The Cheapest Colleges in South Carolina by In State Total Cost for 2023
If you're looking for an affordable university and you are a resident of South Carolina these are the least expensive in state colleges to consider.
Affordable doesn't simply mean finding a school with a low published in state total cost. It's important to research the typical financial aid package offered by a school, the average net price actually paid and most importantly the quality of education you receive for your tuition dollar. Sometimes a school which appears cheap based on list price can be a poor relative value if it can't award competitive financial aid or doesn't offer a quality education. The list below is a ranking on published in state total cost with no consideration of actual average price paid or academic quality of the school. Please see the CollegeCalc best value colleges in South Carolina list for a ranking which considers school quality and average net price.
Total cost may factor in an estimated off-campus living expense if a school doens't provide housing. This estimate may vary widely by college. To view a rank by academic fees alone please see our South Carolina tuition ranking.
The most affordable four year colleges in South Carolina are listed by one year's in state total cost list price for the 2021/2022 school year. Total cost includes tuition, room and board or estimated off campus living expenses, books and supplies and other fees.
What is the cheapest college in South Carolina? Leading the colleges list is W L Bonner College in Columbia with an in state total cost of $12,046.
Academic Rating is a CollegeCalc rating of a college's overall academics and effectiveness. The score ranges from zero to one hundred, with fifty being the median for all eligible colleges. Dollar value is a measure of a school's academic rating compared with the average price paid by students. Colleges which are ranked "n/a" didn't report sufficient data to formulate a score. Learn more about our rating methodology.
All price data are reprinted from the U.S. Department of Education's 2021/2022 IPEDS Survey and reflect reported costs for the 2021/2022 academic year.
| College | In State Total Cost | Rating | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
#1 W L Bonner CollegeColumbia, Private Not For Profit |
$12,046 | NA | NA |
#2 University of Phoenix Columbia CampusColumbia, Private For Profit |
$17,310 | NA | NA |
#3 Brown Mackie College GreenvilleGreenville, Private For Profit |
$19,638 | NA | NA |
#4 University of South Carolina AikenAiken, Public Not For Profit |
$20,202 | 32 | 14 |
#5 University of South Carolina BeaufortBluffton, Public Not For Profit |
$20,436 | 26 | 3 |
#6 Francis Marion UniversityFlorence, Public Not For Profit |
$20,635 | 30 | 20 |
#7 Voorhees CollegeDenmark, Private Not For Profit |
$21,476 | NA | NA |
#8 South Carolina State UniversityOrangeburg, Public Not For Profit |
$22,060 | 20 | NA |
#9 Allen UniversityColumbia, Private Not For Profit |
$22,234 | NA | NA |
#10 University of South Carolina UpstateSpartanburg, Public Not For Profit |
$22,511 | 36 | 12 |
#11 Coastal Carolina UniversityConway, Public Not For Profit |
$22,798 | 38 | 22 |
#12 Virginia College GreenvilleGreenville, Private For Profit |
$23,248 | NA | NA |
#13 Virginia College in CharlestonNorth Charleston, Private For Profit |
$23,248 | NA | NA |
#14 Lander UniversityGreenwood, Public Not For Profit |
$23,550 | 27 | 6 |
#15 University of South Carolina ColumbiaColumbia, Public Not For Profit |
$24,763 | 69 | 51 |
#16 Benedict CollegeColumbia, Private Not For Profit |
$24,800 | NA | NA |
#17 Morris CollegeSumter, Private Not For Profit |
$25,466 | NA | NA |
#18 College of CharlestonCharleston, Public Not For Profit |
$27,199 | 58 | 42 |
#19 Winthrop UniversityRock Hill, Public Not For Profit |
$27,246 | 46 | 28 |
#20 Citadel Military College of South CarolinaCharleston, Public Not For Profit |
$28,307 | 64 | 66 |