Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

14 Best Universities in South Carolina for Optics

Focusing specifically on Optics, our data science engine identified the 14 most influential universities in South Carolina. To determine these leaders, we isolated 264.2K specialized research publications which collectively generated 8.21M citations. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Optics South Carolina Clear All

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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

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

#487 in United States #536 in North America

23% Acceptance

3,193 Enrollment

1185 Avg SAT

1842 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

College of Charleston

#300 in United States #332 in North America

60% Acceptance

3,193 Enrollment

1225 Avg SAT

1770 Founded

7

Columbia, SC

Benedict College

#1132 in United States #1207 in North America

96% Acceptance

3,177 Enrollment

1325 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

8

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

9

Florence, SC

Francis Marion University

#1053 in United States #1127 in North America

86% Acceptance

3,692 Enrollment

993 Avg SAT

1970 Founded

10

Aiken

University of South Carolina – Aiken

#921 in United States #993 in North America

79% Acceptance

3,193 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1961 Founded

11

Orangeburg, SC

South Carolina State University

#790 in United States #858 in North America

83% Acceptance

3,193 Enrollment

1235 Avg SAT

1896 Founded

12

Anderson, SC

Anderson University – South Carolina

#615 in United States #674 in North America

55% Acceptance

78 Enrollment

1190 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

13

Rock Hill

Winthrop University

#604 in United States #661 in North America

79% Acceptance

12,230 Enrollment

1115 Avg SAT

1886 Founded

14

Conway, SC

Coastal Carolina University

#531 in United States #583 in North America

75% Acceptance

4,104 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1954 Founded