The Cheapest Colleges in South Carolina by Out of State Total Cost for 2023
If you're looking for an affordable university in South Carolina but aren't a state resident, these are the least expensive out of state colleges to consider. Additionally, if you are a foreign citizen and cannot qualify for in-state tuition, these are the cheapest universities in South Carolina for international students.
Affordable doesn't simply mean finding a school with a low published out of 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 out of 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 out of 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 out of 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 | Out of 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 Voorhees CollegeDenmark, Private Not For Profit |
$21,476 | NA | NA |
#5 Allen UniversityColumbia, Private Not For Profit |
$22,234 | NA | NA |
#6 Virginia College in CharlestonNorth Charleston, Private For Profit |
$23,248 | NA | NA |
#7 Virginia College GreenvilleGreenville, Private For Profit |
$23,248 | NA | NA |
#8 Benedict CollegeColumbia, Private Not For Profit |
$24,800 | NA | NA |
#9 Morris CollegeSumter, Private Not For Profit |
$25,466 | NA | NA |
#10 Claflin UniversityOrangeburg, Private Not For Profit |
$28,426 | 25 | 3 |
#11 Columbia CollegeColumbia, Private Not For Profit |
$30,440 | 29 | 6 |
#12 University of South Carolina AikenAiken, Public Not For Profit |
$30,660 | 32 | 14 |
#13 Bob Jones UniversityGreenville, Private For Profit |
$30,730 | NA | NA |
#14 Francis Marion UniversityFlorence, Public Not For Profit |
$31,019 | 30 | 20 |
#15 University of South Carolina BeaufortBluffton, Public Not For Profit |
$31,482 | 26 | 3 |
#16 South Carolina State UniversityOrangeburg, Public Not For Profit |
$32,750 | 20 | NA |
#17 Converse CollegeSpartanburg, Private Not For Profit |
$33,148 | 39 | 4 |
#18 Lander UniversityGreenwood, Public Not For Profit |
$33,150 | 27 | 6 |
#19 University of South Carolina UpstateSpartanburg, Public Not For Profit |
$33,473 | 36 | 12 |
#20 Columbia International UniversityColumbia, Private Not For Profit |
$35,140 | 40 | 41 |