Best Colleges in South Carolina by ROI

Trying to find the best value in South Carolina? We ranked all 35 colleges we track here on what graduates actually earn versus what families actually pay, using U.S. Department of Education data. Clemson University comes out on top at 86/100 - here's how every school compares.

35
Schools
32
Avg ROI Score
$18,586
Avg Net Price
86
Top Score

We scored all 35 South Carolina colleges in our dataset from 0 to 100 on one thing: financial return. The state averages 32/100, on an average net price of $18,586 a year after grants and scholarships. The school that does best by your money is Clemson University at 86/100.

Graduates of Citadel Military College of South Carolina earn the most ten years out of any school in the state, a median $72,085. The lightest price tag belongs to Allen University at $10,972 a year. The list below ranks every South Carolina college we scored by ROI, so you can weigh what you'd pay against what you'd likely earn.

Top 10 South Carolina Colleges by ROI Score

  1. 1Clemson UniversityClemson, SC · Public86ROI
  2. 2Citadel Military College of South CarolinaCharleston, SC · Public85ROI
  3. 3Wofford CollegeSpartanburg, SC · Private Nonprofit81ROI
  4. 4Furman UniversityGreenville, SC · Private Nonprofit72ROI
  5. 5University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbia, SC · Public72ROI
  6. 6Presbyterian CollegeClinton, SC · Private Nonprofit60ROI
  7. 7College of CharlestonCharleston, SC · Public57ROI
  8. 8Bob Jones UniversityGreenville, SC · Private Nonprofit47ROI
  9. 9Erskine CollegeDue West, SC · Private Nonprofit45ROI
  10. 10University of South Carolina-UpstateSpartanburg, SC · Public42ROI

South Carolina College ROI: Common Questions

What is the best-value college in South Carolina?

Clemson University has the highest ROI score in South Carolina at 86/100, while the lowest net price among South Carolina schools we track is $10,972/year at Allen University. Rankings are based on net price and median graduate earnings from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

How much does college cost in South Carolina?

The average net price across the 35 South Carolina colleges in our dataset is $18,586 per year, after grants and scholarships are applied. Actual cost varies widely by family income and institution.

Which South Carolina college has the highest graduate earnings?

Citadel Military College of South Carolina reports the highest median earnings among South Carolina schools we scored, at $72,085 ten years after enrollment. Higher earnings do not always mean better ROI, since cost matters just as much.

How many colleges in South Carolina did CampusROI analyze?

We scored 35 colleges in South Carolina on return on investment. Of those, 6 earn an ROI score of 60 or higher. See our methodology for how each score is calculated.

All South Carolina Schools by ROI Score

35 schools

86

Clemson University

Clemson, SC

Strong ValuePublic
Net Price
$22,253
Earnings
$71,513
Completion
87%
85

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Charleston, SC

Strong ValuePublic
Net Price
$20,723
Earnings
$72,085
Completion
75%
81

Wofford College

Spartanburg, SC

Strong ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$18,732
Earnings
$68,964
Completion
84%
72

Furman University

Greenville, SC

Fair ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$30,308
Earnings
$68,635
Completion
79%
72

University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SC

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$22,811
Earnings
$62,177
Completion
79%
60

Presbyterian College

Clinton, SC

Fair ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$20,528
Earnings
$60,194
Completion
51%
57

College of Charleston

Charleston, SC

Below Average ValuePublic
Net Price
$18,960
Earnings
$56,416
Completion
66%
47

Bob Jones University

Greenville, SC

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$16,641
Earnings
$44,354
Completion
65%
45

Erskine College

Due West, SC

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$16,525
Earnings
$53,459
Completion
45%
42

University of South Carolina-Upstate

Spartanburg, SC

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$13,557
Earnings
$48,587
Completion
43%
36

Southern Wesleyan University

Central, SC

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$15,464
Earnings
$47,756
Completion
52%
36

Coastal Carolina University

Conway, SC

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$13,966
Earnings
$47,258
Completion
48%
34

University of South Carolina Beaufort

Bluffton, SC

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$14,656
Earnings
$48,088
Completion
34%
33

University of South Carolina Aiken

Aiken, SC

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$11,641
Earnings
$45,603
Completion
40%
32

Winthrop University

Rock Hill, SC

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$15,343
Earnings
$47,185
Completion
57%
26

Francis Marion University

Florence, SC

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$11,386
Earnings
$43,888
Completion
43%
26

Newberry College

Newberry, SC

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$21,656
Earnings
$48,040
Completion
45%
25

North Greenville University

Tigerville, SC

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$21,063
Earnings
$43,035
Completion
55%
24

Anderson University

Anderson, SC

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$23,544
Earnings
$42,101
Completion
66%
24

Charleston Southern University

Charleston, SC

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$21,666
Earnings
$45,898
Completion
47%
22

Lander University

Greenwood, SC

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$15,363
Earnings
$42,396
Completion
50%
21

Columbia International University

Columbia, SC

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$26,036
Earnings
$38,951
Completion
47%
21

Converse University

Spartanburg, SC

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$23,283
Earnings
$40,867
Completion
62%
19

Limestone University

Gaffney, SC

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$19,588
Earnings
$44,999
Completion
35%
15

Claflin University

Orangeburg, SC

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$17,800
Earnings
$40,304
Completion
52%
15

Columbia College

Columbia, SC

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$18,408
Earnings
$41,338
Completion
37%
13

Coker University

Hartsville, SC

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$20,286
Earnings
$40,117
Completion
40%
9

South Carolina State University

Orangeburg, SC

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$18,097
Earnings
$38,262
Completion
37%
9

Strayer University-South Carolina

Greenville, SC

Poor ValuePrivate For-Profit
Net Price
$17,979
Earnings
$40,092
Completion
17%
8

Clinton College

Rock Hill, SC

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$11,458
Earnings
$30,180
Completion
14%
8

Voorhees University

Denmark, SC

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$13,335
Earnings
$35,339
Completion
43%
8

South University-Columbia

Columbia, SC

Poor ValuePrivate For-Profit
Net Price
$27,693
Earnings
$34,421
Completion
23%
4

Benedict College

Columbia, SC

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$18,250
Earnings
$31,902
Completion
24%
3

Allen University

Columbia, SC

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$10,972
Earnings
$30,497
Completion
13%
3

Morris College

Sumter, SC

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$20,555
Earnings
$30,614
Completion
17%

Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release