by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in South Carolina, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **20** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated 20 colleges using more than 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Galen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in South Carolina. Set in Myrtle Beach, SC, Galen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,364.
A rank of #2 makes Spartanburg Community College one of the top colleges in South Carolina. Set in Spartanburg, SC, Spartanburg Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,071, compared with $10,135 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,598 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $10,148.
A rank of #3 makes Greenville Technical College one of the top colleges in South Carolina. Set in Greenville, SC, Greenville Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,495, with out-of-state students paying around $10,775. Median early-career earnings reach $42,177. Graduates carry a median of $16,411 in student loans.
Tri County Technical College came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in South Carolina. Based in Pendleton, SC, Tri County Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,448, while out-of-state students pay about $12,007. Median early-career earnings reach $43,438. Typical student debt is $15,787.
Midlands Technical College came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in South Carolina. Midlands Technical College is a public school based in West Columbia, SC. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,100, while out-of-state students pay about $14,700. Early-career graduates earn a median of $39,610. Midlands Technical College students take on a median of $17,611 in debt.
Trident Technical College did well this year, earning the #6 position. Trident Technical College is a public school based in Charleston, SC. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,546, while out-of-state students pay about $8,620. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,166. Trident Technical College students take on a median of $18,116 in debt.
York Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. York Technical College is a public school based in Rock Hill, SC. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,036, compared with $13,340 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $37,626. The median student debt is $10,907.
Columbia International University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in Columbia, SC, Columbia International University is a private not-for-profit institution. Columbia International University graduates 46% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,900. Columbia International University graduates report median early-career earnings of $32,296. The median student debt is $21,667.
Spartanburg Methodist College placed #9 among the best colleges in South Carolina. Set in Spartanburg, SC, Spartanburg Methodist College is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,650. Spartanburg Methodist College graduates report median early-career earnings of $14,509. Graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
Northeastern Technical College came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Set in Cheraw, SC, Northeastern Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,664, while out-of-state students pay about $6,024. Northeastern Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,772. Graduates carry a median of $18,933 in student loans.
Aiken Technical College placed #11 among the best colleges in South Carolina. Set in Graniteville, SC, Aiken Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,174, with out-of-state students paying around $7,924. Median early-career earnings reach $51,894. Aiken Technical College students take on a median of $17,884 in debt.
Horry Georgetown Technical College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Conway, SC, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,518 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,978 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $37,387. Graduates carry a median of $19,172 in student loans.
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College did well this year, earning the #13 position. This public school is set in Orangeburg, SC. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,210, compared with $8,354 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $61,814. Students borrow a median of $18,583 to complete a degree here.
University Of South Carolina Lancaster placed #14 among the best colleges in South Carolina. This public school is set in Lancaster, SC. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,558, compared with $18,238 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,067. Graduates carry a median of $11,592 in student loans.
Technical College Of The Lowcountry did well this year, earning the #15 position. Set in Beaufort, SC, Technical College Of The Lowcountry is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,156, compared with $11,916 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,556. The median student debt is $17,110.
Piedmont Technical College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Based in Greenwood, SC, Piedmont Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,775, while out-of-state students pay about $6,923. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $36,577. The median student debt is $17,652.
Central Carolina Technical College landed the #17 spot in South Carolina this year. Set in Sumter, SC, Central Carolina Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,715 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,016. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,598 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans.
University Of South Carolina Sumter ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Sumter, SC. Students from in state pay about $7,558 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,238 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $18,517. The median student debt is $10,500.
University Of South Carolina Union landed the #19 spot in South Carolina this year. University Of South Carolina Union is a public school based in Union, SC. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,558, while out-of-state students pay about $18,238. Graduates go on to earn a median of $18,455 early in their careers. University Of South Carolina Union students take on a median of $9,250 in debt.
South University Columbia landed the #20 spot in South Carolina this year. Located in Columbia, SC, South University Columbia is a private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 21%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,895. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,206. Students borrow a median of $48,920 to complete a degree here.
Florence Darlington Technical College landed the #21 spot in South Carolina this year. This public school is set in Florence, SC. In-state tuition and fees average $4,636, with out-of-state students paying around $6,772. Median early-career earnings reach $34,948. Students borrow a median of $7,230 to complete a degree here.
University Of South Carolina Salkehatchie landed the #22 spot in South Carolina this year. University Of South Carolina Salkehatchie is a public school based in Allendale, SC. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,558, compared with $18,238 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $19,438. University Of South Carolina Salkehatchie students take on a median of $11,588 in debt.
Williamsburg Technical College placed #23 among the best colleges in South Carolina. Located in Kingstree, SC, Williamsburg Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,488, while out-of-state students pay about $8,592.
Denmark Technical College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Denmark, SC, Denmark Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,315, compared with $11,955 for out-of-state students.
Bob Jones University came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Bob Jones University is a private not-for-profit school based in Greenville, SC. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,892. Bob Jones University graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,538. The median student debt is $20,497.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.