By Iris Stone
In this ranking, we highlight the 20 best values in South Carolina colleges and universities.
South Carolina can sometimes be overshadowed by its northern neighbor, especially when schools like the University of North Carolina and Duke attract regular attention on ESPN. But if there were a TV channel devoted to value in higher education, this state would deserve its own segment. From Clemson University – a school nationally known for its school spirit and friendly community – to the University of South Carolina, there are more than enough options to satisfy even the most frugal college students. There are also plenty of great independent schools in the state, but you won't find a single one with an annual net price over $20,000!
Each of the 20 schools that we have included below qualifies as affordable, but that's not all. Each also boasts attractive features for students who demand the best, whether you're looking for a powerful athletic program, challenging academics, small class sizes, or a campus that never sleeps. Our targeted methodology has ranked them according to some of the most important factors in higher education, including selectivity, cost, student engagement, and alumni success. You may also be interested in checking out our ranking of the best affordable online degree programs in South Carolina.
Our Ranking Methodology:
Graduation Rate: This indicator refers to the percentage of students who complete their degree within 150% of normal time (six years for a typical four-year degree program). Schools that perform well in this area have a track record of keeping students engaged and successful for their entire time on campus. We weighted this category 30% of the total and retrieved the information from College Navigator.
Net Price: In order to make sure that cost was still a factor in the ranking, we also considered overall net price as an indicator. Taken from data on College Navigator, "net price" is an approximate value that refers to the average amount of money a student could expect to pay each year after taking into account tuition, room and board, living expenses, scholarship awards, and financial aid packages. We weighted this category 25% of the total.
Acceptance Rate: Academically challenging, popular universities tend to be more selective and thus have a lower acceptance rate. In order to pinpoint those colleges that boast rigorous academics and also receive a large number of applications, we considered acceptance rate – the percentage of students out of the total number of applicants who receive an acceptance letter. We retrieved this information from College Navigator and weighted it 30% of the total.
20-Year Net Return on Investment: Taken from information on the website PayScale, this statistic provides a picture of how much students can expect to make after they graduate from a particular college. More specifically, the figure is calculated by taking the average income an alumnus will make over his or her first 20 years after graduation and subtracting the amount paid in tuition. Schools with a high ROI tend to be better at preparing their students for the job market. We weighted this category only 15% because data was not available for all colleges considered.
After adding all the points, we gave each university a final score out of 200. The schools below have scores ranging from 81 to 157, and each has something different to offer in terms of its cost, quality, and reputation. No one college is perfect (which is why the scores vary so much) but this ranking offers you a premier selection of universities to help get you started on your search for an education in South Carolina.
Ranking the Best Values in South Carolina Colleges and Universities
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Featured Online Programs
Figuring out where to apply? These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online degrees. Consider one of these accredited programs, and discover their value today.
This concludes our best value ranking of South Carolina colleges and universities.
Sources:
Pay Scale
College Navigator
About the Author:
Iris Stone began her writing career as a freelance writer and researcher. She now owns and operates a writing and editing firm that works with clients all across the country. Her work has included articles related to education policy, colleges and universities, academic programs, and careers./
