Best mid-size colleges in South Carolina
Colleges with 2,000 to 10,000 undergraduates, ranked by Compass Score.
Best mid-size colleges in South Carolina12 schools
12 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in South Carolina.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- 2,000 to 10,000 undergraduate students (federal enrollment).
- 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
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Charleston, SC · PublicHonor Roll#2 in South Carolina
- 2,661 undergraduates
- 75% graduate
- 2
Furman University
Greenville, SC · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#3 in South Carolina
- 2,327 undergraduates
- 79% graduate
- 3
Bob Jones University
Greenville, SC · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- 2,477 undergraduates
- 65% graduate
- 4
Anderson University
Anderson, SC · Private nonprofit#9 in South Carolina
- 3,413 undergraduates
- 66% graduate
- 5
- 6
University of South Carolina-Upstate
Spartanburg, SC · Public#17 in South Carolina
- 4,471 undergraduates
- 43% graduate
- 7
- 8
University of South Carolina Aiken
Aiken, SC · PublicTop 20% for low net price
- 3,109 undergraduates
- 40% graduate
- 9
Charleston Southern University
Charleston, SC · Private nonprofit#21 in South Carolina
- 2,914 undergraduates
- 47% graduate
- 10
Francis Marion University
Florence, SC · PublicTop 19% for low net price
- 3,623 undergraduates
- 43% graduate
- 11
University of South Carolina Beaufort
Bluffton, SC · Public#27 in South Carolina
- 2,067 undergraduates
- 34% graduate
- 12
South Carolina State University
Orangeburg, SC · Public#35 in South Carolina
- 2,762 undergraduates
- 37% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citadel Military College of South Carolina | $20,723 | $21,096 | $72,085 | 75% |
| Furman University | $30,308 | $23,250 | $68,635 | 79% |
| Bob Jones University | $16,641 | $16,585 | $44,354 | 65% |
| Anderson University | $23,544 | $26,700 | $42,101 | 66% |
| Winthrop University | $15,343 | $26,975 | $47,185 | 57% |
| University of South Carolina-Upstate | $13,557 | $22,310 | $48,587 | 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% |
| Francis Marion University | $11,386 | $27,000 | $43,888 | 43% |
| University of South Carolina Beaufort | $14,656 | $24,000 | $48,088 | 34% |
| South Carolina State University | $18,097 | $31,000 | $38,262 | 37% |
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 11
- Arkansas 9
- California 36
- Colorado 15
- Connecticut 14
- District of Columbia 4
- Florida 21
- Georgia 28
- Hawaii 4
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 24
- Indiana 19
- Iowa 5
- Kansas 5
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 12
- Maine 8
- Maryland 9
- Massachusetts 30
- Michigan 13
- Minnesota 18
- Mississippi 5
- Missouri 16
- Nebraska 4
- New Hampshire 4
- New Jersey 14
- New York 61
- North Carolina 12
- North Dakota 4
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 9
- Oregon 7
- Pennsylvania 43
- Puerto Rico 20
- Rhode Island 8
- South Dakota 5
- Tennessee 15
- Texas 35
- Vermont 4
- Virginia 13
- Washington 9
- West Virginia 5
- Wisconsin 18
- Wyoming 3