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    Colleges Top Colleges in South Carolina
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    Top Colleges in South Carolina

    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman Written by Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman
    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman

    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

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    Updated: June 6th, 2024

    South Carolina colleges have something to offer any student. Whether you’re drawn in by the Clemson football team or the pristine campus at Furman, you’re sure to find a great school in South Carolina. What’s more, the state offers South Carolina Tuition Grants to help students afford college. Try browsing through our list of South Carolina colleges below to find a school that suits you.

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    South Carolina state flag

    Top college scholarships for
    South Carolina Students

    $6,000 in Scholarships Available
    Scholarships360 is recommended by
    23 colleges
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    C

    Clemson University

    Clemson, SC • Public, Suburb

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in South Carolina, Clemson University is known for its strong engineering and agricultural programs. The university is home to the Clemson…Read More

    Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in…Read More

    43% acceptance
    85% graduation rate
    22,467 undergrads
    $22,433 net price
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    S

    University of South Carolina-Columbia

    Columbia, SC • Public, City

    University of South Carolina-Columbia is a public 4-year college located in Columbia, South Carolina. There are currently 26,840 undergraduates at South Carolina-Columbia and the school’s acceptance rate is 64%. The…

    University of South Carolina-Columbia is a public 4-year college located…Read More

    64% acceptance
    78% graduation rate
    26,840 undergrads
    $21,044 net price
    F

    Furman University

    Greenville, SC • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

    If you're a lover of small, close-knit communities, Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, might be the perfect fit for you. Established in 1826, Furman offers a liberal arts education…

    If you're a lover of small, close-knit communities, Furman University…Read More

    67% acceptance
    85% graduation rate
    2,278 undergrads
    $31,357 net price
    W

    Wofford College

    Spartanburg, SC • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Wofford College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. There are currently 1,823 undergraduates at Wofford and the school’s acceptance rate is 60%. The tuition at…

    Wofford College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    60% acceptance
    83% graduation rate
    1,823 undergrads
    $29,236 net price
    C

    College of Charleston

    Charleston, SC • Public, City

    College of Charleston is a public 4-year college located in Charleston, South Carolina. There are currently 9,667 undergraduates at College of Charleston and the school’s acceptance rate is 76%. The…

    College of Charleston is a public 4-year college located in…Read More

    76% acceptance
    65% graduation rate
    9,667 undergrads
    $18,690 net price
    B

    Bob Jones University

    Greenville, SC • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Top College Top Affordability
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Bob Jones University, known for its conservative Christian fundamentalist beliefs, offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs in fields such as liberal arts, business, education, and health sciences. The…Read More

    Bob Jones University, known for its conservative Christian fundamentalist beliefs,…Read More

    --% acceptance
    69% graduation rate
    2,374 undergrads
    $16,506 net price
    W

    Winthrop University

    Rock Hill, SC • Public, City

    Winthrop University is a public 4-year college located in Rock Hill, South Carolina. There are currently 3,376 undergraduates at Winthrop and the school’s acceptance rate is 70%. The tuition at…

    Winthrop University is a public 4-year college located in Rock…Read More

    70% acceptance
    61% graduation rate
    3,376 undergrads
    $16,576 net price
    P

    Presbyterian College

    Clinton, SC • Private, Non-Profit, Town

    Presbyterian College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Clinton, South Carolina. There are currently 877 undergraduates at Presbyterian and the school’s acceptance rate is 59%. The tuition at…

    Presbyterian College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    59% acceptance
    63% graduation rate
    877 undergrads
    $21,157 net price
    C

    Columbia International University

    Columbia, SC • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Columbia International University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Columbia, South Carolina. There are currently 775 undergraduates at CIU and the school’s acceptance rate is 48%. The tuition…

    Columbia International University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located…Read More

    48% acceptance
    70% graduation rate
    775 undergrads
    $20,035 net price
    C

    Coastal Carolina University

    Conway, SC • Public, City

    Coastal Carolina University is a public 4-year college located in Conway, South Carolina. There are currently 9,495 undergraduates at Coastal Carolina and the school’s acceptance rate is 79%. The tuition…

    Coastal Carolina University is a public 4-year college located in…Read More

    79% acceptance
    48% graduation rate
    9,495 undergrads
    $12,952 net price
    N

    North Greenville University

    Tigerville, SC • Private, Non-Profit, Rural

    North Greenville University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Tigerville, South Carolina. There are currently 1,651 undergraduates at NGU and the school’s acceptance rate is 76%. The tuition…

    North Greenville University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located…Read More

    76% acceptance
    54% graduation rate
    1,651 undergrads
    $16,010 net price
    N

    Newberry College

    Newberry, SC • Private, Non-Profit, Town

    Newberry College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Newberry, South Carolina. There are currently 1,292 undergraduates at Newberry and the school’s acceptance rate is 75%. The tuition at…

    Newberry College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    75% acceptance
    49% graduation rate
    1,292 undergrads
    $18,671 net price
    L

    Lander University

    Greenwood, SC • Public, Town

    Lander University is a public 4-year college located in Greenwood, South Carolina. There are currently 3,360 undergraduates at Lander and the school’s acceptance rate is 67%. The tuition at Lander…

    Lander University is a public 4-year college located in Greenwood,…Read More

    67% acceptance
    45% graduation rate
    3,360 undergrads
    $15,344 net price
    S

    University of South Carolina-Upstate

    Spartanburg, SC • Public, Suburb

    University of South Carolina-Upstate is a public 4-year college located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. There are currently 4,046 undergraduates at South Carolina-Upstate and the school’s acceptance rate is 79%. The…

    University of South Carolina-Upstate is a public 4-year college located…Read More

    79% acceptance
    43% graduation rate
    4,046 undergrads
    $13,466 net price
    C

    Columbia College

    Columbia, SC • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Columbia College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Columbia, South Carolina. There are currently 1,136 undergraduates at Columbia College and the school’s acceptance rate is 98%. The tuition…

    Columbia College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    98% acceptance
    55% graduation rate
    1,136 undergrads
    $18,880 net price
    F

    Francis Marion University

    Florence, SC • Public, Suburb

    Francis Marion University is a public 4-year college located in Florence, South Carolina. There are currently 2,684 undergraduates at Francis Marion and the school’s acceptance rate is 83%. The tuition…

    Francis Marion University is a public 4-year college located in…Read More

    83% acceptance
    39% graduation rate
    2,684 undergrads
    $12,106 net price
    C

    Claflin University

    Orangeburg, SC • Private, Non-Profit, Town

    Claflin University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Orangeburg, South Carolina. There are currently 1,730 undergraduates at Claflin and the school’s acceptance rate is 78%. The tuition at…

    Claflin University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    78% acceptance
    50% graduation rate
    1,730 undergrads
    $19,951 net price
    S

    University of South Carolina Beaufort

    Bluffton, SC • Public, Town

    University of South Carolina Beaufort is a public 4-year college located in Bluffton, South Carolina. There are currently 1,885 undergraduates at USC Beaufort and the school’s acceptance rate is 80%.…

    University of South Carolina Beaufort is a public 4-year college…Read More

    80% acceptance
    38% graduation rate
    1,885 undergrads
    $15,848 net price
    C

    Coker University

    Hartsville, SC • Private, Non-Profit, Town

    Coker University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Hartsville, South Carolina. There are currently 773 undergraduates at Coker and the school’s acceptance rate is 94%. The tuition at…

    Coker University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    94% acceptance
    42% graduation rate
    773 undergrads
    $16,290 net price
    V

    Voorhees University

    Denmark, SC • Private, Non-Profit, Town

    Voorhees University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Denmark, South Carolina. There are currently 473 undergraduates at Voorhees. The tuition at Voorhees is $12,630.

    Voorhees University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    --% acceptance
    36% graduation rate
    473 undergrads
    $14,407 net price
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    About the Data

    We sort colleges on our lists according to their Scholarships360 Top Colleges Index Score. This score is calculated using up-to-date information taken directly from the College Scorecard. Additional information is sourced from the colleges themselves, as well as other publicly available information. If you see an error, feel free to contact us.

    State grants in South Carolina

    South Carolina Need Based Grant:

    The South Carolina Need Based Grant awards South Carolina students who demonstrate financial need. It is available to students who are attending institutions at either a full time or part time status. This grant is only available at state public colleges and universities. 

    LIFE Scholarship:

    The Legislative Incentive for Future Excellence (LIFE) Scholarship is based on merit and is eligible for students at any public or independent college or university in South Carolina. There are also enhancements available in this scholarship for students pursuing Math or Science. 

    South Carolina tuition reciprocity agreements

    Tuition Reciprocity is an exchange program that allows students to attend schools in partner states at a discounted tuition rate. South Carolina is a part of the Southern Regional Education Board Academic Common Market, which allows students going to public institutions to out-of-state schools and pay in-state tuition, if their degree is not offered in their home state.

    Here’s a list of states in the SREB:

    Other college lists to explore

    Frequently asked questions about colleges in South Carolina

    What is the hardest college in South Carolina to get into?

     The college with the lowest acceptance rate in South Carolina is Columbia International University with an acceptance rate of 46%. One thing that is important to remember about acceptance rates is that lower rates don’t necessarily mean more prestige or better academics. Make sure when you are deciding on a school to take into account things like academics and affordability before the acceptance rate.

    Does South Carolina have tuition reciprocity?

    Yes! South Carolina is one of the 15 states in the Southern Regional Education Board Academic Common Market. This means students have the opportunity to go to out of state schools, and still receive discounted in-state tuition.

    Why should I study in South Carolina?

    Studying in South Carolina will present you with lots of options for institutions, between its state schools, private universities and colleges, and community colleges. Whether you are studying on the coast or just taking a weekend visit, there are plenty of options if you are a fan of going to the beach. For any players or fans, you’ll be happy to know that many South Carolina schools are also known for having pretty prominent sports programs, especially when it comes to football. As for growing industries in South Carolina, some of the most prominent are aerospace, life sciences and biotechnology, and renewable energy.
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