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# Best Colleges in South Carolina (2026)

Updated October 1, 2026

Best Colleges in South Carolina lists 32 four-year institutions in South Carolina. Schools are ordered by Azimuth's overall score for South Carolina, highest first.

The score combines four pillars, weighted 30% return, 30% mobility, 20% access and 20% affordability, as set out on Azimuth's methodology page. [University of South Carolina-Columbia](/school/university-of-south-carolina-columbia/majors/) ranks 1st on this list and reports median earnings of $67,741 for its graduates four years after completing.

The school also holds the best Azimuth composite rank in the state, at 173rd among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally.

The list includes 13 public and 19 private nonprofit schools. [Clemson University](/school/clemson-university/majors/) holds the highest six-year completion rate, at 87%, while Allen University reports the lowest average net price, at $10,972.

## The ranked list

32 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years after completion | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | University of South Carolina-Columbia · Columbia, SC | $67,741 | $22,811 | $12,634 | 60.2% |
|  | [University of South Carolina-Columbia](/school/university-of-south-carolina-columbia/majors/) ranks 1st on this list and posts [median earnings of $67,741](/school/university-of-south-carolina-columbia/outcomes/) for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 2 | Clemson University · Clemson, SC | $75,142 | $22,253 | $13,607 | 38.3% |
|  | [Clemson University](/school/clemson-university/majors/) [admits 38% of applicants](/school/clemson-university/admissions/) and reports a six-year completion rate of 87%. |
| 3 | Citadel Military College of South Carolina · Charleston, SC | $74,517 | $20,723 | $15,430 | 22.7% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 23%](/school/citadel-military-college-of-south-carolina/admissions/), [Citadel Military College of South Carolina](/school/citadel-military-college-of-south-carolina/majors/) is the most selective school on the page. |
| 4 | University of South Carolina-Upstate · Spartanburg, SC | $55,994 | $13,557 | $11,618 | 67.3% |
|  | [University of South Carolina-Upstate](/school/university-of-south-carolina-upstate/majors/) carries an [average net price of $13,557](/school/university-of-south-carolina-upstate/cost/) and graduates 43% of its students within six years. |
| 5 | Wofford College · Spartanburg, SC | $65,763 | $18,732 | $8,493 | 51.9% |
|  | Wofford College, a private nonprofit college in Spartanburg, reports median earnings of $65,763 for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 6 | University of South Carolina Aiken · Aiken, SC | $53,299 | $11,641 | $8,987 | 78.5% |
|  | University of South Carolina Aiken shows an average net price of $8,987 for families earning under $30,000 and ranks 6th on this list. |
| 7 | College of Charleston · Charleston, SC | $58,354 | $18,960 | $12,133 | 60.0% |
|  | College of Charleston posts a six-year completion rate of 66% alongside median earnings of $58,354 for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 8 | Coastal Carolina University · Conway, SC | $52,398 | $13,966 | $9,563 | 75.3% |
|  | [Coastal Carolina University](/school/coastal-carolina-university/majors/) [admits 75% of applicants](/school/coastal-carolina-university/admissions/) and carries an average net price of $13,966. |
| 9 | Winthrop University · Rock Hill, SC | $48,693 | $15,343 | $12,608 | 79.3% |
|  | Winthrop University reports median earnings of $48,693 for its graduates four years after completing and ranks 9th on this list. |
| 10 | South Carolina State University · Orangeburg, SC | $46,691 | $18,097 | $16,846 | 82.6% |
|  | South Carolina State University graduates 37% of its students within six years and shows an average net price of $16,846 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 11 | Francis Marion University · Florence, SC | $52,141 | $11,386 | $9,723 | 86.4% |
|  | Francis Marion University carries an average net price of $11,386 and reports median earnings of $52,141 for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 12 | Bob Jones University · Greenville, SC | $46,177 | $16,641 | $14,287 | Not reported |
|  | Bob Jones University posts a six-year completion rate of 65% and an average net price of $14,287 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 13 | Columbia College · Columbia, SC | $52,308 | $18,408 | $17,541 | 93.9% |
|  | [Columbia College](/school/columbia-college/majors/) reports [median earnings of $52,308](/school/columbia-college/outcomes/) for its graduates four years after completing, alongside a six-year completion rate of 37%. |
| 14 | Lander University · Greenwood, SC | $47,003 | $15,363 | $11,450 | 81.3% |
|  | Lander University, a public university in Greenwood, admits 81% of applicants and has an average net price of $15,363. |
| 15 | University of South Carolina Beaufort · Bluffton, SC | $49,235 | $14,656 | $11,397 | 72.5% |
|  | Graduates of University of South Carolina Beaufort earn a median of $49,235 four years after completing, and the university admits 72% of applicants. |
| 16 | Morris College · Sumter, SC | $39,972 | $20,555 | $20,485 | Not reported |
|  | Morris College has an average net price of $20,555 and a six-year completion rate of 17%. |
| 17 | Voorhees University · Denmark, SC | $36,170 | $13,335 | $11,968 | Not reported |
|  | Voorhees University ranks 17th on this list, with a six-year completion rate of 43% and median earnings of $36,170 for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 18 | Presbyterian College · Clinton, SC | $57,042 | $20,528 | $18,277 | 68.4% |
|  | Presbyterian College posts median earnings of $57,042 for its graduates four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate is 51%. |
| 19 | Claflin University · Orangeburg, SC | $43,925 | $17,800 | $16,354 | 64.9% |
|  | Claflin University admits 65% of applicants and reports an average net price of $16,354 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 20 | Allen University · Columbia, SC | $36,436 | $10,972 | $10,553 | 72.5% |
|  | Allen University ranks 1051st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, with a six-year completion rate of 13%. |
| 21 | Erskine College · Due West, SC | $48,305 | $16,525 | $14,555 | 62.7% |
|  | Erskine College has an average net price of $16,525, and its graduates earn a median of $48,305 four years after completing. |
| 22 | Southern Wesleyan University · Central, SC | $52,228 | $15,464 | $14,084 | 99.5% |
|  | Southern Wesleyan University admits 100% of applicants and reports median earnings of $52,228 for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 23 | Furman University · Greenville, SC | $64,492 | $30,308 | $16,401 | 43.0% |
|  | Furman University posts a six-year completion rate of 79% and an average net price of $16,401 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 24 | Charleston Southern University · Charleston, SC | $54,684 | $21,666 | $20,145 | 96.5% |
|  | Charleston Southern University ranks 24th on this list, with median earnings of $54,684 for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 25 | Medical University of South Carolina · Charleston, SC | $89,770 | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
|  | Medical University of South Carolina reports median earnings of $89,770 for its graduates four years after completing, and ranks 1178th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 26 | Newberry College · Newberry, SC | $50,324 | $21,656 | $19,887 | 89.8% |
|  | Newberry College admits 90% of applicants and shows a six-year completion rate of 45%. |
| 27 | Anderson University · Anderson, SC | $55,541 | $23,544 | $17,188 | 54.7% |
|  | Anderson University carries an average net price of $23,544, and its graduates earn a median of $55,541 four years after completing. |
| 28 | Converse University · Spartanburg, SC | $44,925 | $23,283 | $14,137 | 67.7% |
|  | Converse University ranks 28th on this list and posts a six-year completion rate of 62%. |
| 29 | North Greenville University · Tigerville, SC | $44,607 | $21,063 | $18,947 | 66.7% |
|  | North Greenville University reports an average net price of $18,947 for families earning under $30,000, alongside median earnings of $44,607 for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 30 | Benedict College · Columbia, SC | $41,293 | $18,250 | $17,177 | 95.7% |
|  | Benedict College admits 96% of applicants and reports an average net price of $18,250. |
| 31 | Coker University · Hartsville, SC | $47,935 | $20,286 | $16,789 | 94.0% |
|  | Coker University ranks 31st on this list, with median earnings of $47,935 for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 32 | Columbia International University · Columbia, SC | $40,332 | $26,036 | $21,955 | 94.5% |
|  | Columbia International University shows a six-year completion rate of 47% and an average net price of $21,955 for families earning under $30,000. |

## How this list is ordered

Schools are ordered by Azimuth's overall score for South Carolina, highest first. The score combines four pillars, weighted 30% return, 30% mobility, 20% access and 20% affordability, as set out on [Azimuth's methodology page](/methodology/#composite). The score draws on institution-level earnings for federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after completing. The list does not measure fit or teaching quality. The list includes 13 public and 19 private nonprofit institutions.

## Related rankings

-   [Most Affordable Colleges in South Carolina](/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-in-south-carolina/)
-   [Highest Paying Colleges in South Carolina](/rankings/highest-paying-colleges-in-south-carolina/)
-   [Hidden Gem Colleges in South Carolina](/rankings/hidden-gem-colleges-in-south-carolina/)