2024 Best Value Colleges in South Carolina

• Greenville, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  1,113 reviews

Sophomore: BJU is a really great school! The academics provide a challenge that really makes you feel like you earned your degree. The campus life is great as well. All the students and faculty that you meet just walking around campus are very kind and friendly. The biggest thing for me is the Christian atmosphere at BJU. This school is really helping me grow as a person, academically, socially, and spiritually. The atmosphere of the school, however, (enforced by the rule book) is very conservative so if you have a problem with more traditional-style rules then this isn’t the school for you. The biggest thing I would change about the school is the price. While more affordable than some other college, financial aid is still required. Even with the price being the way it is, still a phenomenal college overall!... Read 1,113 reviews

• grade B

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $19,049

• SAT range —

• Charleston, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  421 reviews

Sophomore: The citadel for me is a college that challenged me physically, mentally, and spiritually. This school is for those who want to bring the best out of themselves through hard work, dedication, integrity and perseverance. While attending here, the biggest lesson you learn is to ask your friends for help. In such an artificial stressful environment, you realize you cannot complete this challenge alone. The education varies with what major you go after. The engineering program, computer science and cyber programs, and business programs some of the strongest programs in the south. Overall it's an insanely unique experience if you're willing to go through the stresses of the challenge.... Read 421 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 86%

• Net price $19,473

• SAT range 1030-1210

• Clemson, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  3,584 reviews

Senior: Clemson exceeds in all aspects of the college experience. Academics are challenging, yet push you to work hard and grow as an individual. Professors are helpful and supportive along your journey. There is excellent advising for classes, careers, and leadership. Clemson has a great social and academic balance that will make your experience valuable. You will learn from the people around you and learn so much about yourself in the process. Clemson has such a welcoming and safe campus. There are so many opportunities and organizations to get involved with whether that be clubs, sports, intermurals, greek life, alumni association, student council, and the list goes on. Clemson also provides internship opportunities and jobs to get your foot in the door with careers. They hold a career fair every semester as well as mock interviews that allows you to get feedback and build your resume! Clemson is all around a fantastic school to grow you as an individual.... Read 3,584 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 49%

• Net price $23,732

• SAT range 1220-1420

• Columbia, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  4,574 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 4,574 reviews

• grade A

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 62%

• Net price $21,898

• SAT range 1150-1360

• Spartanburg, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  1,026 reviews

Junior: I have genuinely almost enjoyed all of my years at this school, it's a beautiful campus and a lot of friendly people! The cafeteria and library are great as well! The only issue I have encountered is some of the professors, they seem that they didn't really care about their students and just wanted to be done and hope that everyone understood. While I know that there's not much that I can technically do about it, it does make me sad that I have run into about 2 professors that didn't care whatsoever. One of them canceled classes very often because he was on vacation midway through the school year, the other would almost shame people for asking questions that were "dumb." However, all of my other professors have been amazing and I'm super happy with this school!... Read 1,026 reviews

• grade B

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 76%

• Net price $14,816

• SAT range 950-1150

• Aiken, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.78 out of 5  721 reviews

Sophomore: I was able to make more connections than ever in my sophomore year. I was a Chemistry major and often stayed in the study room to talk to class mates or do work. All the Chemistry and Physics professors want you to succeed more than anything. If you put in the effort, show your face, and communicate to those in the department, then success is sure to follow. They all have their own teaching methods that work well for most in the small classroom environment. Group study sessions helped me understand Organic Chemistry very well. Connecting with my classmates and having classmates that were willing to study as hard as I was, really helped keep me motivated as the semester came to a close. I was able to pass Organic Chemistry with an A plus all thanks to the professors and classmates I had. The USC Aiken chemistry professors have tutoring hours almost every day in the library were students can have 1 on 1 conversations which are the most helpful tool given by the university.... Read 721 reviews

• grade B

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 84%

• Net price $12,514

• SAT range 960-1170

• Newberry, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.45 out of 5  407 reviews

Freshman: Newberry College offers a close-knit community feel with a relatively small student population. This allows for personalized attention from faculty and staff and encourages a supportive learning environment. The college emphasizes the development of strong relationships between students and professors, promoting mentorship and academic guidance. My experience overall was alright could’ve been better. Being at Newberry College drained me, my depression, and my mental health. Although it was fun for other students but not for me because I came to college for a better learning and understanding. I would like to see their “safety” for young black women change. I wish they would give the guys on campus counseling on how to take rejection.... Read 407 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 57%

• Net price $19,156

• SAT range 910-1130

• Spartanburg, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  376 reviews

Sophomore: I absolutely love attending Wofford! Currently, I am a sophomore majoring in chemistry and philosophy and I am on the track and field team. I chose to attend Wofford because of the community aspect and close connectedness of staff, students, and alumni. I am aware that many college talk about how well connect the community of their school is, but no college I have ever been to compared to Wofford. I toured large public school, small schools, private schools, Ivy League schools, and no school’s community was comparable to Wofford’s community.... Read 376 reviews

• grade B

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 52%

• Net price $30,608

• SAT range 1190-1350

• Florence, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.61 out of 5  947 reviews

Freshman: FMU is genuinely an amazing school. It’s a beautiful campus with fantastic scenery. I am a first year student and can say that I made a wise decision attending FMU. Professors care and push you to be the best that you can be. The faculty here are so caring and concerned about students personal and academic well being. The great thing about FMU is that it offers many resources for success. FMU offers tutoring for most subjects including; math, sciences, or the humanities as well. It’s free! FMU also offers free counseling if you struggle with adjustment, academics, anxiety, depression, or other personal issues. The academics are challenging for sure and it takes a lot of dedication and perseverance. If you don’t care about your academics or think you can get by without working; then FMU is not the place for you. You will not survive here on that attitude.... Read 947 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 86%

• Net price $13,299

• SAT range 930-1120

• Anderson, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.79 out of 5  984 reviews

Senior: Great place to be for the most part! I came in as a freshman during 2020 and they did the best they could at making the college experience closest to normal. The professors are AMAZING! They truly care about you beyond academics. The people is what has made the past 3 years incredible. Professors, faculty, staff, and the friendships I’ve made have had the biggest impact on my life. I see these relationships continuing even after graduation. Complaints: It’s getting bigger than it’s intended. The facilities cannot accommodate the record breaking growth. AU should consider capping admissions at a certain number to keep it small. Parking is a nightmare. I’m concerned how the environment will change with the football team. I hope this program brings funding to other areas on campus instead of having funding cut from academic programs.... Read 984 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 50%

• Net price $21,643

• SAT range 860-1210

• Charleston, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.61 out of 5  861 reviews

Freshman: The school overall is really open, everyone's so happy and friendly! The events they have are always so fun, which also there's is always something going on! The foods are pretty decent, there are so many choices to choose from including Chic-fil-a, Bucstop, Coffee shop, and the dining hall! The scenery is so beautiful, especially the ponds and buildings. The professors are helpful and nice, they have so many helpful resources around campus as well. They have jobs students can do, work-studys, or just helping around! I love the campus and the people within it! Its very safe as they have campus security patrolling at nights! As this is a Christian Campus, they have so many ways to connect, find connection and to worship!... Read 861 reviews

• grade B

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 57%

• Net price $18,182

• SAT range 990-1200

• Columbia, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.62 out of 5  510 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 510 reviews

• grade C

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 99%

• Net price $20,520

• SAT range 820-1050

• Clinton, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  273 reviews

Works Here: Students receive highly individualized attention from faculty at Presbyterian College. Additionally, there are tremendous leadership/career development opportunities in campus organizations such as the investment club, student run media, model UN, research projects, etc. Having graduated from three large, public universities; students tend to get lost in the crowd at those types of institutions. At Presbyterian College, the students are thriving and receiving valuable guidance and mentorship. For this reason, along with the generous scholarship packages most students qualify for; students receive strong Return on Investment. When you factor in the scholarships, typically (depending on the year) the only institutions in SC displaying higher annual ROI are Clemson and the Citadel. PC is positioned nicely within the competitive market of higher education.... Read 273 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 71%

• Net price $21,170

• SAT range 1010-1220

• Greenwood, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  810 reviews

Freshman: The lively campus life at Lander University was evidence of its welcoming and close-knit community. The campus was a center for clubs, activities, and events that appealed to a wide variety of interests. There was something for everyone, including sporting teams, clubs, and organizations for students as well as cultural groups.My involvement in extracurricular activities gave me the chance to hone my leadership abilities, discover new interests, and make friendships that would last a lifetime. I was exposed to a diverse range of cultures, which expanded my horizons and helped me to respect and welcome diversity. My perspective of the world was greatly expanded by my direct involvement with Lander.Furthermore, Lander University promoted undergraduate research, allowing students to work with professors on ground-breaking projects. I got the chance to collaborate closely with a professor on a research project in my area of expertise.... Read 810 reviews

• grade B

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 69%

• Net price $17,083

• SAT range 950-1150

• Greenville, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  601 reviews

Freshman: Within the first two weeks of my college experience, Furman University truly became my home! Its community, I believe, is what sets it apart from all the other colleges I had been considering. Whenever I am surrounded by my fellow students, friends, professors, or staff members, I always feel loved, welcomed, and heard. I feel that Furman exceeds in the following categories: academics, campus life/scenery, professors, and student life. There are so many incredible things to do on campus and in class each day. I love feeling engaged and partaking in activities that I know are rewarding and helping my community in some capacity. I feel that the academic and social value of Furman University cannot be matched by any other school! Go Dins!... Read 601 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 71%

• Net price $33,999

• SAT range 1240-1420

• Rock Hill, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.73 out of 5  1,684 reviews

Sophomore: I enjoyed the small class size, which allowed every student to easily access the office hours of a professor instead of frequently depending on the Teacher's Assistant. I also enjoyed the variety of extracurricular activities in the clubs and intramural sports, particularly, fencing, where I learned the basics of the sport and I was able to maintain the footwork and some techniques that I learned from kickboxing and boxing. However, I would love to see a major change in the night-time aesthetics. It is pitch black at night, with only a few blue towers with a red emergency button. This, along with he fact that the campus is open and has not fences, makes Winthrop a bit insecure at night for someone walking out of night classes, clubs, or meetings with friends. My suggestion would be to install more lights and to add more of those blue towers with emergency buttons. But overall, my experience at Winthrop University was extraordinary!... Read 1,684 reviews

• grade B

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 64%

• Net price $17,100

• SAT range 1000-1180

• Conway, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.72 out of 5  2,070 reviews

Freshman: It’s a good campus, very active with events and the teachers are all very nice. There’s plenty of resources to help you in and out of school like my personal favorite Chant411. This is a help center that answers any college related questions (besides schoolwork.) it’s helped me through the hardest parts of applying here and still helps me find my way around and figure out how college works. They answer questions by text too, so you don’t have to go into the building all the time. Easily one of the most convenient features of this college, and I highly recommend using it to anyone who goes here!... Read 2,070 reviews

• grade B

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 79%

• Net price $14,956

• SAT range 1030-1190

• Charleston, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  2,287 reviews

Junior: I love CofC. The diversity and community here is wonderful and I've always felt at home. Unlike my high school, I feel like I'm in such a diverse atmosphere and this has opened my eyes to many things. The professors have been nothing but professional and helpful. It helps that (in my opinion) we have the prettiest campus in the US!... Read 2,287 reviews

• grade B

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 76%

• Net price $20,255

• SAT range 1090-1280

• Columbia, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  239 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 239 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 46%

• Net price $20,088

• SAT range 940-1130

• Tigerville, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  618 reviews

Graduate Student: My life experiences and love for teaching have shaped me into who I am today and allowed me to give back to my community, teaching in a Title I school in a subject area of need (science). My teaching philosophy encompasses the whole child. Each child should feel safe, valued, loved and know that they have endless potential. My academic goal is to attain my Doctor of Education because I was always told I was never good or smart enough. That is why I am such a great cheerleader for many of my students, especially those with special needs and struggles. Most importantly, when someone tells them that “they will always be just ordinary, and never extraordinary,” DON’T BELIEVE THEM! One of the many reasons I chose to stay within this area and attend North Greenville University is its Christ-centered environment. I hope to be a beacon of hope, strength, and confidence for my students for their entire lifetime.... Read 618 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 70%

• Net price $19,514

• SAT range 980-1210

• Bluffton, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.61 out of 5  491 reviews

Junior: The University of South Carolina Beaufort is a smaller school in South Carolina, but it is a great fit for me. The main campus is in Bluffton, SC and is around a lot of great places to eat! With the school being smaller than others, you have an opportunity to get to know your professors and create a bond. This can help you a lot academically by having access to a helpful professor. My favorite thing about the campus is that you are only 25 minutes from the beach, so if you had a rough week you can go relax. It is a great school and I would recommend it to anyone!... Read 491 reviews

• grade C+

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 84%

• Net price $15,896

• SAT range 940-1110

• Central, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  259 reviews

Freshman: All of the staff are very accommodating and kind. The professors are good, some better than others. Overall the environment is very supportive with caring staff that wants you to succeed.... Read 259 reviews

• grade B

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 58%

• Net price $19,479

• SAT range 980-1070

• Orangeburg, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.48 out of 5  1,203 reviews

Senior: Claflin is a very amazing college. The professor really care about your education! I am thankful that I have chosen this college to attend. I would like for the perimeter of the campus to be a lot brighter and safer on campus . The parking lot need more lighting and security to protect students and their vehicles.... Read 1,203 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 62%

• Net price $19,308

• SAT range 840-1040

• Spartanburg, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.61 out of 5  625 reviews

Sophomore: From my first visit here, I always liked how welcoming everyone is; people here really do go out of their way to be friendly and helpful a lot of the time. Converse also has some great professors! I can't speak much to departments I haven't taken a lot of classes in (such as STEM majors), but I love a lot of the humanities and arts professors; most of them have PhDs in their field and their enthusiasm for their area of study is evident in their teaching styles and interactions with students. Small class sizes are also nice as you actually get to know your classmates and professors (and it's easier to get the help you need). However, there are definitely accessibility issues on campus. Because the university and many of its buildings are very old, not all of them are fully accessible. There is an academic building which students with mobility issues can't get to the top floor of, and at least one dorm building which is completely inaccessible.... Read 625 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 82%

• Net price $17,155

• SAT range 1000-1200

• Gaffney, SC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  328 reviews

Senior: I have had a wonderful experience at Limestone as a student-athlete and full time day student. As a small university, it provides smaller class sizes and you get to know all your professors very well. Additionally, it is a close-knit school, with the majority of the students attending being student-athletes. Because of the large variety of sports, there are also many international students and those from around the country that attend, making it a uniquely diverse campus. In the psychology program, I have had the opportunity to talk to many professionals in the field, and even do my own undergraduate research. Overall, Limestone does an excellent job of preparing you for life after graduation and I have enjoyed my time being here!... Read 328 reviews

• grade C

• grade C

• Acceptance rate 88%

• Net price $22,719

• SAT range 980-1160