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Lists / Best Colleges in South Carolina

Best Colleges in South Carolina

Created by College Confidential
Photo: Vlada Karpovich/Pexels

South Carolina is known for it's warm weather, sandy beaches, and historic cities. It's also home to 61 colleges and universities, including these five top schools.

From the CC Community:

"SC is an extremely popular destination for kids from our school district. Many kids at CoC, U of SC, Clemson and Coastal Carolina. 2nd to our in-state options, it had the highest number of students heading there in my [daughter's] graduation class... To me it feels like SC is the new Florida (as far as migratory patterns from the Northeast)."

Furman University

Situated on 750-acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Furman is known for its robust career services, rigorous courses, and plentiful internships and study abroad options. The academics at Furman are challenging, especially the pre-health and pre-law programs. Students tend to be conservation and religious, but also motivated and happy. Furman is test-optional for Fall 2023, but above-average test scores are likely to help an applicant stand out.

From the CC Community: "We visited both Wofford and Furman last year. Both are lovely schools, [my daughter[ felt that Wofford was too small and too southern. I liked it though. She is applying to Furman."

"Furman’s campus is beautiful. The professors seemed to be very interested in teaching. The grads I knew loved their experience. It was more conservative back then. Not sure about now. Most campuses today are at least neutral short of Bob Jones U."

See what the CC Community is saying about Furman.

From Furman: "At Furman, you’ll enjoy a national caliber liberal arts and sciences education on a campus internationally recognized for its beauty, while preparing for a fulfilling career and a life of purpose. You won’t just become better. You’ll graduate with The Furman Advantage."

See what the CC Community is saying about Furman.

  • Furman University
    Greenville, SC 4-Year, Private
    Acceptance Rate71%
  • College of Charleston

    College of Charleston is a public university located in the vibrant and historic city of Charleston. Students love the shopping, food, and sandy beaches that Charleston offers. The urban location also offers plenty of opportunities for jobs and internships. The campus itself offers a small-school vibe within the city. Students enjoy working out, participating in campus clubs and activities, and heading to the beach to socialize or surf.

    From the College of Charleston: "Founded in 1770, the College of Charleston is a public university grounded in the principles of the liberal arts and committed to developing ethically centered, intellectually versatile and globally fluent citizens who create innovative solutions to social, economic and environmental challenges."

    See what the CC Community is saying about College of Charleston

  • College of Charleston
    Charleston, SC 4-Year, Public
    Acceptance Rate66%
  • Clemson University

    Clemson's beautiful 1,400 acre campus is located on the edge of Lake Hartwell in Upstate South Carolina. The University has soared in popularity in recent years. Students are active, friendly and happy. School spirit is the name of the game at Clemson, and students love cheering for the Tigers. Intramural sports, student government and the school newspaper are also popular. Ninety-nine percent of first year students live on campus, and house parties are a staple of the social scene. The academics are rigorous though, and most students say they spend the majority of their time studying or in class.

    From the CC Community: "My daughter is at Clemson and she loves everything about it."

    See what the CC Community is saying about Clemson

    From Clemson: "One of the most productive public research universities in the nation, Clemson attracts and unites students and faculty whose greatest desire is to make a difference in the lives of others."

  • Clemson University
    Clemson, SC 4-Year, Public
    Acceptance Rate49%
  • The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina

    From the CC Community: "When you see the [Citadel] ring on a graduate it’s hard to miss. It carries some cache. At least in South Carolina. The grads I met or worked with were impressive. A few were very interesting characters."

  • The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina
    Charleston, SC 4-Year, Public
    Acceptance Rate86%
  • Wofford College

    Wofford is a small liberal arts school located in the northern part of the state, about an hour and a half from both Asheville and Charlotte, North Carolina. Students at Wofford work hard and play hard. Spartanburg doesn't offer much besides bowling, shopping, and movies, but students stay active in the 12 fraternities and sororities and with campus events, concerts, and clubs. Outdoorsy students also enjoy exploring the hiking trails near campus.

    **From the CC Community: ** "I had a great experience [at Wofford]. I found a cohesive, supportive community that really prepared me for medical school but also expand my horizons intellectually, especially in the humanities. Very student centric. Strong tradition of sending students out for study abroad. I did some interesting things during Interim (January term). My professors were great, but most have retired or passed on. Some of my classmates are now Wofford professors! It may be a little too insular...conservative, Greek oriented, and small for some. It was the right fit for me coming out of high school."

    From [Wofford]: "Wofford’s mission is to provide superior liberal arts education that prepares its students for extraordinary and positive contributions to a global society. The focus of Wofford’s mission is upon fostering commitment to excellence in character, performance, leadership, service to others and lifelong learning. Wofford strives for sustainability in all aspects of college life through respect for the environment and through our core values."

    See what the CC Community says about Wofford.

  • Wofford College
    Spartanburg, SC 4-Year, Private
    Acceptance Rate52%
  • University of South Carolina

    UofSC offers a vibrant social scene. Greek life is popular and tailgating at Saturday football games is a staple of the student experience. Students are described as conservative and happy, with plenty of Southern charm. UofSC also offers many resources to support student wellness and the transition to college, like the groundbreaking "University 101" curriculum for first-years, and up to 12 free counseling sessions each year.

    From UofSC: "The University of South Carolina is a storied setting where academic and professional ambitions come to life every day. Whether in quiet Horseshoe study sessions or energizing student experiences, our campus has a long history of preparing the next generation of leaders."

    See what the CC Community is saying about University of South Carolina.

  • University of South Carolina
    Columbia, SC 4-Year, Public
    Acceptance Rate62%
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