Private colleges, unlike large public institutions, can be a great option for students wanting a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Here is our list of the best private colleges in South Carolina.
The 31 public schools range in tuition from $5,000 to $17,000. The largest institution, the University of South Carolina (U of SC), is right in the middle, totaling $11,000 for fees. Located in Columbia, U of SC has over 30,000 students in attendance and offers over 300 degree options. Aside from the technical and community colleges in the state, there are four universities under $10,000. At $17,000, the Medical University of South Carolina is the most expensive public school in the state.
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In addition, over 25 private schools, 17 with religious affiliations, offer academic settings with small student populations, none exceeding 3,500. Though it is the most expensive at $50,000, Furman University boasts an 84% graduation rate. With Methodist connections, Wofford College charges a tuition of $44,000, and it bears noting that the campus is situated on a national arboretum. The University of South Carolina School of Law is one of the nation’s oldest law schools and the state’s only nonprofit law school. Graduates of the school have the opportunity to receive financial assistance from the Public Interest Law Loan Forgiveness Fund if they are employed in the field of public interest law.
Along the 60-mile stretch of beaches in South Carolina is iconic Myrtle Beach, home to one of the world’s tallest Ferris wheels. Cypress swamps, military museums, and tea gardens add to the southern charm of this state. And with over 50 higher education institutions, students have plenty of options for where to earn their associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree.
Check out the top programs available, and earn your degree in The Palmetto State.
Public and private colleges and universities operate under different business models. Public colleges and universities are owned by the state and receive both state and federal funding to operate. Private colleges and universities are private companies with private funding. If you’re looking at the pros and cons of private vs. public colleges, consider that many public colleges provide diverse course offerings, influential professors, and an excellent return on your investment.
Public colleges are schools that receive most of their funding from tax revenues. As a result, the cost of a bachelor’s degree at a public university is often lower than the equivalent cost at a private college — especially for students attending a public school in their home state. Attending a college in-state is usually the cheapest option. Private universities and colleges can be very competitive with their funding opportunities, so do not simply believe that private colleges are always going to be more expensive. According to National Center for Educational Statistics, the average annual cost (tuition, fees, room and board for full-time students) at a public university was slightly over $20,000. In contrast, private universities cost, on average, nearly $43,000 annually. But in the end, the cost of college comes down to each student’s academic and financial situation.
This list is composed entirely of private colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 21 private universities in South Carolina. To be included in the list below of the best private universities in South Carolina, schools must be fully accredited, private, non-profit institution, and must offer a broad range of bachelor’s degrees.
Tuition + fees
$53K
Acceptance
71%
Graduation
82%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1315/30
Furman University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$50K
Acceptance
52%
Graduation
80%
Student body
2K
Wofford College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$21K
Graduation
65%
Student body
3K
Bob Jones University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$31K
Acceptance
50%
Graduation
64%
Student body
4K
Anderson University, South Carolina’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$37K
Acceptance
63%
Graduation
40%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1010/19
Erskine College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
57%
Graduation
23%
Student body
<1K
Allen University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$17K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
25%
Student body
2K
Benedict College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$41K
Acceptance
71%
Graduation
59%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1115/22
Presbyterian College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$20K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
57%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1100/18
Converse University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$28K
Acceptance
57%
Graduation
54%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
995/18
Newberry College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$22K
Acceptance
70%
Graduation
57%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1080/21
North Greenville University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$17K
Acceptance
62%
Graduation
51%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
940/17
Claflin University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$29K
Acceptance
57%
Graduation
49%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1080/21
Charleston Southern University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$26K
Acceptance
57%
Graduation
52%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1075/21
Southern Wesleyan University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$15K
Graduation
25%
Student body
<1K
Morris College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$26K
Acceptance
46%
Graduation
62%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1045/20
Columbia International University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$26K
Acceptance
87%
Graduation
30%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1070/22
Limestone University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$13K
Graduation
32%
Student body
<1K
Tuition + fees
$10K
Graduation
38%
Student body
<1K
Clinton College ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$21K
Acceptance
99%
Graduation
54%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
935/18
Columbia College ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$32K
Acceptance
98%
Graduation
37%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1015/18
Coker University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.
Check out our directory of private colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top private schools in every state.