As you well know, S.C. is home to our own College of Charleston (whose MBA program is ranked no. 1 in the nation for job placement), Clemson University (home to some of the happiest students in the country), and University of South Carolina (no. 1 for undergraduate international business majors). But do you know the 20+ other major schools that call S.C. home?
While 50% of out-of-staters who attend college in S.C. are working in the state one year post-graduation, after five years– that percentage drops to 35%, according to The State. In regards to in-state students, 79.2% are working in S.C. one year post-graduation– with a less drastic drop off after five years– at 63.5% staying employed in the state. (Students attending grad school immediately post-grad were not accounted for in the study).
Whether you’re helping your kid start their college search or you’re interested to see how your alma mater stacks up, we’ve got all the deets on S.C. colleges and universities.
22 of S.C. major colleges + universities, broken down by the numbers:
🎓 College of Charleston | Charleston, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $12,418
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $31,600
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~9,895 students (31% out-of-state + 69% in-state)
Job placement rate: 75% will be employed about a year after graduation
Fun facts:
- 69% graduate within six years
- Founded in 1770 (before the United States was even established)
- CofC can be seen in various films such as The Patriot, Cold Mountain, The Notebook, and Dear John.
🎓Charleston Southern University | Charleston, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $12,750
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $12,750
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~3,600 students
Job placement rate: 73% are employed or seeking higher education six months after graduation
Fun facts:
🎓The Citadel | Charleston, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $24,438
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $46,910
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~2,300 students (40% out-of-state + 60% in-state)
Job placement rate: 89% have obtained a job within six months of graduation
Fun facts:
- 12:1 faculty-to-student ratio
- No. 1 public regional university in the South (for 7 years) by U.S. News & World Report
- No. 1 best public college for veterans in the South
🎓 Allen University | Columbia, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $6,270
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $6,270
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: 575 students
Job placement rate: 83% employed two years after graduation
Fun facts:
🎓Anderson University | Anderson, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $25,140
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $25,140
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~2,940 students
Job placement rate: Above 60% employed or in graduate school within 24 months of graduation
Fun facts:
- 56% graduate within six years
- Ranked the 7th most innovative school among regional universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report
🎓 Benedict College | Columbia, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $7,000
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $7,000
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: 2,249 students (53% in-state + 44% out-of-state)
Job placement rate: 89% employed two years after graduation
Fun facts:
- Benedict College is cutting tuition by 26% this year to help students
- Ranked one of the top 10 colleges in the nation for African Americans with physics degrees
🎓Bob Jones University | Greenville, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $17,250
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $17,250
Total undergraduate student enrollment population:~2,415 students (68% out-of-state + 32% in-state)
Job placement fate: 91% employed two years after graduation
Fun facts:
- 67% graduate within six years
- Ranked No. 3 among the most conservative colleges in America
- Ranked No. 1 for best college dorms in S.C.
🎓 Claflin University | Orangeburg, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $8,076
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $8,076
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: 1,873 students
Job placement rate: 91% employed two years after graduation
Fun facts:
- Ranked among top 10 schools in the nation for alumni giving
- It was the first S.C. university open to all– regardless of race
- 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio
🎓Clemson University | Clemson, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $15,116
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $36,058
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~16,000 students (35% out-of-state + 65% in-state)
Job placement rate: 56% of Clemson’s 2016 class was employed full time within six months of graduation, 21% decided to continue their education, 4% had part-time employment, and 12% were still seeking jobs after six months
Fun facts:
- Ranked as the 23rd best national public university by U.S. News & World Report
- 82% of students graduate within six years
- Clemson ranks 10th nationally for having the “happiest students” according to the 2018 Princeton Review
🎓 Coastal Carolina University | Conway, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $5,768
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $13,324
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~9,898 students (51% out-of-state + 49% in-state)
Job placement rate: 90% of students nine months after graduation have a job or have chosen to continue education
Fun facts:
- 42% graduate within six years
- 16:1 faculty-to-student ratio
- 61% acceptance rate
🎓Converse College | Spartanburg, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $18,340
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $18,340
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~870 students (21% out-of-state + 79% in-state)
Job placement rate: 58% of students from the 2017 class have jobs or are in graduate/professional school
Fun facts:
- 94% graduate in four years or less
- This is a private, all women’s college
- 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio
🎓Erskine College | Due West, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $35,245
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $35,245
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~600 students
Job placement rate: 91% employed two years after graduation
Fun facts:
- 59% graduate in four years
- Ranked No. 7 for safest college campuses in South Carolina
🎓 Furman University | Greenville, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $49,152
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $49,152
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~2,800 students (69% out-of-state + 31% in-state)
Job placement rate: 97% placement rate six months after graduation
Fun facts:
- Ranked fourth in a list of schools making an impact (including community service opportunities, sustainability efforts, + on-campus student engagement) by the Princeton Review
- Founded in 1826– Furman is the oldest private university in S.C.
- 80% of students graduate in four years
🎓Lander University | Greenwood, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $5,350
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $10,150
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~2,734 students
Fun facts:
🎓Newberry College | Newberry, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $24,174
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $24,174
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~1,070 students (21% out-of-state + 79% in-state)
Fun facts:
🎓 North Greenville University | Tigerville, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $9,875
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $9,875
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~2,345 students (20% out-of-state + 80% in-state)
Job placement rate: 92% employed within two years after graduation
Fun facts:
- 57% graduate within six years
- NGU professors are ranked No. 2 on the list of top 25 American college and universities with the best professors according to a report by CBS Moneywatch
- Ranked No. 35 on the top 50 best Christian college list
🎓 Presbyterian College | Clinton, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $35,800
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $35,800
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~1,063 students (34% out-of-state + 66% in-state)
Job placement rate: 62% from the class of 2017 are currently employed with 31% pursuing graduate/professional school
Fun facts:
- 100% of students participate in either an internship or a study abroad program
- No. 2 ranked college in S.C. for greatest lifetime return on investment
- The nickname “Blue Hose” came from sportswriters who referred to PC athletic teams as the “Blue Stockings” because of the blue socks they wore
🎓 South Carolina State University | Orangeburg, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $4,764
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $10,109
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: 2,282 students
Job placement rate: 92% employed two years after graduation
Fun facts:
- It’s S.C.’s only public historically black college + university
- Home to the nation’s only undergraduate environmental field station
- Forbes magazine named it the exclusive HBCU for research in S.C.
🎓University of South Carolina | Columbia, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $12,262
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $32,362
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~25,556 students
Job placement rate: Click here for employment rates + average starting salaries for graduates from the Darla Moore School of Business
Fun facts:
- 75% graduate within six years
- No. 1 undergraduate international business major
- No. 22 public university for delivering work-ready graduates
🎓 University of South Carolina Upstate | Spartanburg, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $5,604
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $11,355
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~5,395 students
Fun facts:
- $500 million annual economic impact
- No. 4 for best college in the South for veterans
- 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio
🎓Winthrop University | Rock Hill, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $7,615
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $14,743
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~5,029 students
Fun facts:
- 68.5% admission rate
- Originally founded in 1886 as an all-girls teachers college
- Winthrop is Clemson’s sister school
🎓 Wofford College | Spartanburg, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $24,115
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $24,115
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~1,683 students (770 students from out-of-state)
Fun facts:
- 81% are expected to graduate within 6 years
- Founded in 1854 as an independent liberal arts college
- Listed in the Princeton Review’s “Colleges that pay you back: The 200 Schools that Give You the Best Bang for Your Tuition Buck”
