. Students borrow a median of $18,933 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $57,772. That is a strong return on a $18,933 median debt.
Williamsburg Technical College landed the #13 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Williamsburg Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Kingstree. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,488, with out-of-state students paying around $8,592. Median earnings reach $29,935 ten years out.
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the town of Orangeburg, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,210, while out-of-state students pay about $8,354. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $19,407. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College generally make around $61,814. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Piedmont Technical College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Piedmont Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,775, with out-of-state students paying around $6,923. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $25,532. That is a strong return on a $14,000 median debt.
University Of South Carolina Sumter earned the #16 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. University Of South Carolina Sumter is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Sumter. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,558, compared with $18,238 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of University Of South Carolina Sumter earn a median of $18,517 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt. University Of South Carolina Sumter admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of South Carolina Lancaster placed #17 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. University Of South Carolina Lancaster is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Lancaster. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,558, compared with $18,238 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,480 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $22,995. Set against $11,480 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Carolina Union earned the #18 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the town of Union, University Of South Carolina Union is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,558, with out-of-state students paying around $18,238. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $9,250. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of University Of South Carolina Union earn a median of $18,455 early in their careers. Set against $9,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 62%.
University Of South Carolina Upstate landed the #19 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Located in the suburb of Spartanburg, University Of South Carolina Upstate is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,588, with out-of-state students paying around $23,090. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $30,000. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Upstate generally make around $36,241. That is a strong return on a $30,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Coastal Carolina University landed the #20 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Coastal Carolina University is a large public school located in the city of Conway. 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 $27,250 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $27,221. That is a strong return on a $27,250 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Carolina Salkehatchie earned the #21 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. University Of South Carolina Salkehatchie is a small public school located in the rural area of Allendale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,558, compared with $18,238 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $11,588. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $19,438. Set against $11,588 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Francis Marion University landed the #22 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Francis Marion University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Florence. Students from in state pay about $11,170 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,544 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $41,475 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $21,838. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Lander University landed the #23 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Lander University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. In-state tuition and fees average $11,700, with out-of-state students paying around $21,300. Students borrow a median of $27,125 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Lander University generally make around $25,204. That is a strong return on a $27,125 median debt. Lander University admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of South Carolina Beaufort ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the town of Bluffton, University Of South Carolina Beaufort is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,730, while out-of-state students pay about $21,776. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $27,971 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $38,254. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Spartanburg Methodist College earned the #25 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Spartanburg Methodist College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Spartanburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,650. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $14,509. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Spartanburg Methodist College admits about 78% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 31 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s liberal arts / sciences & humanities value ranking:
More Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Rankings
View All Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 48 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.
