South Carolina
Colleges in South Carolina
South Carolina has 38 accredited four-year colleges on College Compass Guide, each rated on academics and value from federal data; 9 are Compass Recommended.
Map of colleges in South Carolina
Hover or tap a dot to see the school and its score.
Compass ScoreNot yet ratedMap: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries; roads and places © OpenStreetMap contributors via OpenFreeMap.
Highest-rated colleges in South Carolina
#1 in South Carolina
Clemson University
Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 7%Clemson, SC · Value B+ · Academics A
#2 in South Carolina
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 9%Charleston, SC · Value A- · Academics A-
#3 in South Carolina
Furman University
Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 9%Greenville, SC · Value B- · Academics A
Top lists in South Carolina
- 35 schoolsBest colleges
- 20 schoolsBest colleges for nursing
- 15 schoolsBest colleges for engineering
- 34 schoolsBest colleges for business
- 30 schoolsBest colleges for education
- 31 schoolsBest colleges for biology and pre-med
- 30 schoolsBest colleges for psychology
- 12 schoolsBest colleges for computer science
Show all 45 lists
- 25 schoolsBest colleges for communications and journalism
- 24 schoolsBest colleges for accounting
- 12 schoolsBest colleges for finance
- 16 schoolsBest colleges for marketing
- 21 schoolsBest colleges for criminal justice
- 26 schoolsBest colleges for political science and pre-law
- 12 schoolsBest colleges for economics
- 28 schoolsBest colleges for history
- 31 schoolsBest colleges for English
- 28 schoolsBest colleges for mathematics
- 25 schoolsBest colleges for chemistry
- 22 schoolsBest colleges for music
- 25 schoolsBest colleges for art and design
- 22 schoolsBest colleges for exercise science and kinesiology
- 6 schoolsBest colleges for social work
- 9 schoolsBest value colleges
- 10 schoolsMost affordable colleges with strong academics
- 35 schoolsColleges with the highest graduation rates
- 19 schoolsBest small colleges
- 4 schoolsBest large colleges
- 12 schoolsBest mid-size colleges
- 12 schoolsBest colleges for NCAA Division I athletes
- 14 schoolsBest colleges for NCAA Division II athletes
- 4 schoolsBest colleges for NAIA athletes
- 30 schoolsBest test-optional colleges
- 4 schoolsBest online colleges
- 10 schoolsColleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price
- 10 schoolsLowest net price for middle-income families
- 10 schoolsColleges with the lowest student debt
- 9 schoolsColleges with the best earnings for the price
- 6 schoolsColleges that pay for themselves fastest
- 3 schoolsBest colleges under $20,000 a year
- 9 schoolsBest value colleges in the South
- 10 schoolsColleges where the most freshmen return
- 10 schoolsColleges with the most faculty per student
- 10 schoolsColleges that spend the most on teaching
- 9 schoolsMost selective colleges
All colleges in South Carolina
| School | Compass Score | Value | Academics | Net price | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson University Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value. Clemson · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | AAcademics: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $22,253 | 28,747 | |
| Citadel Military College of South Carolina Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value. Charleston · Public | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $20,723 | 3,727 | |
| Furman University Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value. Greenville · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | AAcademics: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $30,308 | 2,505 | |
| Wofford College Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value. Spartanburg · Private nonprofit | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | AAcademics: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $18,732 | 1,873 | |
| University of South Carolina-Columbia RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Columbia · Public | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $22,811 | 36,579 | |
| Bob Jones University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Greenville · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $16,641 | 2,893 | |
| American College of the Building Arts RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Charleston · Private nonprofit | N/AValue: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $30,403 | 140 | |
| College of Charleston RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Charleston · Public | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $18,960 | 11,729 | |
| Anderson University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Anderson · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $23,544 | 4,325 | |
| Converse University Spartanburg · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $23,283 | 1,341 | |
| North Greenville University Tigerville · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $21,063 | 2,219 | |
| Presbyterian College Clinton · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $20,528 | 1,136 | |
| Winthrop University Rock Hill · Public | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $15,343 | 4,694 | |
| Coastal Carolina University Conway · Public | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $13,966 | 10,829 | |
| Southern Wesleyan University Central · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $15,464 | 1,188 | |
| Claflin University Orangeburg · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $17,800 | 1,835 | |
| University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $13,557 | 4,946 | |
| Spartanburg Methodist College Spartanburg · Private nonprofit | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $14,580 | 1,029 | |
| Lander University Greenwood · Public | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $15,363 | 4,363 | |
| University of South Carolina Aiken Aiken · Public | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $11,641 | 3,855 | |
| Charleston Southern University Charleston · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $21,666 | 3,545 | |
| Erskine College Due West · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $16,525 | 984 | |
| Francis Marion University Florence · Public | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $11,386 | 4,017 | |
| Voorhees University Denmark · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $13,335 | 515 | |
| Newberry College Newberry · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $21,656 | 1,507 | |
| Columbia International University Columbia · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $26,036 | 2,631 | |
| University of South Carolina Beaufort Bluffton · Public | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $14,656 | 2,121 | |
| Clinton College Rock Hill · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $11,458 | 106 | |
| Coker University Hartsville · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $20,286 | 1,263 | |
| Columbia College Columbia · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $18,408 | 1,572 | |
| Morris College Sumter · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $20,555 | 421 | |
| Allen University Columbia · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $10,972 | 677 | |
| South University-Columbia Columbia · Private for-profit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $27,693 | 509 | |
| Benedict College Columbia · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $18,250 | 1,731 | |
| South Carolina State University Orangeburg · Public | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $18,097 | 3,041 | |
| Greenville Technical College Greenville · Public | — | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $11,713 | 10,661 |
| Medical University of South Carolina Charleston · Public | — | N/AValue: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | N/AAcademics: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | — | 3,117 |
| Limestone University Gaffney · Private nonprofit | — | N/AValue: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | N/AAcademics: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | — | 1,782 |
Common questions
How many colleges are in South Carolina?
South Carolina has 38 accredited four-year colleges on College Compass Guide.
Which colleges in South Carolina are Compass Recommended?
Clemson University, Citadel Military College of South Carolina, Furman University, Wofford College, University of South Carolina-Columbia, Bob Jones University, American College of the Building Arts, College of Charleston, Anderson University. Recommended means the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value (how it works).