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

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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Top Schools in Surrounding States

If you're hoping to attend college in the Southeast, don't limit your search to South Carolina. Check out these 30 top colleges and universities in the Southeast.