Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

25 Best Universities in South Carolina for Political Science

We ranked the top 25 universities for Political Science in South Carolina based on strict academic metrics. To determine these leaders, we isolated 270.5K specialized research publications which collectively generated 8.31M citations. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Political Science 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

Columbia, SC

Benedict College

#1132 in United States #1207 in North America

96% Acceptance

3,177 Enrollment

1325 Avg SAT

1870 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

Clinton, SC

Presbyterian College

#1095 in United States #1170 in North America

68% Acceptance

853 Enrollment

1090 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

7

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

8

Greenwood

Lander University

#1078 in United States #1153 in North America

81% Acceptance

3,776 Enrollment

1064 Avg SAT

1872 Founded

9

Greenville, SC

#439 in United States #486 in North America

43% Acceptance

6,768 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1826 Founded

10

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

11

Charleston, SC

College of Charleston

#300 in United States #332 in North America

60% Acceptance

3,193 Enrollment

1225 Avg SAT

1770 Founded

12

Hartsville, SC

#1589 in United States #1676 in North America

94% Acceptance

63,012 Enrollment

940 Avg SAT

1908 Founded

13

Florence, SC

Francis Marion University

#1053 in United States #1127 in North America

86% Acceptance

3,692 Enrollment

993 Avg SAT

1970 Founded

14

Gaffney

Limestone College

#1496 in United States #1582 in North America

97% Acceptance

1,765 Enrollment

960 Avg SAT

1845 Founded

15

Orangeburg, SC

Claflin University

#1001 in United States #1074 in North America

65% Acceptance

1,784 Enrollment

900 Avg SAT

1869 Founded

16

Due West

Erskine College

#1488 in United States #1574 in North America

63% Acceptance

151 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1839 Founded

17

Aiken

University of South Carolina – Aiken

#921 in United States #993 in North America

79% Acceptance

3,193 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1961 Founded

18

Newberry

Newberry College

#1419 in United States #1503 in North America

90% Acceptance

3,177 Enrollment

1375 Avg SAT

1856 Founded

19

Spartanburg

Wofford College

#825 in United States #893 in North America

52% Acceptance

1,817 Enrollment

1271 Avg SAT

1854 Founded

20

Spartanburg

Converse College

#1277 in United States #1355 in North America

68% Acceptance

1,173 Enrollment

1130 Avg SAT

1889 Founded

21

Orangeburg, SC

South Carolina State University

#790 in United States #858 in North America

83% Acceptance

3,193 Enrollment

1235 Avg SAT

1896 Founded

22

Columbia, SC

Columbia College – South Carolina

#1213 in United States #1290 in North America

94% Acceptance

1,391 Enrollment

1090 Avg SAT

1854 Founded

23

Anderson, SC

Anderson University – South Carolina

#615 in United States #674 in North America

55% Acceptance

78 Enrollment

1190 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

24

Charleston, SC

Charleston Southern University

#1193 in United States #1270 in North America

96% Acceptance

3,126 Enrollment

1045 Avg SAT

1964 Founded

25

Rock Hill

Winthrop University

#604 in United States #661 in North America

79% Acceptance

12,230 Enrollment

1115 Avg SAT

1886 Founded