Best Colleges in South Carolina 2026

South Carolina's higher education landscape offers strong options across 36 qualifying institutions, with public universities claiming four of the top five spots. Leading schools like Clemson University and University of South Carolina-Columbia stand out for their research opportunities, competitive graduation rates, and value proposition. The Citadel brings unique military training alongside academics, while College of Charleston provides a distinctive liberal arts experience. When evaluating South Carolina colleges, students should prioritize factors like program strength in their intended major, campus culture fit, financial aid packages, and post-graduation employment outcomes. The state's mix of research universities, specialized institutions, and smaller colleges ensures options for diverse academic and career goals.

Schools Ranked

$47,970

Avg. Earnings

53.7%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Graduation Rate	Median Earnings	Acceptance Rate	In-State Tuition
1	Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina	87.9%	$71,513	43.0%	$15,554
2	University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia, South Carolina	77.7%	$62,177	64.1%	$12,688
3	Citadel Military College of South Carolina Charleston, South Carolina	72.8%	$72,085	98.6%	$12,570
4	College of Charleston Charleston, South Carolina	65.0%	$56,416	75.7%	$12,978
5	Bob Jones University Greenville, South Carolina	69.6%	$44,354		$23,400
6	Wofford College Spartanburg, South Carolina	80.8%	$68,964	60.2%	$54,100
7	Anderson University Anderson, South Carolina	71.0%	$42,101	45.4%	$33,580
8	Winthrop University Rock Hill, South Carolina	61.2%	$47,185	69.8%	$15,956
9	Columbia International University Columbia, South Carolina	65.5%	$38,951	48.2%	$27,900
10	Tri-County Technical College Pendleton, South Carolina	39.1%	$40,101		$4,448
11	Furman University Greenville, South Carolina	81.5%	$68,635	67.0%	$58,312
12	Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Orangeburg, South Carolina	40.4%	$35,761		$4,970
13	Southern Wesleyan University Central, South Carolina	52.0%	$47,756	51.2%	$27,870
14	Presbyterian College Clinton, South Carolina	61.9%	$60,194	59.4%	$43,300
15	Lander University Greenwood, South Carolina	48.8%	$42,396	67.4%	$11,700
16	Coastal Carolina University Conway, South Carolina	50.8%	$47,258	78.6%	$11,640
17	Piedmont Technical College Greenwood, South Carolina	33.3%	$35,768		$4,775
18	York Technical College Rock Hill, South Carolina	32.4%	$37,257		$5,512
19	Trident Technical College Charleston, South Carolina	28.7%	$38,253		$4,564
20	Spartanburg Community College Spartanburg, South Carolina	30.0%	$37,097		$5,046
21	Northeastern Technical College Cheraw, South Carolina	34.9%	$32,141		$5,664
22	Voorhees University Denmark, South Carolina	37.8%	$35,339		$12,630
23	Erskine College Due West, South Carolina	48.6%	$53,459	53.3%	$36,710
24	University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg, South Carolina	42.4%	$48,587	78.6%	$11,583
25	Horry-Georgetown Technical College Conway, South Carolina	28.2%	$35,507		$4,468