College Costs in South Carolina
South Carolina Colleges, Cost and Affordability for 2027
How much does it cost to attend college in South Carolina? The average annual in-state college tuition in South Carolina was $16,376 for the 2024-2025 academic year. This is $1,434 lower than the U.S. average and ranks South Carolina in the middle of the pack as the 27th most expensive state or district to attend college. This is a change of $1,621 from the 2022-2023 average of $14,755 and represents a 10.99% annual increase in tuition costs. The list of South Carolina colleges below provides school specific cost and value rating.
This analysis surveyed tuition data from the 57 colleges and universities in South Carolina, the most popular being University of South Carolina Columbia with 34,893 full time students and an in-state tuition list price of $12,688. Furman University is the most expensive in South Carolina with an in-state tuition of $59,770.
All price data are reprinted from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS 2025 survey and reflect reported costs for academic year 2024/2025.
Clemson University
- Public 4 Year
- Clemson, SC
-
4.4 | 10 reviews
- $15,554 tuition
- May 1 application deadline
Clemson is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering and business. The lakeside campus sits in the Blue Ridge foothills beside Lake Hartwell.
- SAT Range 1240-1410
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.75
- Acceptance Rate 38%
- Net Price $25,003
University of South Carolina Columbia
- Public 4 Year
- Columbia, SC
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- $12,688 tuition
- Dec 1 application deadline
South Carolina is a large public university known for undergraduate international business and hospitality management. The historic Horseshoe anchors the campus in downtown Columbia.
- SAT Range 1180-1360
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.69
- Acceptance Rate 60%
- Net Price $24,488
Coastal Carolina University
- Public 4 Year
- Conway, SC
-
4.7 | 3 reviews
- $11,640 tuition
Coastal Carolina is a public university known for undergraduate marine science and PGA golf management. The Conway campus lies a short drive from Myrtle Beach and the Atlantic coast.
- SAT Range 1050-1220
- Avg GPA 3.72
- Acceptance Rate 75%
- Net Price $14,379
College of Charleston
- Public 4 Year
- Charleston, SC
-
| 0 reviews
- $12,978 tuition
- Jan 15 application deadline
College of Charleston is a public liberal arts college known for undergraduate marine biology and historic preservation. The historic campus sits in downtown Charleston near the harbor.
- SAT Range 1140-1310
- Avg GPA 3.94
- Acceptance Rate 60%
- Net Price $21,004
South Carolina State University
- Public 4 Year
- Orangeburg, SC
-
| 0 reviews
- $11,060 tuition
- Jul 31 application deadline
SC State is a public HBCU known for undergraduate education, business, and biological sciences. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in the small city of Orangeburg.
- SAT Range 800-1050
- Avg GPA 3.17
- Acceptance Rate 83%
- Net Price $17,965
Wofford College
- Private 4 Year
- Spartanburg, SC
-
3.1 | 8 reviews
- $56,005 tuition
- Jan 15 application deadline
Wofford is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate biology, finance, and government. The historic campus in Spartanburg has a large Greek system.
- SAT Range 1198-1343
- Avg GPA 3.7
- Acceptance Rate 52%
- Net Price $30,481
Furman University
- Private 4 Year
- Greenville, SC
-
| 0 reviews
- $59,770 tuition
- Jan 15 application deadline
Furman is a private liberal arts university known for undergraduate biology, political science, and business. The residential campus centers on a lake just outside Greenville.
- SAT Range 1260-1430
- Avg GPA 3.61
- Acceptance Rate 43%
- Net Price $34,086
Winthrop University
- Public 4 Year
- Rock Hill, SC
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
- $14,678 tuition
Winthrop is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, visual and performing arts, and business. The historic campus sits in Rock Hill, near the Charlotte metro area.
- SAT Range 1010-1220
- Avg GPA 4.0
- Acceptance Rate 79%
- Net Price $16,108
Benedict College
- Private 4 Year
- Columbia, SC
-
3.0 | 2 reviews
- $17,440 tuition
- Feb 15 application deadline
Benedict is a private historically Black college known for undergraduate business and criminal justice. The urban campus sits in South Carolina's capital city of Columbia.
- SAT Range 820-1010
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $18,665
Anderson University
- Private 4 Year
- Anderson, SC
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- $34,970 tuition
A private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. Most students live on its residential campus in Anderson in South Carolina's Upstate region.
- SAT Range 1100-1280
- Avg GPA 3.72
- Acceptance Rate 55%
- Net Price $24,434
Lander University
- Public 4 Year
- Greenwood, SC
-
| 0 reviews
- $11,700 tuition
Lander is a public university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The campus is in the small city of Greenwood in South Carolina's Upstate.
- SAT Range 950-1178
- Avg GPA 3.66
- Acceptance Rate 81%
- Net Price $15,520
Charleston Southern University
- Private 4 Year
- Charleston, SC
-
| 0 reviews
- $32,520 tuition
Charleston Southern is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The suburban campus sits in North Charleston in the greater Charleston area.
- SAT Range 930-1160
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.24
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $21,080
Bob Jones University
- Private 4 Year
- Greenville, SC
-
| 0 reviews
- $24,470 tuition
- Aug 1 application deadline
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.7
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $19,624
Presbyterian College
- Private 4 Year
- Clinton, SC
-
4.2 | 5 reviews
- $44,910 tuition
- Sep 21 application deadline
Presbyterian College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church and known for undergraduate business and the sciences. Most students live on the residential campus in the small town of Clinton.
- SAT Range 980-1200
- Avg GPA 3.6
- Acceptance Rate 68%
- Net Price $20,840
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
- Public 4 Year
- Charleston, SC
-
| 0 reviews
- $12,570 tuition
The Citadel is a public military college known for undergraduate engineering, business, and criminal justice. Most undergrads join the Corps of Cadets and live in barracks under a structured military system on the historic Charleston campus.
- SAT Range 1085-1285
- Avg GPA 3.8
- Acceptance Rate 23%
- Net Price $22,124
Claflin University
- Private 4 Year
- Orangeburg, SC
-
| 0 reviews
- $18,282 tuition
Claflin is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate biology, business, and education. The residential campus is located in Orangeburg in central South Carolina.
- SAT Range 840-1040
- Avg GPA 3.28
- Acceptance Rate 65%
- Net Price $17,272
Columbia College
- Private 4 Year
- Columbia, SC
-
| 0 reviews
- $22,214 tuition
Columbia College is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate education and nursing. Students study on an urban campus in South Carolina's capital.
- SAT Range 850-1140
- Avg GPA 3.56
- Acceptance Rate 94%
- Net Price $18,790
University of South Carolina Aiken
- Public 4 Year
- Aiken, SC
-
| 0 reviews
- $10,760 tuition
- Aug 1 application deadline
USC Aiken is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The suburban campus is located in the smaller city of Aiken near the South Carolina-Georgia border.
- SAT Range 980-1220
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.19
- Acceptance Rate 79%
- Net Price $12,236