Ranking

Cheapest Colleges in South Carolina 2026

The lowest-net-price colleges in South Carolina that report federal earnings.

Schools ranked: 25
Cheapest net price: $1,406
Top earnings 10y: $53,459
Public / Private: 16 / 8

Trident Technical College

A+

Charleston, SC · Public

Net price/yr: $1,406
Net price: $1,406
Earnings 10y: $38,253
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Midlands Technical College

A+

West Columbia, SC · Public

Net price/yr: $4,647
Net price: $4,647
Earnings 10y: $38,701
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Aiken Technical College

A+

Graniteville, SC · Public

Net price/yr: $4,807
Net price: $4,807
Earnings 10y: $39,225
Acceptance: Open / not reported

University of South Carolina-Sumter

Sumter, SC · Public

Net price/yr: $7,712
Net price: $7,712
Earnings 10y: $42,437
Acceptance: 74.1%

University of South Carolina-Union

Union, SC · Public

Net price/yr: $8,065
Net price: $8,065
Earnings 10y: $33,699
Acceptance: 62.2%

University of South Carolina-Salkehatchie

Allendale, SC · Public

Net price/yr: $9,229
Net price: $9,229
Earnings 10y: $31,360
Acceptance: 76%

University of South Carolina-Lancaster

Lancaster, SC · Public

Net price/yr: $9,801
Net price: $9,801
Earnings 10y: $39,426
Acceptance: 83.4%

Allen University

Columbia, SC · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $10,972
Net price: $10,972
Earnings 10y: $30,497
Acceptance: 72.5%

Francis Marion University

Florence, SC · Public

Net price/yr: $11,386
Net price: $11,386
Earnings 10y: $43,888
Acceptance: 86.4%

#10

Clinton College

Rock Hill, SC · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $11,458
Net price: $11,458
Earnings 10y: $30,180
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#11

University of South Carolina Aiken

Aiken, SC · Public

Net price/yr: $11,641
Net price: $11,641
Earnings 10y: $45,603
Acceptance: 78.5%

#12

Voorhees University

Denmark, SC · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $13,335
Net price: $13,335
Earnings 10y: $35,339
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#13

University of South Carolina-Upstate

Spartanburg, SC · Public

Net price/yr: $13,557
Net price: $13,557
Earnings 10y: $48,587
Acceptance: 67.3%

#14

Coastal Carolina University

Conway, SC · Public

Net price/yr: $13,966
Net price: $13,966
Earnings 10y: $47,258
Acceptance: 75.3%

#15

Spartanburg Methodist College

Spartanburg, SC · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $14,580
Net price: $14,580
Earnings 10y: $42,895
Acceptance: 78.2%

#16

University of South Carolina Beaufort

Bluffton, SC · Public

Net price/yr: $14,656
Net price: $14,656
Earnings 10y: $48,088
Acceptance: 72.5%

#17

Technical College of the Lowcountry

Beaufort, SC · Public

Net price/yr: $14,724
Net price: $14,724
Earnings 10y: $35,090
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#18

Winthrop University

Rock Hill, SC · Public

Net price/yr: $15,343
Net price: $15,343
Earnings 10y: $47,185
Acceptance: 79.3%

#19

Lander University

Greenwood, SC · Public

Net price/yr: $15,363
Net price: $15,363
Earnings 10y: $42,396
Acceptance: 81.3%

#20

Southern Wesleyan University

Central, SC · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $15,464
Net price: $15,464
Earnings 10y: $47,756
Acceptance: 99.5%

#21

Erskine College

Due West, SC · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $16,525
Net price: $16,525
Earnings 10y: $53,459
Acceptance: 62.7%

#22

Bob Jones University

Greenville, SC · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $16,641
Net price: $16,641
Earnings 10y: $44,354
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#23

Claflin University

Orangeburg, SC · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $17,800
Net price: $17,800
Earnings 10y: $40,304
Acceptance: 64.9%

#24

Strayer University-South Carolina

Greenville, SC · Private For-Profit

Net price/yr: $17,979
Net price: $17,979
Earnings 10y: $40,092
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#25

South Carolina State University

Orangeburg, SC · Public

Net price/yr: $18,097
Net price: $18,097
Earnings 10y: $38,262
Acceptance: 82.6%

How we picked this list

This list starts with South Carolina colleges, removes schools without usable net-price data, then sorts from lowest average net price upward. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 11.36 (16 public, 8 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. Average net price is $1,406 per year.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by net price/yr 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.