Best colleges in South Carolina
Every accredited four-year college ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.
Best colleges in South Carolina35 schools
35 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in South Carolina.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Clemson University
Clemson, SC · PublicHonor Roll#1 in South Carolina
- Value grade B+ · Top 24%
- 87% graduate
- 2
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Charleston, SC · PublicHonor Roll#2 in South Carolina
- Value grade A- · Top 19%
- 75% graduate
- 3
Furman University
Greenville, SC · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#3 in South Carolina
- Value grade B-
- 79% graduate
- 4
Wofford College
Spartanburg, SC · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 8% for graduation
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
- 84% graduate
- 5
University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia, SC · PublicTop 12% for graduation
- Value grade B · Top 40%
- 79% graduate
- 6
Bob Jones University
Greenville, SC · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Value grade B · Top 40%
- 65% graduate
- 7
American College of the Building Arts
Charleston, SC · Private nonprofitTop 13% for low debt
- 62% graduate
- 8
- 9
- 10
Converse University
Spartanburg, SC · Private nonprofit#10 in South Carolina
- Value grade C+
- 62% graduate
- 11
North Greenville University
Tigerville, SC · Private nonprofit#11 in South Carolina
- Value grade B-
- 55% graduate
- 12
Presbyterian College
Clinton, SC · Private nonprofit#12 in South Carolina
- Value grade B · Top 47%
- 51% graduate
- 13
- 14
Coastal Carolina University
Conway, SC · Public#14 in South Carolina
- Value grade B · Top 43%
- 48% graduate
- 15
Southern Wesleyan University
Central, SC · Private nonprofit#15 in South Carolina
- Value grade B
- 52% graduate
- 16
- 17
University of South Carolina-Upstate
Spartanburg, SC · Public#17 in South Carolina
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
- 43% graduate
- 18
Spartanburg Methodist College
Spartanburg, SC · Private nonprofitTop 11% for low debt
- Value grade B+ · Top 24%
- 43% graduate
- 19
- 20
University of South Carolina Aiken
Aiken, SC · PublicTop 20% for low net price
- Value grade B · Top 40%
- 40% graduate
- 21
Charleston Southern University
Charleston, SC · Private nonprofit#21 in South Carolina
- Value grade C+
- 47% graduate
- 22
Erskine College
Due West, SC · Private nonprofit#22 in South Carolina
- Value grade B · Top 47%
- 45% graduate
- 23
Francis Marion University
Florence, SC · PublicTop 19% for low net price
- Value grade B · Top 49%
- 43% graduate
- 24
- 25
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson University | $22,253 | $21,500 | $71,513 | 87% |
| Citadel Military College of South Carolina | $20,723 | $21,096 | $72,085 | 75% |
| Furman University | $30,308 | $23,250 | $68,635 | 79% |
| Wofford College | $18,732 | $25,732 | $68,964 | 84% |
| University of South Carolina-Columbia | $22,811 | $21,500 | $62,177 | 79% |
| Bob Jones University | $16,641 | $16,585 | $44,354 | 65% |
| American College of the Building Arts | $30,403 | $12,500 | — | 62% |
| College of Charleston | $18,960 | $23,250 | $56,416 | 66% |
| Anderson University | $23,544 | $26,700 | $42,101 | 66% |
| Converse University | $23,283 | $27,000 | $40,867 | 62% |
| North Greenville University | $21,063 | $23,082 | $43,035 | 55% |
| Presbyterian College | $20,528 | $26,000 | $60,194 | 51% |
| Winthrop University | $15,343 | $26,975 | $47,185 | 57% |
| Coastal Carolina University | $13,966 | $23,750 | $47,258 | 48% |
| Southern Wesleyan University | $15,464 | $26,000 | $47,756 | 52% |
| Claflin University | $17,800 | $29,000 | $40,304 | 52% |
| University of South Carolina-Upstate | $13,557 | $22,310 | $48,587 | 43% |
| Spartanburg Methodist College | $14,580 | $12,000 | $42,895 | 43% |
| Lander University | $15,363 | $25,000 | $42,396 | 50% |
| University of South Carolina Aiken | $11,641 | $24,275 | $45,603 | 40% |
| Charleston Southern University | $21,666 | $26,471 | $45,898 | 47% |
| Erskine College | $16,525 | $27,000 | $53,459 | 45% |
| Francis Marion University | $11,386 | $27,000 | $43,888 | 43% |
| Voorhees University | $13,335 | $26,700 | $35,339 | 43% |
| Newberry College | $21,656 | $26,805 | $48,040 | 45% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 26
- Alaska 5
- Arizona 16
- Arkansas 23
- California 128
- Colorado 26
- Connecticut 26
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 9
- Florida 61
- Georgia 60
- Hawaii 6
- Idaho 9
- Illinois 57
- Indiana 45
- Iowa 30
- Kansas 27
- Kentucky 29
- Louisiana 24
- Maine 19
- Maryland 26
- Massachusetts 67
- Michigan 44
- Minnesota 40
- Mississippi 16
- Missouri 53
- Montana 10
- Nebraska 19
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 13
- New Jersey 36
- New Mexico 11
- New York 135
- North Carolina 55
- North Dakota 9
- Ohio 99
- Oklahoma 23
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 118
- Puerto Rico 52
- Rhode Island 11
- South Dakota 11
- Tennessee 43
- Texas 85
- Utah 16
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 51
- Washington 24
- West Virginia 19
- Wisconsin 36
- Wyoming 3