Best test-optional colleges in South Carolina
Colleges that don't require the SAT or ACT for admission, ranked by Compass Score.
Best test-optional colleges in South Carolina30 schools
30 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.
- Admission test policy: considered but not required, or neither required nor recommended (federal admissions data).
- 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
- SAT or ACT not required
- 87% graduate
- 2
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Charleston, SC · PublicHonor Roll#2 in South Carolina
- SAT or ACT not required
- 75% graduate
- 3
Furman University
Greenville, SC · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#3 in South Carolina
- SAT or ACT not required
- 79% graduate
- 4
Wofford College
Spartanburg, SC · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 8% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 84% graduate
- 5
University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia, SC · PublicTop 12% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 79% graduate
- 6
American College of the Building Arts
Charleston, SC · Private nonprofitTop 13% for low debt
- SAT or ACT not required
- 62% graduate
- 7
- 8
Anderson University
Anderson, SC · Private nonprofit#9 in South Carolina
- SAT or ACT not required
- 66% graduate
- 9
Converse University
Spartanburg, SC · Private nonprofit#10 in South Carolina
- SAT or ACT not required
- 62% graduate
- 10
North Greenville University
Tigerville, SC · Private nonprofit#11 in South Carolina
- SAT or ACT not required
- 55% graduate
- 11
Presbyterian College
Clinton, SC · Private nonprofit#12 in South Carolina
- SAT or ACT not required
- 51% graduate
- 12
- 13
Coastal Carolina University
Conway, SC · Public#14 in South Carolina
- SAT or ACT not required
- 48% graduate
- 14
Southern Wesleyan University
Central, SC · Private nonprofit#15 in South Carolina
- SAT or ACT not required
- 52% graduate
- 15
Claflin University
Orangeburg, SC · Private nonprofit#16 in South Carolina
- SAT or ACT not required
- 52% graduate
- 16
University of South Carolina-Upstate
Spartanburg, SC · Public#17 in South Carolina
- SAT or ACT not required
- 43% graduate
- 17
Spartanburg Methodist College
Spartanburg, SC · Private nonprofitTop 11% for low debt
- SAT or ACT not required
- 43% graduate
- 18
- 19
University of South Carolina Aiken
Aiken, SC · PublicTop 20% for low net price
- SAT or ACT not required
- 40% graduate
- 20
Charleston Southern University
Charleston, SC · Private nonprofit#21 in South Carolina
- SAT or ACT not required
- 47% graduate
- 21
Erskine College
Due West, SC · Private nonprofit#22 in South Carolina
- SAT or ACT not required
- 45% graduate
- 22
Francis Marion University
Florence, SC · PublicTop 19% for low net price
- SAT or ACT not required
- 43% graduate
- 23
Newberry College
Newberry, SC · Private nonprofit#25 in South Carolina
- SAT or ACT not required
- 45% graduate
- 24
Columbia International University
Columbia, SC · Private nonprofit#26 in South Carolina
- SAT or ACT not required
- 47% graduate
- 25
University of South Carolina Beaufort
Bluffton, SC · Public#27 in South Carolina
- SAT or ACT not required
- 34% graduate
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% |
| 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% |
| Newberry College | $21,656 | $26,805 | $48,040 | 45% |
| Columbia International University | $26,036 | $20,000 | $38,951 | 47% |
| University of South Carolina Beaufort | $14,656 | $24,000 | $48,088 | 34% |
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 23
- Arizona 12
- Arkansas 10
- California 100
- Colorado 16
- Connecticut 18
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 35
- Georgia 42
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 56
- Indiana 40
- Iowa 29
- Kansas 24
- Kentucky 25
- Louisiana 21
- Maine 15
- Maryland 25
- Massachusetts 59
- Michigan 40
- Minnesota 35
- Mississippi 10
- Missouri 42
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 14
- Nevada 5
- New Hampshire 11
- New Jersey 33
- New Mexico 5
- New York 125
- North Carolina 54
- North Dakota 7
- Ohio 68
- Oklahoma 14
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 113
- Puerto Rico 32
- Rhode Island 11
- South Dakota 10
- Tennessee 28
- Texas 65
- Utah 8
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 43
- Washington 20
- West Virginia 13
- Wisconsin 34