Best Value South Carolina Colleges

South Carolina has 26 colleges ranked by value, part of our national best value ranking. We weigh academic quality against average net price so you find schools that deliver strong results without overpaying.

Furman University offers the best value in South Carolina for 2027 with a 9 out of 10 academic rating and an average net price of $34,086. The top value public university is Citadel Military College of South Carolina. Also high value: Wofford College, Presbyterian College and Citadel Military College of South Carolina.

Compare net price, aid, and academic ratings across the colleges below. See how value scores are calculated on our methodology page. Sort by net price, acceptance rate, or academic rating to find the best deal for your budget.

26 Results
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South Carolina Public Private 4 Year

  • Private 4 Year
  • Greenville, SC
  • | 0 reviews
  • 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.

#1 Best Value in South Carolina 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1260-1430
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 43%
  • Net Price $34,086
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Spartanburg, SC
  • 3.1 | 8 reviews
  • 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.

#2 Best Value in South Carolina 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1198-1343
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 52%
  • Net Price $30,481
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Clinton, SC
  • 4.2 | 5 reviews
  • 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.

#3 Best Value in South Carolina 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1200
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 68%
  • Net Price $20,840
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Charleston, SC
  • | 0 reviews

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.

#4 Best Value in South Carolina 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1085-1285
  • Avg GPA 3.8
  • Acceptance Rate 23%
  • Net Price $22,124
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Clemson, SC
  • 4.4 | 10 reviews
  • 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.

#5 Best Value in South Carolina 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1240-1410
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.75
  • Acceptance Rate 38%
  • Net Price $25,003
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Charleston, SC
  • | 0 reviews
  • 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.

#6 Best Value in South Carolina 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1310
  • Avg GPA 3.94
  • Acceptance Rate 60%
  • Net Price $21,004
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Columbia, SC
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • 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.

#7 Best Value in South Carolina 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1180-1360
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.69
  • Acceptance Rate 60%
  • Net Price $24,488
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Anderson, SC
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

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.

#8 Best Value in South Carolina 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1280
  • Avg GPA 3.72
  • Acceptance Rate 55%
  • Net Price $24,434
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Charleston, SC
  • | 0 reviews

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.

#9 Best Value in South Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1160
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $21,080
Details
Benedict College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Columbia, SC
  • 3.0 | 2 reviews
  • 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.

#10 Best Value in South Carolina
  • SAT Range 820-1010
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $18,665
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Orangeburg, SC
  • | 0 reviews

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.

#11 Best Value in South Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 840-1040
  • Avg GPA 3.28
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $17,272
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Hartsville, SC
  • | 0 reviews

Coker is a private university known for undergraduate liberal arts programs and round-table classroom teaching. The historic campus sits in the small town of Hartsville.

#12 Best Value in South Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 940-1160
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $19,823
Details
Columbia International University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Columbia, SC
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

CIU is a private Christian university known for undergraduate biblical studies and intercultural studies. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in Columbia.

#13 Best Value in South Carolina 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 990-1195
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $26,056
Details
Columbia College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Columbia, SC
  • | 0 reviews

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.

#14 Best Value in South Carolina 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 850-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $18,790
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Spartanburg, SC
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Converse is a private university known for undergraduate music and the visual and performing arts. Its historic campus in Spartanburg was long a women's college and is now coeducational.

#15 Best Value in South Carolina 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1250
  • Avg GPA 3.89
  • Acceptance Rate 68%
  • Net Price $19,061
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Florence, SC
  • | 0 reviews

Francis Marion is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The wooded campus sits on the edge of Florence.

#16 Best Value in South Carolina 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 870-1115
  • Avg GPA 3.89
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $11,727
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Greenwood, SC
  • | 0 reviews

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.

#17 Best Value in South Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1178
  • Avg GPA 3.66
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $15,520
Details
Limestone University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Gaffney, SC
  • | 0 reviews

Limestone is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The campus is in the small town of Gaffney in upstate South Carolina.

#18 Best Value in South Carolina 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 97%
  • Net Price $19,369
Details