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State profile · 88 colleges · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Colleges in South Carolina

Colleges in South Carolina from PlainCollege's Scorecard dataset, compared on acceptance, cost, and 10-year former-student earnings.

88
Colleges
$39,798
Avg 10-yr earnings (78 of 88)
73.2%
Avg acceptance

Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.

South Carolina · the picture in one line

South Carolina's 78 of 88 colleges that report earnings average $39,798 in 10-year former-student earnings - 39th highest of 56 states and territories that report.

According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

#39
of 56 states by avg former-student earnings
$88,420
top earnings - Medical University of South Carolina
73.2%
avg acceptance (36 reporting)
34 / 24 / 30
public / nonprofit / for-profit

Best earnings-to-cost value among South Carolina colleges with reported figures: Erskine College.

South Carolina · enrollment ≠ earnings

In South Carolina, University of South Carolina-Columbia leads by undergraduate enrollment (29,820 students, #1 of 75) but ranks #6 of 75 on 10-year median earnings ($62,177), while Medical University of South Carolina tops earnings at $88,420 (#1 of 75) with 303 students (#55 of 75). The biggest campus is not always the highest-paying outcome.

According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

29,820
University of enrollment #1
$88,420
Medical University earnings #1
#1
Enrollment rank of earnings leader
#6
Earnings rank of enrollment leader

Enrollment is IPEDS fall headcount; earnings are Scorecard 10-year medians for federally aided former students. Different populations, not one ROI ratio.

Enrollment of South Carolina's #1 campuses by size vs earnings

Same unit (undergraduate students) for both named leaders.

students

What this shows University of South Carolina-Columbia is largest by enrollment; Medical University of South Carolina leads on 10-year earnings at $88,420.

Source IPEDS via College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

This page aggregates colleges and universities in South Carolina returned by PlainCollege's U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard snapshot. It combines IPEDS-derived institutional fields with Treasury-derived earnings published for federal-aid recipients. Coverage includes public flagships, regional comprehensives, community and technical colleges, private nonprofit institutions, and for-profit schools.

The state-aggregate statistics below include all reporting institutions in South Carolina as a single denominator, community colleges, public universities, private nonprofits, and for-profit institutions are pooled. State averages are therefore useful for high-level framing (in-state tuition is X, average admission rate is Y, average earnings are Z) but should not be read as representative of any specific sector or institution. Drill into individual school profiles for the full picture: admissions, costs (sticker and net), federal-aid usage, completion, retention, demographics, and earnings outcomes 6 and 10 years after enrollment.

The Scorecard data used here was retrieved in March–July 2026. That retrieval window is not the measurement year: tuition and enrollment fields retain their source reporting periods, while 10-year institution earnings describe federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year, a decade after entry.

Largest Colleges in South Carolina by Enrollment

IPEDS Fall enrollment via College Scorecard.

students

What this shows Enrollment size reflects institutional scale, not quality or on-campus experience - a large school here can still be a small, selective program relative to its state peers.

Source IPEDS As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Highest Earnings, 10-Year Median: South Carolina

U.S. Treasury earnings linkage via College Scorecard.

USD

What this shows Former-student earnings vary by program mix and local labor market as much as by the school itself; this comparison does not isolate a school's causal effect.

Source College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

The ROI lens

South Carolina colleges: earnings vs. cost

South Carolina colleges, positioned by earnings vs net price Two-by-two quadrant chart: x-axis median earnings 10 years after enrollment, y-axis average net price after financial aid. Each dot is a college, colored by completion within 150% of normal time (garnet ≥65%, amber 45-64%, red <45%). Net price increases upward, earnings increase rightward, so: bottom-right = best value (low cost, high earnings); top-right = premium (high cost, high earnings); bottom-left = community college tier (low cost, modest earnings); top-left = cost challenge (high cost, low earnings). Currently plotting 14 colleges. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard joined to Carnegie Classification. South Carolina colleges, positioned by earnings vs net price COST CHALLENGE PREMIUM COMMUNITY BEST VALUE $30K $75K Median Earnings 10 Years After Enrollment ($) $1K $24K Avg Net Price ($) University of South Carolina-Columbia: $62K earn · $23K net · 78% grad University of Sout… Clemson University: $72K earn · $22K net · 87% grad Clemson University College of Charleston: $56K earn · $19K net · 65% grad College of Charles… Trident Technical College: $38K earn · $1K net · 29% grad Trident Technical … Coastal Carolina University: $47K earn · $14K net · 50% grad Coastal Carolina U… Greenville Technical College: $39K earn · $12K net · 19% grad Greenville Technic… Midlands Technical College: $39K earn · $5K net · 17% grad Horry-Georgetown Technical College: $36K earn · $4K net · 32% grad Tri-County Technical College: $40K earn · $15K net · 41% grad Spartanburg Community College: $37K earn · $2K net · 29% grad University of South Carolina-Upstate: $49K earn · $14K net · 43% grad Piedmont Technical College: $36K earn · $11K net · 33% grad York Technical College: $37K earn · $6K net · 31% grad Winthrop University: $47K earn · $15K net · 59% grad Grad rate (4yr) ≥65% 45-64% <45%
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education

National context

How South Carolina ranks among the states

South Carolina's average 10-year earnings of $39,798 place it in the 32nd percentile among all 56 states and territories tracked by the College Scorecard.

South Carolina: average former-student earnings vs. every state

State-average 10-year median earnings, College Scorecard

$39,798 32nd percentile higher than 32% of 56 states & territories

$24,000–$28,000: 3 states & territories (5%). Below this entry. $28,000–$32,000: 1 states & territories (2%). Below this entry. $32,000–$36,000: 3 states & territories (5%). Below this entry. $36,000–$40,000: 12 states & territories (21%). This entry sits in this band. $40,000–$44,000: 14 states & territories (25%). Above this entry. $44,000–$48,000: 10 states & territories (18%). Above this entry. $48,000–$52,000: 7 states & territories (13%). Above this entry. $52,000–$56,000: 3 states & territories (5%). Above this entry. $56,000–$60,000: 3 states & territories (5%). Above this entry. SC $24,000 $60,000 every state, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $4K-wide band; taller bars hold more states & territories. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

South Carolina vs. every state, at a glance
EarningsAffordabilityOptionsAccess

Each axis is this state's percentile among all states & territories on that metric (Earnings/Affordability/Options/Access) -- not a composite grade, just four independent comparisons in one shape.

School type matters

How school type shapes earnings in South Carolina

Average 10-year former-student earnings by institution type. Program mix, selectivity, student background, and local labor markets all contribute to the observed gaps, so read this beside each school's own figures.

Average former-student earnings by school type - South Carolina

Mean of per-school 10-year median earnings, College Scorecard

avg earnings

What this shows Keeping schools within one state reduces some regional variation, but this descriptive comparison does not control for program mix, selection, or student background.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals
88
Total Schools
$16,649
Avg In-State Tuition (63 of 88)
73.2%
Avg Acceptance Rate (36 of 88)
$39,798
Avg Median Earnings (78 of 88)
34 Public 24 Private NP 30 For-Profit
Ownership Breakdown

What the IPEDS Data Shows for Colleges in South Carolina

PlainCollege's Scorecard dataset contains 88 postsecondary institutions in South Carolina. The ownership mix is 34 public institutions, 24 private nonprofits, and 30 private for-profit schools. Public institutions often report lower in-state tuition because state appropriations subsidize the published price, while private nonprofits may show higher sticker prices partly offset by institutional aid.

Cost and selectivity signals vary widely even within a single state. The average in-state tuition among the 63 of 88 South Carolina institutions that report one is $16,649, and the average admission rate among the 36 that report one sits at 73.2%. Admission rates from IPEDS exclude open-enrollment institutions, which is why community colleges and many for-profits show as unreported rather than at 100 percent. Looking at the table, the acceptance-rate column is blank for schools that don’t screen applicants, a meaningful distinction when evaluating selectivity alongside earnings.

Institution-level earnings connect cost to one observed outcome. Among the 78 of 88 South Carolina colleges that report 10-year median earnings, federally aided former students show a mean of $39,798, based on Treasury-derived records published through the Scorecard. Because earnings depend heavily on field of study, student background, and local labor markets, state-level averages should be read alongside each school’s program mix. The table sorts institutions with reported IPEDS enrollment so users can compare acceptance rates, enrollment scale, and median earnings side by side.

All Schools in South Carolina

School Name City Type Enrollment Acceptance Rate 10yr Earnings
University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia Public 29,820 60.2% $62,177
Clemson University Clemson Public 23,300 38.3% $71,513
College of Charleston Charleston Public 10,558 60.0% $56,416
Trident Technical College Charleston Public 10,512 - $38,253
Coastal Carolina University Conway Public 10,377 75.3% $47,258
Greenville Technical College Greenville Public 8,916 - $39,473
Midlands Technical College West Columbia Public 7,564 - $38,701
Horry-Georgetown Technical College Conway Public 6,274 - $35,507
Tri-County Technical College Pendleton Public 5,071 - $40,101
Spartanburg Community College Spartanburg Public 5,006 - $37,097
University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg Public 4,038 67.3% $48,587
Piedmont Technical College Greenwood Public 3,977 - $35,768
York Technical College Rock Hill Public 3,816 - $37,257
Winthrop University Rock Hill Public 3,523 79.3% $47,185
Lander University Greenwood Public 3,397 81.3% $42,396
Anderson University Anderson Private NP 3,183 54.7% $42,101
Florence-Darlington Technical College Florence Public 3,055 - $32,748
University of South Carolina Aiken Aiken Public 2,962 78.5% $45,603
South Carolina State University Orangeburg Public 2,934 82.6% $38,262
Charleston Southern University Charleston Private NP 2,893 96.5% $45,898
Citadel Military College of South Carolina Charleston Public 2,705 22.7% $72,085
Francis Marion University Florence Public 2,628 86.4% $43,888
Furman University Greenville Private NP 2,379 43.0% $68,635
Central Carolina Technical College Sumter Public 2,163 - $32,603
University of South Carolina Beaufort Bluffton Public 2,052 72.5% $48,088
Bob Jones University Greenville Private NP 2,005 - $44,354
Aiken Technical College Graniteville Public 1,925 - $39,225
Strayer University-South Carolina Greenville For-Profit 1,868 - $40,092
North Greenville University Tigerville Private NP 1,819 66.7% $43,035
Wofford College Spartanburg Private NP 1,816 51.9% $68,964
Claflin University Orangeburg Private NP 1,706 64.9% $40,304
Technical College of the Lowcountry Beaufort Public 1,679 - $35,090
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Orangeburg Public 1,539 - $35,761
Benedict College Columbia Private NP 1,536 95.7% $31,902
Newberry College Newberry Private NP 1,479 89.8% $48,040
Columbia College Columbia Private NP 1,343 93.9% $41,338
Converse University Spartanburg Private NP 1,173 67.7% $40,867
Spartanburg Methodist College Spartanburg Private NP 1,116 78.2% $42,895
Northeastern Technical College Cheraw Public 921 - $32,141
Presbyterian College Clinton Private NP 852 68.4% $60,194
Coker University Hartsville Private NP 840 94.0% $40,117
Erskine College Due West Private NP 766 62.7% $53,459
Southern Wesleyan University Central Private NP 747 99.5% $47,756
Arclabs Piedmont For-Profit 744 - -
Galen Health Institutes-Myrtle Beach Myrtle Beach For-Profit 743 - $61,480
Columbia International University Columbia Private NP 716 94.5% $38,951
University of South Carolina-Sumter Sumter Public 716 74.1% $42,437
University of South Carolina-Lancaster Lancaster Public 668 83.4% $39,426
Fortis College-Columbia Columbia For-Profit 582 - $36,368
Allen University Columbia Private NP 576 72.5% $30,497
Denmark Technical College Denmark Public 519 - $25,351
South University-Columbia Columbia For-Profit 450 - $34,421
Williamsburg Technical College Kingstree Public 448 - $29,935
Voorhees University Denmark Private NP 440 - $35,339
Morris College Sumter Private NP 383 - $30,614
Southeastern Esthetics Institute Elgin For-Profit 358 - -
Medical University of South Carolina Charleston Public 303 - $88,420
University of South Carolina-Salkehatchie Allendale Public 271 76.0% $31,360
University of South Carolina-Union Union Public 270 62.2% $33,699
Southeastern College-Columbia Columbia For-Profit 267 97.3% $31,156
Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston North Charleston For-Profit 264 - $26,696
Paul Mitchell the School-Columbia West Columbia For-Profit 256 - $26,696
Southeastern College-Charleston North Charleston For-Profit 225 98.1% $30,737
Paul Mitchell the School-Greenville Greenville For-Profit 196 - $26,696
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Rock Hill Rock Hill For-Profit 181 - $23,193
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Florence Florence For-Profit 172 - $25,542
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Greenville Greenville For-Profit 157 - $23,193
American College of the Building Arts Charleston Private NP 155 44.4% -
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Goose Creek Goose Creek For-Profit 152 - $25,088
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology and Nails-Columbia West Columbia For-Profit 127 - $25,088
Clinton College Rock Hill Private NP 126 - $30,180
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-North Augusta North Augusta For-Profit 118 - $25,542
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Spartanburg Spartanburg For-Profit 113 - $25,088
Charleston Cosmetology Institute Charleston For-Profit 100 - $25,812
Strand College of Hair Design Myrtle Beach For-Profit 70 - $21,301
Barber Tech Academy Orangeburg For-Profit 59 - -
Academy of Hair Technology Greenville For-Profit 58 - $22,893
Barber Tech Academy-Columbia Columbia For-Profit 51 - -
Top of the Line Barber College Charleston For-Profit 45 - -
Academy for Careers and Technology Mullins Public 37 - $46,553
LeGrand Institute of Cosmetology Inc Camden For-Profit 33 - $22,831
Vski Cosmetology School Charleston Private NP 31 - -
Personal Touch Beauty and Barber College Kingstree For-Profit 7 - -
Sherman College of Chiropractic Boiling Springs Private NP - - -
Charleston School of Law Charleston For-Profit - - -
ECPI University-Greenville Greenville For-Profit - - $42,837
ECPI University-Charleston North Charleston For-Profit - - $42,837
ECPI University-Columbia Columbia For-Profit - - $42,837

Featured Colleges in South Carolina

Quick picks from this state – compare two schools side by side

University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia, SC
29,820 students
Clemson University
Clemson, SC
23,300 students
College of Charleston
Charleston, SC
10,558 students
Trident Technical College
Charleston, SC
10,512 students
Coastal Carolina University
Conway, SC
10,377 students
Compare University of South Carolina-Columbia vs Clemson University →

Explore more South Carolina data

Highest-earning colleges → Best value colleges → ROI calculator → Compare states →

Guides & Resources

Is College Worth It?

A data-driven answer using earnings and cost data.

How to Compare Colleges

A framework for picking schools with data, not rankings alone.

Financial Aid & Net Price

How net price differs from sticker price and financial aid.

Understanding College Earnings Data

How Scorecard earnings figures are measured and their limits.

About This Data

According to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, PlainCollege's current snapshots were retrieved in March–July 2026. This state's institution-level figures come from the July retrieval, including IPEDS-derived characteristics. Earnings represent median income 10 years after enrollment for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year, using U.S. Treasury-derived records published through the Scorecard.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

What this means for South Carolina applicants

  • South Carolina has 88 colleges in PlainCollege's Scorecard dataset, spanning community colleges, public flagships, and private institutions.
  • Average reported admission rate across South Carolina colleges is 73.2% - individual schools vary widely, check each profile for its own rate.
  • State-level averages pool every reporting institution together; run a specific school's numbers before assuming the state figure applies to it.Use the ROI calculator

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or educational advice. State-level averages pool every reporting institution and do not predict any individual school's outcome.

Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. State-level rollups are computed directly from College Scorecard and IPEDS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.