2026 Best Graduate Degrees Schools in South Carolina
Looking for the best Graduate Degrees degree programs in South Carolina? Our ranking highlights 90 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Grad Degree evaluated 78 schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in South Carolina
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
No school ranked higher than Clemson University this year in South Carolina. This public school is set in Clemson, SC. About 87% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $15,554 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,866 for out-of-state students. Clemson University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $23,783 in debt. More on Clemson University
Out of the 78 schools in South Carolina in this year's ranking, Citadel Military College Of South Carolina landed the #2 spot. Based in Charleston, SC, Citadel Military College Of South Carolina is a public institution. Citadel Military College Of South Carolina posts a six-year graduation rate of 75%. Students from in state pay about $12,570 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,508 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,305 in student loans. See the full Citadel Military College Of South Carolina profile
University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #3 on this year's Graduate Degrees ranking in South Carolina. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public school based in Columbia, SC. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,688, while out-of-state students pay about $36,298. Graduates carry a median of $24,472 in student loans. More on University Of South Carolina Columbia
Out of the 78 schools in South Carolina in this year's ranking, Columbia International University landed the #4 spot. Set in Columbia, SC, Columbia International University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,900. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $21,667. See the full Columbia International University profile
The strong Graduate Degrees programs at Erskine College And Seminary earned it the #5 place in South Carolina. Set in Due West, SC, Erskine College And Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. In-state tuition and fees average $36,710. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. See the full Erskine College And Seminary profile
Anderson University Sc landed the #6 spot in South Carolina this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Anderson, SC. Anderson University Sc posts a six-year graduation rate of 66%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,970. Anderson University Sc Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $28,034 in debt. Read more about Anderson University Sc
College Of Charleston placed #7 among Graduate Degrees schools in South Carolina. College Of Charleston is a public school based in Charleston, SC. College Of Charleston graduates 66% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,978, while out-of-state students pay about $38,296. Students borrow a median of $24,733 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. More on College Of Charleston
University Of South Carolina Upstate placed #8 among Graduate Degrees schools in South Carolina. University Of South Carolina Upstate is a public school based in Spartanburg, SC. University Of South Carolina Upstate graduates 43% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,588 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $23,090. University Of South Carolina Upstate Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $28,000 in debt. Get the full University Of South Carolina Upstate report
University Of South Carolina Aiken came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Set in Aiken, SC, University Of South Carolina Aiken is a public institution. University Of South Carolina Aiken graduates 40% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,760 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,218. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $27,011. Read more about University Of South Carolina Aiken
Southern Wesleyan University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Located in Central, SC, Southern Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. Southern Wesleyan University posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. In-state tuition and fees run about $29,800. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $31,554. See the full Southern Wesleyan University profile
Winthrop University placed #11 among Graduate Degrees schools in South Carolina. Set in Rock Hill, SC, Winthrop University is a public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $14,678, while out-of-state students pay about $28,676. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $27,040. Get the full Winthrop University report
Francis Marion University landed the #12 spot in South Carolina this year. Francis Marion University is a public school based in Florence, SC. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,170, compared with $21,544 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,577 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Read the full report on Francis Marion University
North Greenville University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Tigerville, SC. North Greenville University posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. Students from in state pay about $25,800 in tuition and fees. North Greenville University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $24,128 in debt. Read more about North Greenville University
Charleston Southern University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Charleston Southern University is a private not-for-profit school based in Charleston, SC. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,520. Graduates carry a median of $27,569 in student loans. More on Charleston Southern University
South University Columbia came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Based in Columbia, SC, South University Columbia is a private for-profit institution. South University Columbia posts a six-year graduation rate of 21%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,895. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $48,920. More on South University Columbia
Bob Jones University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Based in Greenville, SC, Bob Jones University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $22,892. Students borrow a median of $20,497 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. See the full Bob Jones University profile
Coastal Carolina University landed the #17 spot in South Carolina this year. Based in Conway, SC, Coastal Carolina University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,640, with out-of-state students paying around $29,628. Graduates carry a median of $27,174 in student loans. Read more about Coastal Carolina University
Coker College placed #18 among Graduate Degrees schools in South Carolina. Located in Hartsville, SC, Coker College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,416. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $29,362. Read the full report on Coker College
Converse College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Spartanburg, SC. Converse College posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. In-state tuition and fees average $25,240. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $26,715. Get the full Converse College report
South Carolina State University landed the #20 spot in South Carolina this year. South Carolina State University is a public school based in Orangeburg, SC. About 37% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,060, with out-of-state students paying around $21,750. South Carolina State University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $31,740 in debt. See the full South Carolina State University profile
Claflin University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Based in Orangeburg, SC, Claflin University is a private not-for-profit institution. Claflin University graduates 52% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,046. Students borrow a median of $32,111 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. See the full Claflin University profile
Columbia College South Carolina ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Columbia College South Carolina is a private not-for-profit school based in Columbia, SC. Columbia College South Carolina posts a six-year graduation rate of 37%. In-state tuition and fees average $20,054. Students borrow a median of $28,158 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. More on Columbia College South Carolina
Clinton Junior College placed #23 among Graduate Degrees schools in South Carolina. More on Clinton Junior College
University Of South Carolina Salkehatchie did well this year, earning the #24 position. See the full University Of South Carolina Salkehatchie profile
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College placed #25 among Graduate Degrees schools in South Carolina. Get the full Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College report
Rest of the Top 50 Best Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in South Carolina
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Horry Georgetown Technical College did well this year, earning the #26 position. See the full Horry Georgetown Technical College profile
Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Greenville did well this year, earning the #27 position. More on Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Greenville
Furman University ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. More on Furman University
Legrand Institute Of Cosmetology Inc did well this year, earning the #29 position. Get the full Legrand Institute Of Cosmetology Inc report
Charleston Cosmetology Institute landed the #30 spot in South Carolina this year. Read more about Charleston Cosmetology Institute
Limestone College came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Read more about Limestone College
Strayer University South Carolina ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. See the full Strayer University South Carolina profile
University Of South Carolina Sumter landed the #33 spot in South Carolina this year. Read more about University Of South Carolina Sumter
Miller Motte Technical College Conway came in at #34 in this year's ranking. See the full Miller Motte Technical College Conway profile
Aiken Technical College ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about Aiken Technical College
Southeastern Institute Charleston came in at #36 in this year's ranking. See the full Southeastern Institute Charleston profile
Central Carolina Technical College did well this year, earning the #37 position. More on Central Carolina Technical College
Strand College Of Hair Design did well this year, earning the #38 position. Read the full report on Strand College Of Hair Design
Vski Cosmetology School ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. See the full Vski Cosmetology School profile
Southeastern Institute Columbia landed the #40 spot in South Carolina this year. More on Southeastern Institute Columbia
Greenville Technical College placed #41 among Graduate Degrees schools in South Carolina. Read the full report on Greenville Technical College
Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Rock Hill ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Rock Hill
Paul Mitchell The School Columbia came in at #43 in this year's ranking. More on Paul Mitchell The School Columbia
Northeastern Technical College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. More on Northeastern Technical College
University Of South Carolina Beaufort landed the #45 spot in South Carolina this year. More on University Of South Carolina Beaufort
Newberry College
Newberry College did well this year, earning the #46 position. Read the full report on Newberry College
Barber Tech Academy Columbia ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. See the full Barber Tech Academy Columbia profile
Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Spartanburg did well this year, earning the #48 position. More on Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Spartanburg
Charleston School Of Law came in at #49 in this year's ranking. More on Charleston School Of Law
Academy Of Hair Technology did well this year, earning the #50 position. Read the full report on Academy Of Hair Technology
More Graduate Degrees Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 78 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 90 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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