Ranking
Best Colleges in South Carolina by ROI 2026
The top-value South Carolina colleges — graduate earnings against net price, from federal data.
- Schools ranked
- 25
- Cheapest net price
- $1,406
- Top earnings 10y
- $72,085
- Public / Private
- 18 / 7
Trident Technical College
A+- ROI score
- 68.02
- Net price
- $1,406
- Earnings 10y
- $38,253
- Acceptance
- Open / not reported
Midlands Technical College
A+- ROI score
- 20.82
- Net price
- $4,647
- Earnings 10y
- $38,701
- Acceptance
- Open / not reported
Aiken Technical College
A+- ROI score
- 20.40
- Net price
- $4,807
- Earnings 10y
- $39,225
- Acceptance
- Open / not reported
University of South Carolina-Sumter
A- ROI score
- 13.76
- Net price
- $7,712
- Earnings 10y
- $42,437
- Acceptance
- 74.1%
University of South Carolina-Union
B- ROI score
- 10.45
- Net price
- $8,065
- Earnings 10y
- $33,699
- Acceptance
- 62.2%
University of South Carolina-Lancaster
B- ROI score
- 10.06
- Net price
- $9,801
- Earnings 10y
- $39,426
- Acceptance
- 83.4%
University of South Carolina Aiken
B- ROI score
- 9.79
- Net price
- $11,641
- Earnings 10y
- $45,603
- Acceptance
- 78.5%
Francis Marion University
B- ROI score
- 9.64
- Net price
- $11,386
- Earnings 10y
- $43,888
- Acceptance
- 86.4%
Wofford College
B- ROI score
- 9.20
- Net price
- $18,732
- Earnings 10y
- $68,964
- Acceptance
- 51.9%
University of South Carolina-Upstate
B- ROI score
- 8.96
- Net price
- $13,557
- Earnings 10y
- $48,587
- Acceptance
- 67.3%
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
B- ROI score
- 8.70
- Net price
- $20,723
- Earnings 10y
- $72,085
- Acceptance
- 22.7%
University of South Carolina-Salkehatchie
B- ROI score
- 8.49
- Net price
- $9,229
- Earnings 10y
- $31,360
- Acceptance
- 76%
Coastal Carolina University
B- ROI score
- 8.46
- Net price
- $13,966
- Earnings 10y
- $47,258
- Acceptance
- 75.3%
University of South Carolina Beaufort
B- ROI score
- 8.20
- Net price
- $14,656
- Earnings 10y
- $48,088
- Acceptance
- 72.5%
Erskine College
B- ROI score
- 8.09
- Net price
- $16,525
- Earnings 10y
- $53,459
- Acceptance
- 62.7%
Clemson University
B- ROI score
- 8.03
- Net price
- $22,253
- Earnings 10y
- $71,513
- Acceptance
- 38.3%
Southern Wesleyan University
B- ROI score
- 7.72
- Net price
- $15,464
- Earnings 10y
- $47,756
- Acceptance
- 99.5%
Winthrop University
B- ROI score
- 7.69
- Net price
- $15,343
- Earnings 10y
- $47,185
- Acceptance
- 79.3%
College of Charleston
B- ROI score
- 7.44
- Net price
- $18,960
- Earnings 10y
- $56,416
- Acceptance
- 60%
Spartanburg Methodist College
C- ROI score
- 7.36
- Net price
- $14,580
- Earnings 10y
- $42,895
- Acceptance
- 78.2%
Presbyterian College
C- ROI score
- 7.33
- Net price
- $20,528
- Earnings 10y
- $60,194
- Acceptance
- 68.4%
Allen University
C- ROI score
- 6.95
- Net price
- $10,972
- Earnings 10y
- $30,497
- Acceptance
- 72.5%
Lander University
C- ROI score
- 6.90
- Net price
- $15,363
- Earnings 10y
- $42,396
- Acceptance
- 81.3%
University of South Carolina-Columbia
C- ROI score
- 6.81
- Net price
- $22,811
- Earnings 10y
- $62,177
- Acceptance
- 60.2%
Bob Jones University
C- ROI score
- 6.66
- Net price
- $16,641
- Earnings 10y
- $44,354
- Acceptance
- Open / not reported
How we picked this list
This list starts with South Carolina colleges, then sorts by EduGradify's school-wide ROI proxy: ten-year median earnings weighed against average net price. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 11.84 (18 public, 7 private).
Every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. See our full methodology for the formulas.
FAQ
Who leads this ranking?
Trident Technical College in Charleston, SC tops this ranking. EduGradify value grade is A+.
How does EduGradify pick this list?
We rank this set by roi score using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.
How many South Carolina colleges are in this list?
44 South Carolina colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.
What does net price mean here?
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.