Public colleges and universities account for almost 75 percent of all undergraduate students in the U.S. The best public colleges in South Carolina provide broad access to reputable degree programs, affordable tuition, and sprawling educational communities.
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.
Find college admissions consultants in your state.
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 public colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 12 public universities in South Carolina. To be included in our list of the best public colleges in South Carolina, shcools must receive direct funding from the state, be fully accredited, and offer a broad range of bachelor’s degress.
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
62%
Graduation
78%
Student body
33K
Median SAT/ACT
1240/28
University of South Carolina’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$16K
Acceptance
49%
Graduation
85%
Student body
26K
Median SAT/ACT
1300/29
Clemson University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
76%
Graduation
67%
Student body
10K
Median SAT/ACT
1155/24
College of Charleston’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
51%
Student body
10K
Median SAT/ACT
1100/22
Coastal Carolina University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
73%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1120/23
The Citadel’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
69%
Graduation
53%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1015/19
Lander University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
88%
Graduation
30%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
900/16
South Carolina State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$16K
Acceptance
64%
Graduation
58%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1045/22
Winthrop University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
43%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1000/18
Francis Marion University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
43%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1060/20
University of South Carolina Aiken’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
76%
Graduation
47%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
995/19
University of South Carolina Upstate’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
30%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1025/19
University of South Carolina Beaufort’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 public colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top public colleges in every state.