Colleges with the highest graduation rates in South Carolina
Colleges ranked by six-year graduation rate, from federal data.
Colleges with the highest graduation rates in South Carolina35 schools
35 schools qualify, ranked by graduation rate. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in South Carolina.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Has a graduation rate from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by graduation rate, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Clemson University
Clemson, SC · PublicHonor Roll#1 in South Carolina
- 87% graduate
- 22,875 undergraduates
- 2
Wofford College
Spartanburg, SC · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 8% for graduation
- 84% graduate
- 1,873 undergraduates
- 3
University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia, SC · PublicTop 12% for graduation
- 79% graduate
- 28,470 undergraduates
- 4
Furman University
Greenville, SC · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#3 in South Carolina
- 79% graduate
- 2,327 undergraduates
- 5
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Charleston, SC · PublicHonor Roll#2 in South Carolina
- 75% graduate
- 2,661 undergraduates
- 6
- 7
Anderson University
Anderson, SC · Private nonprofit#9 in South Carolina
- 66% graduate
- 3,413 undergraduates
- 8
Bob Jones University
Greenville, SC · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- 65% graduate
- 2,477 undergraduates
- 9
American College of the Building Arts
Charleston, SC · Private nonprofitTop 13% for low debt
- 62% graduate
- 140 undergraduates
- 10
Converse University
Spartanburg, SC · Private nonprofit#10 in South Carolina
- 62% graduate
- 852 undergraduates
- 11
- 12
North Greenville University
Tigerville, SC · Private nonprofit#11 in South Carolina
- 55% graduate
- 1,944 undergraduates
- 13
Southern Wesleyan University
Central, SC · Private nonprofit#15 in South Carolina
- 52% graduate
- 887 undergraduates
- 14
Claflin University
Orangeburg, SC · Private nonprofit#16 in South Carolina
- 52% graduate
- 1,754 undergraduates
- 15
Presbyterian College
Clinton, SC · Private nonprofit#12 in South Carolina
- 51% graduate
- 903 undergraduates
- 16
- 17
Coastal Carolina University
Conway, SC · Public#14 in South Carolina
- 48% graduate
- 10,306 undergraduates
- 18
Charleston Southern University
Charleston, SC · Private nonprofit#21 in South Carolina
- 47% graduate
- 2,914 undergraduates
- 19
Columbia International University
Columbia, SC · Private nonprofit#26 in South Carolina
- 47% graduate
- 916 undergraduates
- 20
- 21
Newberry College
Newberry, SC · Private nonprofit#25 in South Carolina
- 45% graduate
- 1,462 undergraduates
- 22
Francis Marion University
Florence, SC · PublicTop 19% for low net price
- 43% graduate
- 3,623 undergraduates
- 23
University of South Carolina-Upstate
Spartanburg, SC · Public#17 in South Carolina
- 43% graduate
- 4,471 undergraduates
- 24
Voorhees University
Denmark, SC · Private nonprofit#24 in South Carolina
- 43% graduate
- 460 undergraduates
- 25
Spartanburg Methodist College
Spartanburg, SC · Private nonprofitTop 11% for low debt
- 43% graduate
- 1,029 undergraduates
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson University | About $22,000 | $21,500 | $71,513 | 87% |
| Wofford College | About $19,000 | $25,732 | $68,964 | 84% |
| University of South Carolina-Columbia | About $23,000 | $21,500 | $62,177 | 79% |
| Furman University | About $30,000 | $23,250 | $68,635 | 79% |
| Citadel Military College of South Carolina | About $21,000 | $21,096 | $72,085 | 75% |
| College of Charleston | About $19,000 | $23,250 | $56,416 | 66% |
| Anderson University | About $24,000 | $26,700 | $42,101 | 66% |
| Bob Jones University | About $17,000 | $16,585 | $44,354 | 65% |
| American College of the Building Arts | About $30,000 | $12,500 | — | 62% |
| Converse University | About $23,000 | $27,000 | $40,867 | 62% |
| Winthrop University | About $15,000 | $26,975 | $47,185 | 57% |
| North Greenville University | About $21,000 | $23,082 | $43,035 | 55% |
| Southern Wesleyan University | About $15,000 | $26,000 | $47,756 | 52% |
| Claflin University | About $18,000 | $29,000 | $40,304 | 52% |
| Presbyterian College | About $21,000 | $26,000 | $60,194 | 51% |
| Lander University | About $15,000 | $25,000 | $42,396 | 50% |
| Coastal Carolina University | About $14,000 | $23,750 | $47,258 | 48% |
| Charleston Southern University | About $22,000 | $26,471 | $45,898 | 47% |
| Columbia International University | About $26,000 | $20,000 | $38,951 | 47% |
| Erskine College | About $17,000 | $27,000 | $53,459 | 45% |
| Newberry College | About $22,000 | $26,805 | $48,040 | 45% |
| Francis Marion University | About $11,000 | $27,000 | $43,888 | 43% |
| University of South Carolina-Upstate | About $14,000 | $22,310 | $48,587 | 43% |
| Voorhees University | About $13,000 | $26,700 | $35,339 | 43% |
| Spartanburg Methodist College | About $15,000 | $12,000 | $42,895 | 43% |
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