Best small colleges in South Carolina
Colleges with fewer than 2,000 undergraduates, ranked by Compass Score.
Best small colleges in South Carolina19 schools
19 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in South Carolina.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Fewer than 2,000 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
Wofford College
Spartanburg, SC · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 8% for graduation
- 1,873 undergraduates
- 84% graduate
- 2
American College of the Building Arts
Charleston, SC · Private nonprofitTop 13% for low debt
- 140 undergraduates
- 62% graduate
- 3
Converse University
Spartanburg, SC · Private nonprofit#10 in South Carolina
- 852 undergraduates
- 62% graduate
- 4
North Greenville University
Tigerville, SC · Private nonprofit#11 in South Carolina
- 1,944 undergraduates
- 55% graduate
- 5
Presbyterian College
Clinton, SC · Private nonprofit#12 in South Carolina
- 903 undergraduates
- 51% graduate
- 6
Southern Wesleyan University
Central, SC · Private nonprofit#15 in South Carolina
- 887 undergraduates
- 52% graduate
- 7
Claflin University
Orangeburg, SC · Private nonprofit#16 in South Carolina
- 1,754 undergraduates
- 52% graduate
- 8
Spartanburg Methodist College
Spartanburg, SC · Private nonprofitTop 11% for low debt
- 1,029 undergraduates
- 43% graduate
- 9
- 10
Voorhees University
Denmark, SC · Private nonprofit#24 in South Carolina
- 460 undergraduates
- 43% graduate
- 11
Newberry College
Newberry, SC · Private nonprofit#25 in South Carolina
- 1,462 undergraduates
- 45% graduate
- 12
Columbia International University
Columbia, SC · Private nonprofit#26 in South Carolina
- 916 undergraduates
- 47% graduate
- 13
Clinton College
Rock Hill, SC · Private nonprofitTop 19% for low net price
- 106 undergraduates
- 14% graduate
- 14
Coker University
Hartsville, SC · Private nonprofit#29 in South Carolina
- 1,187 undergraduates
- 40% graduate
- 15
Columbia College
Columbia, SC · Private nonprofit#30 in South Carolina
- 1,268 undergraduates
- 37% graduate
- 16
- 17Tie
Allen University
Columbia, SC · Private nonprofitTop 18% for low net price
- 635 undergraduates
- 13% graduate
- 17Tie
South University-Columbia
Columbia, SC · Private for-profit#32 in South Carolina
- 445 undergraduates
- 23% graduate
- 19
Benedict College
Columbia, SC · Private nonprofit#34 in South Carolina
- 1,694 undergraduates
- 24% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wofford College | $18,732 | $25,732 | $68,964 | 84% |
| American College of the Building Arts | $30,403 | $12,500 | — | 62% |
| 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% |
| Southern Wesleyan University | $15,464 | $26,000 | $47,756 | 52% |
| Claflin University | $17,800 | $29,000 | $40,304 | 52% |
| Spartanburg Methodist College | $14,580 | $12,000 | $42,895 | 43% |
| Erskine College | $16,525 | $27,000 | $53,459 | 45% |
| Voorhees University | $13,335 | $26,700 | $35,339 | 43% |
| Newberry College | $21,656 | $26,805 | $48,040 | 45% |
| Columbia International University | $26,036 | $20,000 | $38,951 | 47% |
| Clinton College | $11,458 | $28,987 | $30,180 | 14% |
| Coker University | $20,286 | $26,000 | $40,117 | 40% |
| Columbia College | $18,408 | $22,750 | $41,338 | 37% |
| Morris College | $20,555 | $31,400 | $30,614 | 17% |
| Allen University | $10,972 | $34,290 | $30,497 | 13% |
| South University-Columbia | $27,693 | $26,123 | $34,421 | 23% |
| Benedict College | $18,250 | $32,500 | $31,902 | 24% |
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 10
- Arizona 8
- Arkansas 13
- California 63
- Colorado 5
- Connecticut 10
- Florida 27
- Georgia 24
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 25
- Indiana 20
- Iowa 23
- Kansas 18
- Kentucky 18
- Louisiana 8
- Maine 11
- Maryland 13
- Massachusetts 31
- Michigan 23
- Minnesota 19
- Mississippi 8
- Missouri 31
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 12
- New Hampshire 7
- New Jersey 18
- New Mexico 7
- New York 55
- North Carolina 34
- North Dakota 4
- Ohio 58
- Oklahoma 11
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 69
- Puerto Rico 31
- South Dakota 5
- Tennessee 24
- Texas 31
- Utah 7
- Vermont 4
- Virginia 30
- Washington 12
- West Virginia 12
- Wisconsin 15