Tuition, retention, employment: 22 S.C. colleges by the numbers 🎓
The COLAtoday team always gets nostalgic for our days back at UofSC – our collective alma mater – this time of year. While Sam + Chloe both grew up in S.C., I came to Columbia as an out-of-state student from Atlanta in 2012, and besides my six-month post-grad stint in DFW for an internship, I’m still here.

50% of out-of-staters who attend college in S.C. are working in the state one year post-graduation, but after five years, that percentage drops to 35%, according to The State. 79.2% of in-state students are working in S.C. one year post-graduation, with a less drastic drop off after five years – 63.5% stay employed in the state. Students attending grad school immediately post-grad were not accounted for in the study.

As you well know, S.C. is home to our own University of South Carolina (no. 1 for undergraduate international business majors), College of Charleston (whose MBA program is ranked no. 1 in the nation for job placement) and Clemson University (home to some of the happiest students in the country). But do you know the 20+ other major schools that call S.C. home?

We want to know where you went to school – and if you stayed in S.C. or not.
First, tell us about your S.C. undergrad experience.
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22 of S.C.'s major colleges + universities, broken down by the numbers.

🎓University of South Carolina – Columbia, S.C.

In-state tuition (per year): $12,262

Out-of-state tuition (per year): $32,362

Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~25,556 students

Job placement: Click here for employment rates + average starting salaries for graduates from the Darla Moore School of Business

Fun facts:

75% graduate within six years
No. 1 undergraduate international business major
#22 Public University for delivering work-ready graduates
The entire COLAtoday team attended UofSC’s J-school

🎓Clemson University – Clemson, S.C.

In-state tuition (per year): $15,116

Out-of-state tuition (per year): $36,058

Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~16,000 students (35% out-of-state + 65% in-state)

Job placement rate: 56% of Clemson’s 2016 class was employed full time within six months of graduation, 21% decided to continue their education, 4% had part-time employment, 12% were still seeking jobs after six months.

Fun facts:

Ranked as the 23rd best national public university by U.S. News & World Report
82% of students graduate within six years
Clemson ranks 10th nationally for having the “happiest students” according to the 2018 Princeton Review

🎓 College of Charleston – Charleston, S.C.

In-state tuition (per year): $12,418

Out-of-state tuition (per year): $31,600

Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~9,895 students (31% out-of-state + 69% in-state)

Job placement rate: 75% will be employed about a year after graduation

Fun facts:

69% graduate within six years
Founded in 1770 (before the United States was even established)
CofC can be seen in various films such as The Patriot, Cold Mountain, The Notebook + Dear John

🎓 Allen University – Columbia, S.C.

In-state tuition (per year): $6,270

Out-of-state tuition (per year): $6,270

Total undergraduate student enrollment population: 575 students

Job placement rate: 83% employed two years after graduation

Fun facts:

Founded by formerly enslaved-people in 1870
Has a student to faculty ratio of 15:1

🎓Anderson University – Anderson, S.C.

In-state tuition (per year): $25,140

Out-of-state tuition (per year): $25,140

Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~2,940 students

Job placement rate: Above 60% employed or in graduate school within 24 months of graduation

Fun facts:

56% graduate within six years
Ranked 7th Most Innovative school among Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report

🎓 Benedict College – Columbia, S.C.

In-state tuition (per year): $7,000

Out-of-state tuition (per year): $7,000

Total undergraduate student enrollment population: 2,249 (53% in state + 44% out of state)

Job placement rate: 89% employed two years after graduation

Fun facts:

Cutting tuition by 26% this year to help students afford to attend
Ranked one of the top 10 colleges in the nation for African Americans with physics degrees

🎓Bob Jones University – Greenville, S.C.

In-state tuition (per year): $17,250

Out-of-state tuition (per year): $17,250

Total undergraduate student enrollment population:~2,415 students (68% out-of-state + 32% in-state)

Job placement rate: 91% employed two years after graduation

Fun facts:

67% graduate within six years
Ranked No. 3 Most Conservative Colleges in America
Ranked No. 1 for best college dorms in S.C.

🎓Charleston Southern University – Charleston, S.C.

In-state tuition (per year): $12,750

Out-of-state tuition (per year): $12,750

Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~3,600 students

Job placement rate: 73% are employed or seeking higher education 6 months after graduation

Fun facts:

🎓The Citadel – Charleston, S.C.

In-state tuition (per year): $24,438

Out-of-state tuition (per year): $46,910

Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~2,300 students (40% out-of-state + 60% in-state)

Job placement rate: 89% have obtained a job within 6 months of graduation

Fun facts:

12:1 faculty-to-student ratio
No. 1 Public Regional University in the South (for 7 years) by U.S. News & World Report
No. 1 Best Public College for Veterans in the south

🎓 Claflin University – Orangeburg, S.C.

In-state tuition (per year): $8,076

Out-of-state tuition (per year): $8,076

Total undergraduate student enrollment population: 1,873

Job placement rate: 91% employed two years after graduation

Fun facts:

Ranked among top 10 schools in the nation for alumni giving
It was the first S.C. university open to all, regardless of race
Student to faculty ratio of 13:1

🎓 Coastal Carolina University – Conway, S.C.

In-state tuition (per year): $5,768

Out-of-state tuition (per year): $13,324

Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~9,898 (51% out-of-state + 49% in-state)

Job placement rate: 90% of students 9 months after graduation have a job or have chosen to continue education

Fun facts:

🎓Converse College – Spartanburg, S.C.

In-state tuition (per year): $18,340

Out-of-state tuition (per year): $18,340

Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~870 students (21% out-of-state + 79% in-state)

Job placement rate: 58% of students from the 2017 class have jobs or are in graduate/professional school

Fun facts:

94% graduate in four years or less
This is a private all-women’s college
A 13:1 student-faculty ratio

🎓Erskine College – Due West, S.C.

In-state tuition (per year): $35,245

Out-of-state tuition (per year): $35,245

Total undergraduate student enrollment population:~600 students

Job placement rate: 91% employed two years after graduation

Fun facts:

59% graduate in four years
No. 7 for safest college campuses in S.C.

🎓 Furman University – Greenville, S.C.

In-state tuition (per year): $49,152

Out-of-state tuition (per year): $49,152

Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~2,800 students (69% out-of-state + 31% in-state)

Job placement rate: 97% placement rate 6 months after graduation

Fun facts:

Ranked fourth in a list of schools making an impact (including community service opportunities, sustainability efforts + on-campus student engagement) by the Princeton Review
The oldest private university in S.C. (founded in 1826)
80% of students graduate in four years

🎓Lander University – Greenwood, S.C.

In-state tuition (per year): $5,350

Out-of-state tuition (per year): $10,150

Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~2,734 students

Fun facts:

🎓Newberry College – Newberry, S.C.

In-state tuition (per year): $24,174

Out-of-state tuition (per year): $24,174

Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~1,070 students (21% out-of-state + 79% in-state)

Fun facts:

🎓 North Greenville University – Tigerville, S.C.

In-state tuition (per year): $9,875.00

Out-of-state tuition (per year): $9,875.00

Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~2,345 students (20% out-of-state + 80% in-state)

Job placement rate: 92% employed within two years after graduation

Fun facts:

57% graduate within six years
NGU professors are ranked #2 on the list of Top 25 American College and Universities with the best professors according to a report by CBS Moneywatch
Ranked #35 on the Top 50 Best Christian College List

🎓 Presbyterian College – Clinton, S.C.

In-state tuition (per year): $35,800

Out-of-state tuition (per year): $35,800

Total undergraduate student enrollment population: ~1,063 students (34% out-of-state + 66% in-state)

Job placement rate: 62% from the class of 2017 is currently employed with 31% pursuing graduate/professional school

Fun facts:

100% of students participate in either an internship or a study abroad program
Number 2 ranked college in S.C. for Greatest Lifetime Return on Investment
The nickname “Blue Hose” came from a sportswriter who referred to P.C. athletic teams as the “Blue Stockings” because of the blue socks they wore