Top Rated South Carolina Private Colleges

These are the top ranked private four-year colleges in South Carolina. Leading the rankings for 2027 as the highest ranked private college in South Carolina is Furman University. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.

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South Carolina 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.

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

#4 Best Private Colleges 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
  • Tigerville, SC
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 22 application deadline

North Greenville is a private Christian university known for undergraduate programs in Christian studies, education, and business. The residential campus lies in the Blue Ridge foothills of rural Tigerville.

#5 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1060-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.84
  • Acceptance Rate 67%
  • Net Price $21,346
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.

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

#7 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 990-1195
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $26,056
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.

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

#9 Best Private Colleges 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
  • 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.

#10 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1160
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $21,080
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.

#11 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 940-1160
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $19,823
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.

#12 Best Private Colleges 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
  • Newberry, SC
  • 3.0 | 2 reviews

Newberry is a private liberal arts college with undergraduate programs in education and business. The residential campus sits in the small town of Newberry and has long ties to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

#13 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 820-1060
  • Avg GPA 3.58
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $21,943
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.

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