11 Top-Ranked South Carolina Colleges and Universities

My top picks for South Carolina include a wide range of public and private institutions. From a large public research university like the University of South Carolina to a tiny Christian college like Erskine, South Carolina has schools to match a variety of student personalities and interests. The 11 top South Carolina colleges below are listed alphabetically to avoid the arbitrary distinctions often used to distinguish #1 from #2, and because of the impossibility of comparing a small private college with a large public institution. The schools were chosen based on their first-year retention rates, four- and six-year graduation rates, curricular innovations, value, financial aid and student engagement.

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Anderson University

Location: Anderson, South Carolina
Enrollment: 3,432 (2,944 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: private Christian university (Baptist)
Distinctions: excellent grant aid and overall value; strong Christian identity; NCAA Division II athletics program; programs for traditional undergraduates, adults, and graduate students; 17 to 1 student / faculty ratio
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Anderson University profile

Citadel Military College (The Citadel)

Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Enrollment: 3,602 (2,773 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: public military university
Distinctions: high graduate rates in relation to student profile; 12 to 1 student / faculty ratio; curricular emphasis on leadership and character training; member of the NCAA Division I Southern Conference
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Citadel profile

Clemson University

Location: Clemson, South Carolina
Enrollment: 23,406 (18,599 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: public university
Distinctions: one of the country's top public universities; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and sciences; attractive campus in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along Lake Hartwell; strong business, science and engineering programs; member of the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Clemson University profile

College of Charleston

Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Enrollment: 11,294 (10,375 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: public liberal arts college
Distinctions: 15 to 1 student / faculty ratio; average class size of 21; excellent value; founded in 1770 and located in a historically rich area; member of the NCAA Division I Southern Conference
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the College of Charleston profile

Top Georgia Colleges

By Allen Grove

Converse College

Location: Spartanburg, South Carolina
Enrollment: 1,320 (870 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: master's-level women's college
Distinctions: 13 to 1 student / faculty ratio; popular graduate education programs; programs for adult women; good grant aid; high graduation rate in relation to the student profile; home of the Petrie School of Music; NCAA Division II athletics program
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Converse College profile

Erskine College

Location: Due West, South Carolina
Enrollment: 822 (614 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: private Christian liberal arts college (Presbyterian)
Distinctions: 12 to 1 student / faculty ratio; home to the Bowie Arts Center; high placement rate for medical school, law school and other graduate programs; NCAA Division II athletics program
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Erskine College profile

Furman University

Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Enrollment: 3,003 (2,797 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: private liberal arts college
Distinctions: chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and sciences; 11 to 1 student / faculty ratio; high level of student engagement; member of the NCAA Division I Southern Conference
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Furman University profile

Presbyterian College

Location: Clinton, South Carolina
Enrollment: 1,352 (1,063 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: private liberal arts college (Presbyterian)
Distinctions: 11 to 1 student / faculty ratio; average class size of 14; good value; good breadth of offerings for a small college (34 majors, 47 minors, and 50 clubs and organizations); member of the NCAA Division I Big South Conference
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Presbyterian College profile

University of South Carolina at Columbia (USC)

Location: Columbia, South Carolina
Enrollment: 34,099 (25,556 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: public university
Distinctions: well-regarded honors college; strong first-year student program; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and sciences; 350 bachelor, master's and doctoral programs; member of the NCAA Division I Southeastern Conference
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the University of South Carolina profile

Winthrop University

Location: Rock Hill, South Carolina
Enrollment: 6,109 (5,091 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: public university
Distinctions: 14 to 1 student / faculty ratio; average class size of 24; home to many buildings on the National Historic Register; students from 42 states and 54 countries; more than 180 clubs and organizations; member of the NCAA Division I Big South Conference
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Winthrop University profile

Wofford College

Location: Spartanburg, South Carolina
Enrollment: 1,683 (all undergraduate)
Type of Institution: private liberal arts college (Methodist)
Distinctions: 11 to 1 student / faculty ratio; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and sciences; campus is a National Historic District and a designated arboretum; member of the NCAA Division I Southern Conference
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Wofford College profile

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Royce Hall at UCLA. Photo Credit: Marisa Benjamin

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