2026 Best Fine Arts Schools in South Carolina
Fine Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools to find the best for fine arts students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Fine Arts in South Carolina
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the fine arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Fine Arts
Leading the list is University Of South Carolina Columbia, our #1 school for fine arts. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public institution. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates 79% of students within six years. University Of South Carolina Columbia awarded about 50 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Fine Arts graduates of University Of South Carolina Columbia earn a median of $27,467 early in their careers. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the fine arts program at University Of South Carolina Columbia
College Of Charleston came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best fine arts schools. Located in the city of Charleston, College Of Charleston is a large public university. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. College Of Charleston awarded about 22 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from College Of Charleston earn around $24,070 in the first couple years of their career. College Of Charleston graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fine arts from College Of Charleston
Clemson University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in fine arts, ranking #3. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Clemson. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. There were roughly 11 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Clemson University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $53,834. Students borrow a median of $23,783 to complete this degree.
See the full fine arts program report for Clemson University
Students looking for a strong fine arts program will find one at University Of South Carolina Upstate, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Spartanburg, University Of South Carolina Upstate is a moderately-sized public university. University Of South Carolina Upstate graduates 43% of students within six years. About 20 fine arts degrees were awarded at University Of South Carolina Upstate in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $35,203 in their early career. University Of South Carolina Upstate graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fine arts from University Of South Carolina Upstate
A rank of #5 makes Anderson University Sc one of the top schools for fine arts. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Anderson. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 24 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Anderson University Sc in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from Anderson University Sc earn around $49,036 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $28,034 to complete this degree.
See the full fine arts program report for Anderson University Sc
University Of South Carolina Beaufort placed #6 among the best fine arts schools. Located in the town of Bluffton, University Of South Carolina Beaufort is a mid-sized public university. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of South Carolina Beaufort awarded about 12 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Beaufort generally make around $38,254. Typical student debt for the program is $27,971.
See the full fine arts program report for University Of South Carolina Beaufort
Coastal Carolina University came in at #7 for fine arts this year. Located in the city of Conway, Coastal Carolina University is a large public university. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 fine arts degrees were awarded at Coastal Carolina University in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $23,121 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Get the full fine arts details for Coastal Carolina University
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 20 schools evaluated.
- 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.
