Best Colleges in South Carolina

Why Should I Consider Studying in South Carolina?

South Carolina offers a college experience like no other. With a rich history, diverse culture, and beautiful coastal towns, South Carolina is a wonderful place to get an education. The state is home to several highly-rated universities including Clemson University, the University of South Carolina and Coastal Carolina University. All three of these schools provide a wide range of programs and majors for prospective students.

South Carolina is also home to plenty of smaller colleges and universities. Smaller schools provide students with the opportunity for an unique and personalized learning experience, often with smaller class sizes than their larger university counterparts.

Beyond educational opportunities, the state has beautiful coasts and great cities. South Carolina’s coast offers beautiful beaches and a relaxed lifestyle where students can enjoy the beach or recreational activities like boating and fishing. Cities such as Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville are home to rich histories and culture with unique attractions and great food.

South Carolina Higher Education By The Numbers

Colleges in South Carolina

South Carolina has the 22nd most colleges in the United States of America with 91 colleges based there. For perspective, that's 85% fewer colleges than the leading state. 37% of colleges in South Carolina are public, and 63% of its colleges are private. (34 public colleges & 57 private colleges). It has the 24th highest public to private college ratio in America.

Our favorite colleges in South Carolina are Clemson University, Furman University, and Medical University of South Carolina. University of South Carolina-Columbia has more students than any other public colleges in the top 25 colleges with 38,526. Anderson University has more students than all other private colleges in our top 25 (4,113).

Students in South Carolina

The least popular state has 38,825 college students. South Carolina has 258,300 more. There are 240,036 public college students and 57,089 private college students in South Carolina. It has fewer public college students than 27 states and fewer private college students than 31 states. Its 297,125 total students make it the 28th most popular locale in America. 81% of students in South Carolina attend public colleges which is the 22nd highest percentage across the country.