by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in South Carolina, it can be hard to know where to start. We have ranked **31** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 31 graduate schools on more than 20 objective measures 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:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
Medical University Of South Carolina earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in South Carolina. Based in Charleston, SC, Medical University Of South Carolina is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,972, compared with $30,380 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $89,719. The median student debt is $29,043.
Clemson University came in at #2 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in South Carolina. Located in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Clemson University graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,834. Students borrow a median of $23,783 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #3 makes Furman University one of the top graduate schools in South Carolina. Located in Greenville, SC, Furman University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,770. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,520 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $23,764 in student loans.
University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in South Carolina. Set in Columbia, SC, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public institution. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates 79% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,688, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. Median early-career earnings reach $53,623. The median student debt is $24,537.
The strong outcomes at Citadel Military College Of South Carolina earned it the #5 place in South Carolina. This public school is set in Charleston, SC. Citadel Military College Of South Carolina posts a six-year graduation rate of 75%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,570, while out-of-state students pay about $38,508. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,909 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,305.
Presbyterian College landed the #6 spot in South Carolina this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Clinton, SC. Presbyterian College graduates 49% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,910. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,393 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,803.
University Of South Carolina Upstate came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Set in Spartanburg, SC, University Of South Carolina Upstate is a public institution. University Of South Carolina Upstate posts a six-year graduation rate of 43%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,588, compared with $23,090 for out-of-state students. University Of South Carolina Upstate graduates report median early-career earnings of $39,473. Graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans.
Anderson University Sc landed the #8 spot in South Carolina this year. Anderson University Sc is a private not-for-profit school based in Anderson, SC. Anderson University Sc graduates 66% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $34,970. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,036. Graduates carry a median of $28,034 in student loans.
College Of Charleston ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. College Of Charleston is a public school based in Charleston, SC. College Of Charleston graduates 66% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,978, while out-of-state students pay about $38,296. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,222. College Of Charleston students take on a median of $24,733 in debt.
Columbia International University placed #10 among the best graduate schools in South Carolina. Located in Columbia, SC, Columbia International University is a private not-for-profit institution. Columbia International University posts a six-year graduation rate of 46%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,900. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,296 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $21,667.
Erskine College And Seminary landed the #11 spot in South Carolina this year. Based in Due West, SC, Erskine College And Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. About 45% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,710. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,695 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Winthrop University placed #12 among the best graduate schools in South Carolina. This public school is set in Rock Hill, SC. About 57% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $14,678, compared with $28,676 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $39,378. The median student debt is $27,040.
University Of South Carolina Aiken ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Aiken, SC, University Of South Carolina Aiken is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,760, while out-of-state students pay about $21,218. Early-career graduates earn a median of $42,220. University Of South Carolina Aiken students take on a median of $27,011 in debt.
Columbia College South Carolina ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Columbia, SC. Columbia College South Carolina posts a six-year graduation rate of 37%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,054. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,339. Typical student debt is $28,158.
North Greenville University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Tigerville, SC, North Greenville University is a private not-for-profit institution. North Greenville University graduates 54% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $25,800. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,864. Graduates carry a median of $24,128 in student loans.
Coastal Carolina University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Set in Conway, SC, Coastal Carolina University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,640, while out-of-state students pay about $29,628. Coastal Carolina University graduates report median early-career earnings of $38,272. Coastal Carolina University students take on a median of $27,174 in debt.
Lander University did well this year, earning the #17 position. Located in Greenwood, SC, Lander University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Students from in state pay about $11,700 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,300 for out-of-state students. Lander University graduates report median early-career earnings of $37,548. Graduates carry a median of $26,064 in student loans.
Southern Wesleyan University did well this year, earning the #18 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Central, SC. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $29,800. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,539 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $31,554 in student loans.
Charleston Southern University placed #19 among the best graduate schools in South Carolina. Located in Charleston, SC, Charleston Southern University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. In-state tuition and fees run about $32,520. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,288 early in their careers. The median student debt is $27,569.
Newberry College placed #20 among the best graduate schools in South Carolina. Newberry College is a private not-for-profit school based in Newberry, SC. Newberry College graduates 45% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $31,100 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,702 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $27,729 in student loans.
Converse College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Converse College is a private not-for-profit school based in Spartanburg, SC. Converse College posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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.
Coker College did well this year, earning the #22 position. Located in Hartsville, SC, Coker College is a private not-for-profit institution. Coker College graduates 40% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $33,416. Median early-career earnings reach $36,113. Graduates carry a median of $29,362 in student loans.
Francis Marion University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Set in Florence, SC, Francis Marion University is a public institution. About 43% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,170, with out-of-state students paying around $21,544. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $41,456. Students borrow a median of $30,577 to complete a degree here.
Claflin University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Orangeburg, SC, Claflin University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $17,046. Claflin University graduates report median early-career earnings of $33,026. Students borrow a median of $32,111 to complete a degree here.
Strayer University South Carolina did well this year, earning the #25 position. Located in Greenville, SC, Strayer University South Carolina is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,920. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,506. Graduates carry a median of $47,631 in student loans.
These graduate schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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.