Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

33 Best Universities in South Carolina

Exploring the academic landscape of South Carolina, our index provides a definitive ranking of the top 33 higher education institutions. We analyzed 271.9K scientific publications and 8.34M citations to accurately measure the research output of these institutions. The ranking also highlights the real-world influence of these universities, represented by 130.8K 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

Greenville, SC

#439 in United States #486 in North America

43% Acceptance

6,768 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1826 Founded

6

Charleston, SC

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

#487 in United States #536 in North America

23% Acceptance

3,193 Enrollment

1185 Avg SAT

1842 Founded

7

Conway, SC

Coastal Carolina University

#531 in United States #583 in North America

75% Acceptance

4,104 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

8

Rock Hill

Winthrop University

#604 in United States #661 in North America

79% Acceptance

12,230 Enrollment

1115 Avg SAT

1886 Founded

9

Anderson, SC

Anderson University – South Carolina

#615 in United States #674 in North America

55% Acceptance

78 Enrollment

1190 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

10

Orangeburg, SC

South Carolina State University

#790 in United States #858 in North America

83% Acceptance

3,193 Enrollment

1235 Avg SAT

1896 Founded

11

Aiken

University of South Carolina – Aiken

#921 in United States #993 in North America

79% Acceptance

3,193 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1961 Founded

12

Orangeburg, SC

Claflin University

#1001 in United States #1074 in North America

65% Acceptance

1,784 Enrollment

900 Avg SAT

1869 Founded

13

Spartanburg

University of South Carolina – Upstate

#1003 in United States #1076 in North America

67% Acceptance

12,230 Enrollment

1090 Avg SAT

1967 Founded

14

Florence, SC

Francis Marion University

#1053 in United States #1127 in North America

86% Acceptance

3,692 Enrollment

993 Avg SAT

1970 Founded

15

Bluffton, SC

University of South Carolina – Beaufort

#1061 in United States #1135 in North America

73% Acceptance

4,500 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1795 Founded

16

Greenwood

Lander University

#1078 in United States #1153 in North America

81% Acceptance

3,776 Enrollment

1064 Avg SAT

1872 Founded

17

Clinton, SC

Presbyterian College

#1095 in United States #1170 in North America

68% Acceptance

853 Enrollment

1090 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

18

Columbia, SC

Benedict College

#1132 in United States #1207 in North America

96% Acceptance

3,177 Enrollment

1325 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

19

Charleston, SC

Charleston Southern University

#1193 in United States #1270 in North America

96% Acceptance

3,126 Enrollment

1045 Avg SAT

1964 Founded

20

Columbia, SC

Columbia College – South Carolina

#1213 in United States #1290 in North America

94% Acceptance

1,391 Enrollment

1090 Avg SAT

1854 Founded

21

Greenville, SC

Bob Jones University

#1253 in United States #1331 in North America

100% Acceptance

2,312 Enrollment

1120 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

22

Spartanburg

Converse College

#1277 in United States #1355 in North America

68% Acceptance

1,173 Enrollment

1130 Avg SAT

1889 Founded

23

Newberry

Newberry College

#1419 in United States #1503 in North America

90% Acceptance

3,177 Enrollment

1375 Avg SAT

1856 Founded

24

Due West

Erskine College

#1488 in United States #1574 in North America

63% Acceptance

151 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1839 Founded

25

Gaffney

Limestone College

#1496 in United States #1582 in North America

97% Acceptance

1,765 Enrollment

960 Avg SAT

1845 Founded

26

Denmark, SC

Voorhees College

#1583 in United States #1669 in North America

100% Acceptance

15,390 Enrollment

940 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

27

Columbia, SC

Columbia International University

#1585 in United States #1671 in North America

94% Acceptance

965 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1923 Founded

28

Hartsville, SC

#1589 in United States #1676 in North America

94% Acceptance

63,012 Enrollment

940 Avg SAT

1908 Founded

29

Columbia, SC

Allen University

#1606 in United States #1693 in North America

73% Acceptance

12,758 Enrollment

940 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

30

Tigerville

North Greenville University

#1619 in United States #1706 in North America

67% Acceptance

2,020 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

1892 Founded

31

Spartanburg

Sherman College of Chiropractic

#1658 in United States #1745 in North America

85% Acceptance

32

Central

Southern Wesleyan University

#1672 in United States #1760 in North America

100% Acceptance

784 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1906 Founded

33

Charleston, SC

Charleston School of Law

#1762 in United States #1851 in North America

39% Acceptance

299 Enrollment

1485 Avg SAT