HighSchoolOS Best Colleges in South Carolina
The strongest colleges and universities in South Carolina, ranked by graduation rate and selectivity, with verified acceptance rates, net price, and test scores for this admissions cycle.
Explore this ranking interactively| # | School | Location | Acceptance | SAT avg | Net price | Grad rate | Undergrads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clemson University | Clemson, SC | 38% | 1,353 | $22,253 | 87% | 23,300 |
| 2 | Wofford College | Spartanburg, SC | 52% | 1,296 | $18,732 | 84% | 1,816 |
| 3 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | Columbia, SC | 60% | 1,297 | $22,811 | 79% | 29,820 |
| 4 | Furman University | Greenville, SC | 43% | 1,371 | $30,308 | 79% | 2,379 |
| 5 | Citadel Military College of South Carolina | Charleston, SC | 23% | 1,208 | $20,723 | 75% | 2,705 |
| 6 | College of Charleston | Charleston, SC | 60% | 1,247 | $18,960 | 66% | 10,558 |
| 7 | Anderson University | Anderson, SC | 55% | 1,202 | $23,544 | 66% | 3,183 |
| 8 | Converse University | Spartanburg, SC | 68% | 1,138 | $23,283 | 62% | 1,173 |
| 9 | Winthrop University | Rock Hill, SC | 79% | 1,139 | $15,343 | 57% | 3,523 |
| 10 | Claflin University | Orangeburg, SC | 65% | n/a | $17,800 | 52% | 1,706 |
| 11 | Presbyterian College | Clinton, SC | 68% | 1,118 | $20,528 | 51% | 852 |
| 12 | Lander University | Greenwood, SC | 81% | 1,057 | $15,363 | 50% | 3,397 |
| 13 | Coastal Carolina University | Conway, SC | 75% | 1,143 | $13,966 | 48% | 10,377 |
| 14 | Charleston Southern University | Charleston, SC | 96% | 1,059 | $21,666 | 47% | 2,893 |
| 15 | Newberry College | Newberry, SC | 90% | n/a | $21,656 | 45% | 1,479 |
| 16 | University of South Carolina-Upstate | Spartanburg, SC | 67% | 1,099 | $13,557 | 43% | 4,038 |
| 17 | Spartanburg Methodist College | Spartanburg, SC | 78% | n/a | $14,580 | 43% | 1,116 |
| 18 | University of South Carolina Aiken | Aiken, SC | 79% | 1,120 | $11,641 | 40% | 2,962 |
| 19 | Coker University | Hartsville, SC | 94% | n/a | $20,286 | 40% | 840 |
| 20 | Columbia College | Columbia, SC | 94% | n/a | $18,408 | 37% | 1,343 |
| 21 | South Carolina State University | Orangeburg, SC | 83% | n/a | $18,097 | 37% | 2,934 |
| 22 | Benedict College | Columbia, SC | 96% | n/a | $18,250 | 24% | 1,536 |
Acceptance rate, net price (average cost after aid), and graduation rate are from the most recent federal data; test ranges and deadlines are verified against each school for the 2025-2026 cycle. Click any school for its full profile, deadlines, and supplemental essay prompts.