Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

21 Best Universities in South Carolina

Exploring the academic landscape of South Carolina, our index provides a definitive ranking of the top 21 higher education institutions. We analyzed 253.5K scientific publications and 7.98M citations to accurately measure the research output of these institutions. The ranking also highlights the real-world influence of these universities, represented by 100.2K notable alumni globally.

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1

Columbia, SC

University of South Carolina – Columbia

#88 in United States #100 in North America

60% Acceptance

6,768 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1801 Founded

2

Clemson

Clemson University

#102 in United States #117 in North America

38% Acceptance

23,401 Enrollment

1325 Avg SAT

1889 Founded

3

Charleston, SC

Medical University of South Carolina

#165 in United States #189 in North America

56% Acceptance

2,617 Enrollment

1035 Avg SAT

1824 Founded

4

Charleston, SC

College of Charleston

#300 in United States #332 in North America

60% Acceptance

3,193 Enrollment

1225 Avg SAT

1770 Founded

5

Conway, SC

Coastal Carolina University

#531 in United States #583 in North America

75% Acceptance

4,104 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

6

Anderson, SC

Anderson University – South Carolina

#615 in United States #674 in North America

55% Acceptance

78 Enrollment

1190 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

7

Orangeburg, SC

South Carolina State University

#790 in United States #858 in North America

83% Acceptance

3,193 Enrollment

1235 Avg SAT

1896 Founded

8

Florence, SC

Francis Marion University

#1053 in United States #1127 in North America

86% Acceptance

3,692 Enrollment

993 Avg SAT

1970 Founded

9

Clinton, SC

Presbyterian College

#1095 in United States #1170 in North America

68% Acceptance

853 Enrollment

1090 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

10

Charleston, SC

Charleston Southern University

#1193 in United States #1270 in North America

96% Acceptance

3,126 Enrollment

1045 Avg SAT

1964 Founded

11

Greenville, SC

Bob Jones University

#1253 in United States #1331 in North America

100% Acceptance

2,312 Enrollment

1120 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

12

Spartanburg

Converse College

#1277 in United States #1355 in North America

68% Acceptance

1,173 Enrollment

1130 Avg SAT

1889 Founded

13

Due West

Erskine College

#1488 in United States #1574 in North America

63% Acceptance

151 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1839 Founded

14

Denmark, SC

Voorhees College

#1583 in United States #1669 in North America

100% Acceptance

15,390 Enrollment

940 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

15

Columbia, SC

Columbia International University

#1585 in United States #1671 in North America

94% Acceptance

965 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1923 Founded

16

Hartsville, SC

#1589 in United States #1676 in North America

94% Acceptance

63,012 Enrollment

940 Avg SAT

1908 Founded

17

Columbia, SC

Allen University

#1606 in United States #1693 in North America

73% Acceptance

12,758 Enrollment

940 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

18

Tigerville

North Greenville University

#1619 in United States #1706 in North America

67% Acceptance

2,020 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

1892 Founded

19

Spartanburg

Sherman College of Chiropractic

#1658 in United States #1745 in North America

85% Acceptance

20

Central

Southern Wesleyan University

#1672 in United States #1760 in North America

100% Acceptance

784 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1906 Founded

21

Charleston, SC

Charleston School of Law

#1762 in United States #1851 in North America

39% Acceptance

299 Enrollment

1485 Avg SAT