Most Selective Colleges in South Carolina
Ranked by acceptance rate (31 colleges with at least 500 undergraduates). Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.
| # | College | Acceptance rate | Net price | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Citadel Military College of South Carolina Charleston, SC · Public | 23% | $20,723 | $72,085 |
| 2 | Clemson University Clemson, SC · Public | 38% | $22,253 | $71,513 |
| 3 | Furman University Greenville, SC · Private nonprofit | 43% | $30,308 | $68,635 |
| 4 | Wofford College Spartanburg, SC · Private nonprofit | 52% | $18,732 | $68,964 |
| 5 | Anderson University Anderson, SC · Private nonprofit | 55% | $23,544 | $42,101 |
| 6 | College of Charleston Charleston, SC · Public | 60% | $18,960 | $56,416 |
| 7 | University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia, SC · Public | 60% | $22,811 | $62,177 |
| 8 | Erskine College Due West, SC · Private nonprofit | 63% | $16,525 | $53,459 |
| 9 | Claflin University Orangeburg, SC · Private nonprofit | 65% | $17,800 | $40,304 |
| 10 | North Greenville University Tigerville, SC · Private nonprofit | 67% | $21,063 | $43,035 |
| 11 | University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg, SC · Public | 67% | $13,557 | $48,587 |
| 12 | Converse University Spartanburg, SC · Private nonprofit | 68% | $23,283 | $40,867 |
| 13 | Presbyterian College Clinton, SC · Private nonprofit | 68% | $20,528 | $60,194 |
| 14 | University of South Carolina Beaufort Bluffton, SC · Public | 73% | $14,656 | $48,088 |
| 15 | Allen University Columbia, SC · Private nonprofit | 73% | $10,972 | $30,497 |
| 16 | University of South Carolina-Sumter Sumter, SC · Public | 74% | $7,712 | $42,437 |
| 17 | Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC · Public | 75% | $13,966 | $47,258 |
| 18 | Spartanburg Methodist College Spartanburg, SC · Private nonprofit | 78% | $14,580 | $42,895 |
| 19 | University of South Carolina Aiken Aiken, SC · Public | 79% | $11,641 | $45,603 |
| 20 | Winthrop University Rock Hill, SC · Public | 79% | $15,343 | $47,185 |
| 21 | Lander University Greenwood, SC · Public | 81% | $15,363 | $42,396 |
| 22 | South Carolina State University Orangeburg, SC · Public | 83% | $18,097 | $38,262 |
| 23 | University of South Carolina-Lancaster Lancaster, SC · Public | 83% | $9,801 | $39,426 |
| 24 | Francis Marion University Florence, SC · Public | 86% | $11,386 | $43,888 |
| 25 | Newberry College Newberry, SC · Private nonprofit | 90% | $21,656 | $48,040 |
| 26 | Columbia College Columbia, SC · Private nonprofit | 94% | $18,408 | $41,338 |
| 27 | Coker University Hartsville, SC · Private nonprofit | 94% | $20,286 | $40,117 |
| 28 | Columbia International University Columbia, SC · Private nonprofit | 94% | $26,036 | $38,951 |
| 29 | Benedict College Columbia, SC · Private nonprofit | 96% | $18,250 | $31,902 |
| 30 | Charleston Southern University Charleston, SC · Private nonprofit | 96% | $21,666 | $45,898 |
| 31 | Southern Wesleyan University Central, SC · Private nonprofit | 100% | $15,464 | $47,756 |