by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in South Carolina, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights **20** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 20 graduate schools across over 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.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
No school ranked higher than Medical University Of South Carolina this year in South Carolina. Set in Charleston, SC, Medical University Of South Carolina is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,972, while out-of-state students pay about $30,380. Early-career graduates earn a median of $89,719. Students borrow a median of $29,043 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at Clemson University earned it the #2 place in South Carolina. Set in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,834 early in their careers. The median student debt is $23,783.
University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in South Carolina. This public school is set in Columbia, SC. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,688, compared with $36,298 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,087. Students borrow a median of $24,472 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 20 graduate schools in South Carolina in this year's ranking, Furman University landed the #4 spot. Based in Greenville, SC, Furman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Furman University graduates 79% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,770. Median early-career earnings reach $36,520. Furman University students take on a median of $23,764 in debt.
A rank of #5 makes Citadel Military College Of South Carolina one of the top graduate schools in South Carolina. Set in Charleston, SC, Citadel Military College Of South Carolina is a public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,570, compared with $38,508 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,909 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,305.
Presbyterian College did well this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Clinton, SC, Presbyterian College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $44,910. Median early-career earnings reach $45,393. Graduates carry a median of $25,803 in student loans.
College Of Charleston landed the #7 spot in South Carolina this year. Set in Charleston, SC, College Of Charleston is a public institution. College Of Charleston posts a six-year graduation rate of 66%. Students from in state pay about $12,978 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,296 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $40,222. The median student debt is $24,733.
Anderson University Sc ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Anderson, SC, Anderson University Sc is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Students from in state pay about $34,970 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,036 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $28,034.
Columbia International University placed #9 among the best graduate schools in South Carolina. This private not-for-profit school is set in Columbia, SC. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. Students from in state pay about $27,900 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $32,296. Graduates carry a median of $21,667 in student loans.
University Of South Carolina Upstate placed #10 among the best graduate schools in South Carolina. Set in Spartanburg, SC, University Of South Carolina Upstate is a public institution. University Of South Carolina Upstate graduates 43% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,588 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $23,090. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $39,473. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete a degree here.
University Of South Carolina Aiken placed #11 among the best graduate schools in South Carolina. This public school is set in Aiken, SC. University Of South Carolina Aiken graduates 40% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $10,760, compared with $21,218 for out-of-state students. University Of South Carolina Aiken graduates report median early-career earnings of $42,220. University Of South Carolina Aiken students take on a median of $27,011 in debt.
Winthrop University did well this year, earning the #12 position. This public school is set in Rock Hill, SC. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,678, while out-of-state students pay about $28,676. Early-career graduates earn a median of $39,378. Students borrow a median of $27,040 to complete a degree here.
Erskine College And Seminary did well this year, earning the #13 position. Located in Due West, SC, Erskine College And Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Erskine College And Seminary posts a six-year graduation rate of 45%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,710. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $35,695. Erskine College And Seminary students take on a median of $27,000 in debt.
Coastal Carolina University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Located in Conway, SC, Coastal Carolina University is a public institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $11,640, while out-of-state students pay about $29,628. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $38,272. The median student debt is $27,174.
North Greenville University placed #15 among the best graduate schools in South Carolina. North Greenville University is a private not-for-profit school based in Tigerville, SC. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. In-state tuition and fees run about $25,800. Median early-career earnings reach $42,864. The median student debt is $24,128.
Lander University placed #16 among the best graduate schools in South Carolina. Located in Greenwood, SC, Lander University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,700, while out-of-state students pay about $21,300. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $37,548. The median student debt is $26,064.
Charleston Southern University landed the #17 spot in South Carolina this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Charleston, SC. Charleston Southern University graduates 47% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $32,520 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $46,288. Students borrow a median of $27,569 to complete a degree here.
Columbia College South Carolina came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Columbia College South Carolina is a private not-for-profit school based in Columbia, SC. About 37% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,054. Columbia College South Carolina graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,339. Columbia College South Carolina students take on a median of $28,158 in debt.
Southern Wesleyan University did well this year, earning the #19 position. Southern Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit school based in Central, SC. Southern Wesleyan University graduates 57% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $29,800. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,539. Typical student debt is $31,554.
Newberry College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Newberry, SC, Newberry College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $31,100. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,702. Newberry College students take on a median of $27,729 in debt.
Francis Marion University placed #21 among the best graduate schools in South Carolina. Based in Florence, SC, Francis Marion University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,170, compared with $21,544 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,456 early in their careers. The median student debt is $30,577.
Coker College placed #22 among the best graduate schools in South Carolina. Coker College is a private not-for-profit school based in Hartsville, SC. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $33,416. Median early-career earnings reach $36,113. Typical student debt is $29,362.
Converse College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Spartanburg, SC, Converse College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $25,240. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,940 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $26,715 in student loans.
Claflin University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Orangeburg, SC, Claflin University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $17,046 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $33,026. Typical student debt is $32,111.
Voorhees College landed the #25 spot in South Carolina this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Denmark, SC. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $12,630.
Not far behind, these graduate schools also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Graduate schools are scored on 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.