2024 Best Colleges for Public Policy in the Columbia Area

• Columbia, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  237 reviews

Graduate Student: Columbia International University is a wonderful university since it understands the student, his or her family needs, and upholds excellence in all academics. The graduate programs are well designed, rigorous and well priced for faith community students. Since I enrolled as a PhD student, I have had a wealth of support from my professors and fellow classmates. It is an honor to learn and grow at Columbia!... Read 237 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 46%

• Net price $20,088

• SAT range 940-1130

• Columbia, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  4,549 reviews

Freshman: The university of South Carolina is very diverse. The professors are very genuine and passionate about what the teach. The campus is in the heart of South Carolina, Columbia. It gives you the mix of city life in a more southern area. The students are very kind and love to have fun. The athletic teams here work very hard and continue to improve each and every season. The campus has tons of options for affordable housing. I personally find the 650 Lincoln the best. The campus has many food options, from home-cooked food, to establishments such as Chick-fil-a, jersey mikes, Starbucks, and many more options. The student life is great, and very safe. The campus has its own police force, with emergency stations placed all throughout campus. It's known that if you press an emergency station, an officer will be there to help in less than 60 seconds. If you're looking for a diverse, and fun community to learn and grow with, then the University of South Carolina is an amazing place to apply to!... Read 4,549 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 62%

• Net price $21,898

• SAT range 1150-1360

• Columbia, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.62 out of 5  509 reviews

Freshman: It’s a great school so far! I love my teachers and the food is top tier. We have many things to do on campus and many activities to do weekly, not only that but the people you interact with are nice. If someone sees you down 9 times out of 10 they won’t hesitate to come over and say something nice to you and make you feel good. The RA’s are amazing and so is everyone on the staff, they are very helpful and tend to make things much easier especially when you need help on something you don’t understand. The dorms are great as well, the dorm I stay in is just full of good vibes and good people! The school also has a wide variety of classes and there’s always something for someone down here and that’s what I truly love about it?... Read 509 reviews

• grade C

• Acceptance rate 99%

• Net price $20,520

• SAT range 820-1050

• West Columbia, SC•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.72 out of 5  701 reviews

Senior: I've loved my experience on campus and online! All staff is nice and helpful. The campus is always clean. My personal financial aid advisor has made my recent college experience a breeze. She’s answered my questions regarding classes at midlands tech as well as class at the college I plan to go once I graduate from Midlands Technical College. I love that I have been able to take classes at Midlands Tech that will transfer to Columbia College towards my degree in Social Work. It’s very helpful because not only are they more financially suitable, I can already begin working on my 4 year degree which will lessen my time once I officially begin. Everything has met my expectations.... Read 701 reviews

• grade C

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $6,146

• SAT range —

• Columbia, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.34 out of 5  480 reviews

Junior: My time at Benedict College was amazing! The campus is so beautiful, and the people there are friendly and welcoming. It's a diverse and inclusive place where everyone feels at home. The professors are really great and understanding, and they make learning enjoyable. The only downside is that my department could use more resources to make things even better. But overall, Benedict College is a lovely institution where I had a wonderful experience.... Read 480 reviews

• grade C minus

• Acceptance rate 86%

• Net price $11,701

• SAT range 820-1030