South Carolina Best College Rankings
Clemson University ranked first and University of South Carolina-Columbia ranked second in South Carolina college rankings. The 2025 average tuition & fees of the South Carolina best colleges is $20,835 for South Carolina residents and $31,041 for out-of-state students. The average acceptance rate is 70.18% and the average SAT score is 1,169. The average number of student population is 5,704 and the average student to faculty ratio is 14 to 1.
Below statements summarize the average statistics of tuition, admission, and more academic factors for South Carolina best colleges. For the statistics, we only include 4 years colleges such as national universities and liberal arts colleges.
- The average undergraduate tuition & fees is $31,041 and Furman University has the highest tuition & fees of $59,770 and Allen University has the lowest tuition & fees of $14,304.
- The average graduate tuition & fees is $19,782 and Presbyterian College has the highest tuition & fees of $58,290 and Allen University has the lowest tuition & fees of $9,800.
- The average SAT score is 1,169 and Furman University has the highest SAT score of 1,340 and Francis Marion University has the lowest score of 990.
- The average acceptance rate is 70.18% and Citadel Military College of South Carolina has the tightest (lowest) rate of 23% and Southern Wesleyan University has the loosest (lowest) rate of 100%.
- The average student population is 5,704 and University of South Carolina-Columbia has the most students of 38,532 and South University-Columbia has the fewest students of 504.
- The average graduation rate is 54.00% and Clemson University has the highest rate of 87% and Allen University has the lowest rate of 13%.
South Carolina Best Colleges Comparison
The below table compares the 25 best colleges in South Carolina with important academic factors. You can sort the table by touching/clicking a column name that you want to sort.
| Rank | College Name | Undergraduate Tuition & Fees | Graduate Tuition & Fees | SAT Score | Acceptance Rate | Population | Graduation Rate | Student to Faculty Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clemson University Clemson, SC | $40,866 | $24,798 | 1,320 | 38.3% | 29,077 | 87% | 16 to 1 |
| 2 | University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia, SC | $36,298 | $30,160 | 1,270 | 60.2% | 38,532 | 79% | 19 to 1 |
| 3 | Furman University Greenville, SC | $59,770 | $14,796 | 1,340 | 43.0% | 2,554 | 79% | 10 to 1 |
| 4 | Anderson University Anderson, SC | $34,970 | $13,759 | 1,190 | 54.7% | 4,710 | 66% | 13 to 1 |
| 5 | Southern Wesleyan University Central, SC | $29,800 | $14,928 | 1,100 | 99.5% | 980 | 52% | 10 to 1 |
| 6 | Citadel Military College of South Carolina Charleston, SC | $38,508 | $18,540 | 1,190 | 22.7% | 3,793 | 75% | 11 to 1 |
| 7 | Wofford College Spartanburg, SC | $56,005 | - | 1,277 | 51.9% | 1,817 | 84% | 12 to 1 |
| 8 | North Greenville University Tigerville, SC | $25,800 | $13,280 | 1,160 | 66.7% | 2,304 | 55% | 13 to 1 |
| 9 | Converse University Spartanburg, SC | $25,240 | $10,825 | 1,130 | 67.7% | 1,787 | 62% | 12 to 1 |
| 10 | Erskine College Due West, SC | $36,710 | $14,400 | - | 62.7% | 912 | 45% | 15 to 1 |
| 11 | Winthrop University Rock Hill, SC | $28,676 | $30,780 | 1,115 | 79.3% | 4,894 | 57% | 13 to 1 |
| 12 | College of Charleston Charleston, SC | $38,296 | $21,412 | 1,220 | 60.0% | 11,926 | 66% | 16 to 1 |
| 13 | Columbia International University Columbia, SC | $27,900 | $11,640 | - | 94.5% | 2,914 | 47% | 13 to 1 |
| 14 | Allen University Columbia, SC | $14,304 | $9,800 | - | 72.5% | 610 | 13% | 12 to 1 |
| 15 | Presbyterian College Clinton, SC | $44,910 | $58,290 | 1,100 | 68.4% | 1,095 | 51% | 11 to 1 |
| 16 | Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC | $29,628 | $21,438 | 1,140 | 75.3% | 11,348 | 48% | 17 to 1 |
| 17 | South University-Columbia Columbia, SC | $17,895 | $16,611 | - | - | 504 | 23% | 21 to 1 |
| 18 | University of South Carolina Aiken Aiken, SC | $21,218 | $30,122 | 1,120 | 78.5% | 4,022 | 40% | 16 to 1 |
| 19 | Francis Marion University Florence, SC | $21,544 | $21,997 | 990 | 86.4% | 4,112 | 43% | 13 to 1 |
| 20 | Columbia College Columbia, SC | $20,054 | $15,630 | - | 93.9% | 1,725 | 37% | 12 to 1 |
| 21 | Claflin University Orangeburg, SC | $17,046 | $10,912 | - | 64.9% | 1,852 | 52% | 13 to 1 |
| 22 | South Carolina State University Orangeburg, SC | $21,750 | $22,570 | - | 82.6% | 3,242 | 37% | 19 to 1 |
| 23 | Charleston Southern University Charleston, SC | $32,520 | $20,250 | 1,040 | 96.5% | 3,832 | 47% | 12 to 1 |
| 24 | Bob Jones University Greenville, SC | $22,892 | $10,860 | - | - | 2,734 | 65% | 11 to 1 |
| 25 | Coker University Hartsville, SC | $33,416 | $16,960 | - | 94.0% | 1,325 | 40% | 12 to 1 |
| Average | $31,041 | $19,782 | 1,169 | 70.2% | 5,704 | 54% | 14 to 1 |
South Carolina Colleges by Ranking and School Type