Tuition, retention, employment: 22 S.C. colleges by the numbers 🎓
The COLAtoday team always gets nostalgic for our days back at UofSC – our collective alma mater – this time of year. While Sam + Chloe both grew up in S.C., I came to Columbia as an out-of-state student from Atlanta in 2012, and besides my six-month post-grad stint in DFW for an internship, I’m still here.
50% of out-of-staters who attend college in S.C. are working in the state one year post-graduation, but after five years, that percentage drops to 35%, according to The State. 79.2% of in-state students are working in S.C. one year post-graduation, with a less drastic drop off after five years – 63.5% stay employed in the state. Students attending grad school immediately post-grad were not accounted for in the study.
As you well know, S.C. is home to our own University of South Carolina (no. 1 for undergraduate international business majors), College of Charleston (whose MBA program is ranked no. 1 in the nation for job placement) and Clemson University (home to some of the happiest students in the country). But do you know the 20+ other major schools that call S.C. home?
We want to know where you went to school – and if you stayed in S.C. or not.
First, tell us about your S.C. undergrad experience.
22 of S.C.'s major colleges + universities, broken down by the numbers.
🎓University of South Carolina – Columbia, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $12,262
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $32,362
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~25,556 students
Job placement: Click here for employment rates + average starting salaries for graduates from the Darla Moore School of Business
Fun facts:
- 75% graduate within six years
- No. 1 undergraduate international business major
- #22 Public University for delivering work-ready graduates
- The entire COLAtoday team attended UofSC’s J-school
🎓Clemson University – Clemson, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $15,116
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $36,058
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~16,000 students (35% out-of-state + 65% in-state)
Job placement rate: 56% of Clemson’s 2016 class was employed full time within six months of graduation, 21% decided to continue their education, 4% had part-time employment, 12% were still seeking jobs after six months.
Fun facts:
- Ranked as the 23rd best national public university by U.S. News & World Report
- 82% of students graduate within six years
- Clemson ranks 10th nationally for having the “happiest students” according to the 2018 Princeton Review
🎓 College of Charleston – Charleston, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $12,418
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $31,600
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~9,895 students (31% out-of-state + 69% in-state)
Job placement rate: 75% will be employed about a year after graduation
Fun facts:
- 69% graduate within six years
- Founded in 1770 (before the United States was even established)
- CofC can be seen in various films such as The Patriot, Cold Mountain, The Notebook + Dear John
🎓 Allen University – Columbia, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $6,270
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $6,270
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: 575 students
Job placement rate: 83% employed two years after graduation
Fun facts:
- Founded by formerly enslaved-people in 1870
- Has a student to faculty ratio of 15:1
🎓Anderson University – Anderson, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $25,140
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $25,140
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~2,940 students
Job placement rate: Above 60% employed or in graduate school within 24 months of graduation
Fun facts:
- 56% graduate within six years
- Ranked 7th Most Innovative school among Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report
🎓 Benedict College – Columbia, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $7,000
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $7,000
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: 2,249 (53% in state + 44% out of state)
Job placement rate: 89% employed two years after graduation
Fun facts:
- Cutting tuition by 26% this year to help students afford to attend
- Ranked one of the top 10 colleges in the nation for African Americans with physics degrees
🎓Bob Jones University – Greenville, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $17,250
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $17,250
Total undergraduate student enrollment population:~2,415 students (68% out-of-state + 32% in-state)
Job placement rate: 91% employed two years after graduation
Fun facts:
- 67% graduate within six years
- Ranked No. 3 Most Conservative Colleges in America
- Ranked No. 1 for best college dorms in S.C.
🎓Charleston Southern University – Charleston, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $12,750
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $12,750
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~3,600 students
Job placement rate: 73% are employed or seeking higher education 6 months after graduation
Fun facts:
🎓The Citadel – Charleston, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $24,438
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $46,910
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~2,300 students (40% out-of-state + 60% in-state)
Job placement rate: 89% have obtained a job within 6 months of graduation
Fun facts:
- 12:1 faculty-to-student ratio
- No. 1 Public Regional University in the South (for 7 years) by U.S. News & World Report
- No. 1 Best Public College for Veterans in the south
🎓 Claflin University – Orangeburg, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $8,076
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $8,076
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: 1,873
Job placement rate: 91% employed two years after graduation
Fun facts:
- Ranked among top 10 schools in the nation for alumni giving
- It was the first S.C. university open to all, regardless of race
- Student to faculty ratio of 13:1
🎓 Coastal Carolina University – Conway, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $5,768
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $13,324
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~9,898 (51% out-of-state + 49% in-state)
Job placement rate: 90% of students 9 months after graduation have a job or have chosen to continue education
Fun facts:
- 42% graduate within six years
- 16:1 faculty-to-student ratio
- Acceptance rate of 61%
🎓Converse College – Spartanburg, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $18,340
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $18,340
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~870 students (21% out-of-state + 79% in-state)
Job placement rate: 58% of students from the 2017 class have jobs or are in graduate/professional school
Fun facts:
- 94% graduate in four years or less
- This is a private all-women’s college
- A 13:1 student-faculty ratio
🎓Erskine College – Due West, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $35,245
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $35,245
Total undergraduate student enrollment population:~600 students
Job placement rate: 91% employed two years after graduation
Fun facts:
- 59% graduate in four years
- No. 7 for safest college campuses in S.C.
🎓 Furman University – Greenville, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $49,152
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $49,152
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~2,800 students (69% out-of-state + 31% in-state)
Job placement rate: 97% placement rate 6 months after graduation
Fun facts:
- Ranked fourth in a list of schools making an impact (including community service opportunities, sustainability efforts + on-campus student engagement) by the Princeton Review
- The oldest private university in S.C. (founded in 1826)
- 80% of students graduate in four years
🎓Lander University – Greenwood, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $5,350
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $10,150
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~2,734 students
Fun facts:
🎓Newberry College – Newberry, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $24,174
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $24,174
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~1,070 students (21% out-of-state + 79% in-state)
Fun facts:
🎓 North Greenville University – Tigerville, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $9,875.00
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $9,875.00
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~2,345 students (20% out-of-state + 80% in-state)
Job placement rate: 92% employed within two years after graduation
Fun facts:
- 57% graduate within six years
- NGU professors are ranked #2 on the list of Top 25 American College and Universities with the best professors according to a report by CBS Moneywatch
- Ranked #35 on the Top 50 Best Christian College List
🎓 Presbyterian College – Clinton, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $35,800
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $35,800
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~1,063 students (34% out-of-state + 66% in-state)
Job placement rate: 62% from the class of 2017 is currently employed with 31% pursuing graduate/professional school
Fun facts:
- 100% of students participate in either an internship or a study abroad program
- Number 2 ranked college in S.C. for Greatest Lifetime Return on Investment
- The nickname “Blue Hose” came from a sportswriter who referred to P.C. athletic teams as the “Blue Stockings” because of the blue socks they wore
🎓 South Carolina State University – Orangeburg, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $4,764
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $10,109
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: 2,282
Job placement rate: 92% employed two years after graduation
Fun facts:
- It’s S.C.’s only public historically black college and university
- Home to the nation’s only undergraduate environmental field station
- Forbes magazine named it the exclusive HBCU for research in S.C.
🎓 University of South Carolina Upstate – Spartanburg, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $5,604
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $11,355
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~5,395
Fun facts:
- $500 million annual economic impact
- No. 4 for Best College in the South for Veterans
- 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio
🎓Winthrop University – Rock Hill, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $7,615
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $14,743
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~5,029 students
Fun Facts:
- 68.5% admission rate
- Originally founded in 1886 as an all-girls teachers college
- Winthrop is Clemson’s sister school
🎓 Wofford College – Spartanburg, S.C.
In-state tuition (per year): $43,845
Out-of-state tuition (per year): $43,845
Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~1,683 students (770 students from out-of-state)
Fun facts:
- 81% are expected to graduate within 6 years
- Founded in 1854
- Independent liberal arts college
- Listed in the Princeton Review’s “Colleges that pay you back: The 200 Schools that Give You the Best Bang for Your Tuition Buck”
Luckily for us, lunch picnics on the Horseshoe are just ~5 min. away from the office. And you better believe I still tailgate each Fall.
– Beth
