South Carolina’s Best Colleges and Universities by Academic Stewardship

South Carolina’s Best Colleges and Universities by Academic Stewardship

What are the best colleges and universities in South Carolina if you reward schools for making the best use of their limited resources? Academic Stewardship asks how effectively schools manage their financial and human resources to gain the influence that makes them academically excellent. Schools that are exemplary in Academic Stewardship are doing everything in their power to help students and faculty achieve their full potential.

Colleges and universities in South Carolina deserve to be recognized when they do more with less. It’s impressive when a large wealthy school can spend money lavishly on expensive buildings and programs. But it’s even more impressive when a small school with limited means is able to train and inspire students that the larger wealthier schools tend to ignore.

The American Association of Colleges and Universities reported in late 2021 that almost 75 percent of higher-education professionals at US colleges and universities felt financial constraints prevented their schools from effectively attracting students. Distracted by the size and amenities of larger schools, prospective students tended especially to be overawed by the big research universities.

South Carolina’s smaller colleges, especially its liberal arts colleges, need effective ways of communicating their value to a world that celebrates “bigger is better” and “you need the best.” Unfortunately, most college ranking companies, such as U.S. News & World Report, define “best” in a way that devalues schools with smaller budgets and fewer students even when these schools do remarkable work in advancing their students’ education. By and large, college rankings penalize schools that serve underserved populations.

Inspired by Malcolm Gladwell, who for years now has criticized conventional college rankings for misrepresenting what’s good and valuable in education, we decided to construct a new ranking metric that highlights those schools that do more with less. That metric—called the Academic Stewardship metric—takes away both the size and the wealth advantage of schools, and focuses instead on how well schools use the resources available to them to advance the education of their students.

How We Measure the Academic Stewardship of South Carolina’s Colleges and Universities

South Carolina's Best Colleges and Universities by Academic Stewardship
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As a metric, Academic Stewardship is defined by a precise mathematical formula, which can be found in our Academic Stewardship white paper. Measuring the Academic Stewardship of South Carolina’s colleges requires measuring two forms of stewardship: 1) Stewardship of financial resources (using the money they have responsibility without waste) and 2) Stewardship of human resources (doing their best to help students, faculty, and administration to flourish). Together, these two types of stewardship form what we call  Academic Stewardship. If you want to learn more about the factors involved in Academic Stewardship, click the more button below.

  1. Stewardship of financial resources: To determine a school’s stewardship of financial resources, we factored in its undergraduate size, budget, endowments and reserves, as well as tuition and fees. All these data are available from the National Center for Educational Statistics Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. In addition, we factored in a school’s financial responsibility as gauged by the Federal Student Aid Office at the US Department of Education through its financial responsibility composite scores.
  2. Stewardship of human resources: To determine a school’s stewardship of human resources, we used our InfluenceRanking engine to track the influence of the school’s faculty and alumni but also to control for size of the undergraduate student body. We’ve found that measuring a school’s influence based on the contributions of faculty and alumni make in their fields of study but then also controlling for size of the undergraduate population is the single best indicator of academic excellence. We call this Concentrated Influence. Schools that rank highly in Concentrated Influence are schools that, given their available human resources, invest heavily in their students and faculty, and the results are demonstrable.
    • We measure the influence of colleges and universities based on the publications and citations of the schools’ faculty and alumni who are teaching in and working in areas related to their degrees. To do this, we take publicly available databases, such as Semantic Scholar, Crossref, and Wikipedia and use these to measure the influence of academics in their disciplines. Having measured the influence of persons, we then identify the schools that they’re affiliated with, adding up the influence scores of the faculty and alumni to measure the influence of the schools and their disciplinary programs. Finally, we control these influence scores by size of undergraduate student body so that schools do not score high in influence simply because of a size advantage. We lay out these methodological considerations on our methodology page.
  3. Academic Stewardship: Having measured a school’s stewardship of financial and human resources in the two previous points, we now divide the second measure by the first to define the Academic Stewardship metric. This metric spotlights smaller schools, with fewer financial resources and people, that invest wisely and do proportionately better in building influence than large wealthy schools. Many of these smaller, less wealthy schools are incentivized to make better use of their resources but would never get recognized in conventional school rankings, which directly or indirectly put a premium on the wealth of schools.

Academic Stewardship as so defined is connected to keeping tuition and other costs down, but it should not be confused with affordability or frugality. The schools that this metric ranks as exemplary academic stewards tend to be all over the map when it comes to tuition and other costs. At issue is the influence of schools given the financial and human resources they have on hand. If a school is going to charge more for tuition, then that needs to be reflected in the school having proportionately greater influence.

Why Academic Stewardship Matters to Students and Their Families

The benefits of attending a school with strong academic stewardship include:

  • A clear reason for why students are at the school in the first place. Without the distraction of amenities and luxuries, these schools are at once unpretentious but also passionately committed to their educational mission. The schools in this ranking are financially efficient and academically rigorous. By avoiding frills, these schools take the most direct path to accomplishing their mission of educating students.
  • Valuing character over prestige and self-indulgence. A school that’s a good steward of its resources doesn’t instill shame in its students over what they are missing (such as elite cuisine) but rather pride in what they have and making the most of it. These schools exhibit a culture of good stewardship, which tends to build good character in the students that attend these schools.
  • Avoiding the spoiled-student syndrome. It’s easy to think that offering students endless options and opportunities will enrich their time at school in every way. But spoiling people—whether in business, sports, or academics—has the opposite effect, causing people to take their advantages for granted and in the end achieving less than they might otherwise, a point well-documented in Daniel Coyle’s The Talent Code. Schools exhibiting academic stewardship avoid this pitfall.
  • The best schools vs. the schools that help students to be their best. Students at schools demonstrating outstanding academic stewardship aren’t so much concerned about being at the “best” school, whatever that may mean, as about being at a school that helps them to be their best. These schools pay attention to their students, hoping that any glory goes to them rather than to the school. Small schools, and especially liberal arts colleges, help themselves by communicating this advantage to prospective students.
  • Emphasizing development over talent and achievement. Schools like Harvard and Stanford have their pick of academic talent, and their students have a long record of achievement even before they apply to such elite schools. But if a school doesn’t have the resources of a Harvard or Stanford, how does it build a great team of students? In that case, it must focus on student development. Colleges exemplifying academic stewardship emphasize student growth and development, ensuring that the schools are doing everything in their power to help students reach their full potential and thereby become their best selves.
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South Carolina’s Best Colleges and Universities by Academic Stewardship

  1. #1

    Wofford College

    Spartanburg , SC
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $52K

    Acceptance

    60%

    Graduation

    83%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1276/29

    Career Outlook for degree at Wofford College

    Cost of Degree: $51,530
    Expenses: $18,663
    Starting Salary: $59,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  2. #3

    Lander University

    Greenwood , SC
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    67%

    Graduation

    45%

    Student body

    4K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1070/20

    Career Outlook for degree at Lander University

    Cost of Degree: $11,700
    Expenses: $14,870
    Starting Salary: $38,100
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Lander University known for?

    Lander University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Lander University’s Online Degrees

    BAS in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Criminology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Paralegal Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Human Services
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Health Promotion And Wellness
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  3. #4

    Bob Jones University

    Greenville , SC
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $22K

    Graduation

    69%

    Student body

    4K

    Bob Jones University’s Online Degrees

    BS in Business
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Professional Studies
    Degree Concentrations
    • Marketing
    • Exercise And Sport Science
    • Liberal Arts
    • Marketing
    • Social Science
    • Exercise And Sport Science
    • Liberal Arts
    • Social Science
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  4. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    83%

    Graduation

    39%

    Student body

    5K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1006/18

    Career Outlook for degree at Francis Marion University

    Cost of Degree: $11,160
    Expenses: $13,307
    Starting Salary: $36,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Francis Marion University known for?

    Francis Marion University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Francis Marion University’s Online Degrees

    BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  5. #6

    Furman University

    Greenville , SC

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    67%

    Graduation

    85%

    Student body

    3K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1357/29

    Career Outlook for degree at Furman University

    Cost of Degree: $55,772
    Expenses: $18,148
    Starting Salary: $59,700
    Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  6. #7

    The Citadel

    Charleston , SC
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    99%

    Graduation

    70%

    Student body

    4K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1180/25

    Career Outlook for degree at The Citadel

    Cost of Degree: $12,570
    Expenses: $19,373
    Starting Salary: $59,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The Citadel’s Online Degrees

    BS in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Intelligence And Security Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Secondary Education
    Degree Concentrations
    • Social Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  7. #8

    College of Charleston

    Charleston , SC
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    76%

    Graduation

    65%

    Student body

    13K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1215/27

    Career Outlook for degree at College of Charleston

    Cost of Degree: $12,978
    Expenses: $18,500
    Starting Salary: $48,700
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    College of Charleston’s Online Degrees

    BPS in Professional Studies
    Degree Concentrations
    • Organizational Management And Development
    • Project Management
    • Organizational Management And Development
    • Project Management
    • Applied Communication
    • Healthcare And Medical Services Management
    • Healthcare And Medical Services Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in General Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  8. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    79%

    Graduation

    48%

    Student body

    12K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1105/22

    Career Outlook for degree at Coastal Carolina University

    Cost of Degree: $11,640
    Expenses: $15,786
    Starting Salary: $44,500
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Coastal Carolina University known for?

    Coastal Carolina University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Coastal Carolina University’s Online Degrees

    BSBA in Hospitality And Tourism Management
    Degree Concentrations
    • Event Planning
    • Sustainable Resort Development
    • Tourism Sales
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BSBA in Marketing
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Health Administration
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  9. #10

    Clemson University

    Clemson , SC
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $16K

    Acceptance

    43%

    Graduation

    85%

    Student body

    30K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1315/30

    Career Outlook for degree at Clemson University

    Cost of Degree: $15,558
    Expenses: $19,192
    Starting Salary: $58,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Clemson University’s Online Degrees

    BS in Nursing Rn To Bsn
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  10. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    64%

    Graduation

    78%

    Student body

    39K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1280/29

    Career Outlook for degree at University of South Carolina

    Cost of Degree: $12,688
    Expenses: $17,251
    Starting Salary: $53,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    University of South Carolina’s Online Degrees

    BS in Hospitality Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Organizational Leadership
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Business Administration
    Degree Concentrations
    • Accounting
    • Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Information Management And Systems
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Applied Computer Science
    Degree Concentrations
    • Cybersecurity
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Elementary Educational Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Special Education
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Human Services
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Liberal Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Sociology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Communication
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Health Informatics
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Public Health
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Psychology
    Degree Concentrations
    • Aiken
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Psychology
    Degree Concentrations
    • Beaufort
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  11. Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    80%

    Graduation

    38%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for degree at University of South Carolina Beaufort

    Cost of Degree: $10,730
    Expenses: $14,043
    Starting Salary: $40,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is University of South Carolina Beaufort known for?

    University of South Carolina Beaufort’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    University of South Carolina Beaufort’s Online Degrees

    BS in Hospitality Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Human Services
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Interdisciplinary Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Sociology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Public Health
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  12. #13

    Voorhees University

    Denmark , SC

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Graduation

    36%

    Student body

    <1K

    Career Outlook for degree at Voorhees University

    Cost of Degree: $12,630
    Expenses: $13,706
    Starting Salary: $26,100
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Voorhees University known for?

    Voorhees University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Voorhees University’s Online Degrees

    BS in Accounting
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Organizational Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Sports Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Computer Science/Cybersecurity
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Emergency Management And Homeland Security
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 122
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Child Development
    • Required Credits: 128-129
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Interdisciplinary Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in English
    • Required Credits: 121
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Mass Communications
    • Required Credits: 122
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Sociology
    • Required Credits: 122
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Public Health
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Psychology
    • Required Credits: 123
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  13. #14

    Coker University

    Hartsville , SC

    Tuition + fees

    $32K

    Acceptance

    94%

    Graduation

    42%

    Student body

    1K

    Career Outlook for degree at Coker University

    Cost of Degree: $31,764
    Expenses: $13,340
    Starting Salary: $37,100
    Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Coker University known for?

    Coker University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Coker University’s Online Degrees

    BS in Business Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Criminology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Sociology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  14. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $32K

    Acceptance

    45%

    Graduation

    60%

    Student body

    5K

    Career Outlook for degree at Anderson University, South Carolina

    Cost of Degree: $31,720
    Expenses: $16,522
    Starting Salary: $38,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Anderson University, South Carolina known for?

    Anderson University, South Carolina’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Anderson University, South Carolina’s Online Degrees

    BS in Business Administration
    Degree Concentrations
    • Management
    • Marketing
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BOLS in Organizational Leadership
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Organizational Leadership
    Degree Concentrations
    • Human Resource Administration
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Homeland Security And Emergency Services
    Degree Concentrations
    • Emergency Services Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Christian Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BIS in Interdisciplinary Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
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South Carolina’s Best Colleges in Your Area of Interest

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Colleges and Universities 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.

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.


What are South Carolina’s Colleges & Universities?

South Carolina’s Best Overall

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