by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in South Carolina, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks 81 graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 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.
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Leading the list is Clemson University, our #1 graduate school in South Carolina. Set in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. Clemson University graduates 87% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Clemson University graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,834. Clemson University students take on a median of $23,783 in debt.
You'll be in good company at University Of South Carolina Columbia, which ranked #2 this year. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public school based in Columbia, SC. About 79% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $12,688 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,087. Students borrow a median of $24,472 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at Furman University earned it the #2 place in South Carolina. Furman University is a private not-for-profit school based in Greenville, SC. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. Students from in state pay about $59,770 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,520 early in their careers. Furman University students take on a median of $23,764 in debt.
You'll be in good company at Medical University Of South Carolina, which ranked #4 this year. Based in Charleston, SC, Medical University Of South Carolina is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,972, compared with $30,380 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $89,719. Graduates carry a median of $29,043 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at Citadel Military College Of South Carolina, which ranked #5 this year. Located in Charleston, SC, Citadel Military College Of South Carolina is a public institution. Citadel Military College Of South Carolina posts a six-year graduation rate of 75%. Students from in state pay about $12,570 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,508 for out-of-state students. Citadel Military College Of South Carolina graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,909. Students borrow a median of $24,305 to complete a degree here.
Wofford College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Spartanburg, SC, Wofford College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $56,005. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $41,052. Graduates carry a median of $24,643 in student loans.
College Of Charleston came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Based in Charleston, SC, College Of Charleston is a public institution. College Of Charleston graduates 66% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $12,978 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,296. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,222. Students borrow a median of $24,733 to complete a degree here.
Galen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach landed the #8 spot in South Carolina this year. Located in Myrtle Beach, SC, Galen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach is a private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,364 in tuition and fees.
Presbyterian College placed #9 among the best graduate schools in South Carolina. Located in Clinton, SC, Presbyterian College is a private not-for-profit institution. Presbyterian College posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. In-state tuition and fees run about $44,910. Presbyterian College graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,393. Typical student debt is $25,803.
Anderson University Sc placed #10 among the best graduate schools in South Carolina. This private not-for-profit school is set in Anderson, SC. Anderson University Sc graduates 66% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,970. Anderson University Sc graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,036. Anderson University Sc students take on a median of $28,034 in debt.
University Of South Carolina Upstate landed the #11 spot in South Carolina this year. This public school is set in Spartanburg, SC. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,588, while out-of-state students pay about $23,090. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $39,473. Graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans.
Columbia International University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Based in Columbia, SC, Columbia International University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 46% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $27,900. Early-career graduates earn a median of $32,296. Typical student debt is $21,667.
Winthrop University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Winthrop University is a public school based in Rock Hill, SC. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. In-state tuition and fees average $14,678, compared with $28,676 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $39,378. Students borrow a median of $27,040 to complete a degree here.
Erskine College And Seminary ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Due West, SC. Erskine College And Seminary posts a six-year graduation rate of 45%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,710. Median early-career earnings reach $35,695. The median student debt is $27,000.
Coastal Carolina University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Based in Conway, SC, Coastal Carolina University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. Students from in state pay about $11,640 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,628. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $38,272. Coastal Carolina University students take on a median of $27,174 in debt.
Tri County Technical College landed the #16 spot in South Carolina this year. Based in Pendleton, SC, Tri County Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,448, while out-of-state students pay about $12,007. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,438. Students borrow a median of $15,787 to complete a degree here.
Greenville Technical College landed the #17 spot in South Carolina this year. Set in Greenville, SC, Greenville Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,495, compared with $10,775 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,177 early in their careers. The median student debt is $16,411.
University Of South Carolina Aiken placed #18 among the best graduate schools in South Carolina. Located in Aiken, SC, University Of South Carolina Aiken is a public institution. University Of South Carolina Aiken graduates 40% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,760, while out-of-state students pay about $21,218. University Of South Carolina Aiken graduates report median early-career earnings of $42,220. Graduates carry a median of $27,011 in student loans.
Spartanburg Community College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Located in Spartanburg, SC, Spartanburg Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,071, with out-of-state students paying around $10,135. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $41,598. Graduates carry a median of $10,148 in student loans.
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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,100. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,702 early in their careers. Newberry College students take on a median of $27,729 in debt.
North Greenville University landed the #21 spot in South Carolina this year. Based in Tigerville, SC, North Greenville University is a private not-for-profit institution. North Greenville University posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,800. Median early-career earnings reach $42,864. North Greenville University students take on a median of $24,128 in debt.
Lander University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Lander University is a public school based in Greenwood, SC. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $11,700, with out-of-state students paying around $21,300. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,548 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,064.
Midlands Technical College landed the #23 spot in South Carolina this year. This public school is set in West Columbia, SC. In-state tuition and fees average $5,100, with out-of-state students paying around $14,700. Midlands Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $39,610. The median student debt is $17,611.
Charleston Southern University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Based in Charleston, SC, Charleston Southern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Charleston Southern University posts a six-year graduation rate of 47%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,520. Median early-career earnings reach $46,288. Charleston Southern University students take on a median of $27,569 in debt.
Southern Wesleyan University landed the #25 spot in South Carolina this year. Located in Central, SC, Southern Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. Southern Wesleyan University posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. In-state tuition and fees run about $29,800. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,539. Graduates carry a median of $31,554 in student loans.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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
See our data sources and methodologies.