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2023 Best Online Colleges in South Carolina

By OnlineU Staff Writers | Updated 6/30/2023
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The best online colleges in South Carolina offer a wide variety of distance education programs at all degree levels. Much like an in-person credential, an online degree can help students advance their careers and improve access to higher-paying jobs. Another way to achieve this would be to consider beginning at an online community college in South Carolina and transferring to a four-year university. 

Our list below includes accredited online colleges in South Carolina to help students find respected online degrees and achieve their educational goals. View our methodology for more details about our list, or learn about OnlineU

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2023 Best Online Colleges in South Carolina

RankSchool Salary Score Online Enrollment
# 1 #1 Columbia College - SC 64 381
# 2 #2 Citadel Military College of South Carolina 53 478
# 3 #3 Medical University of South Carolina 51 608
# 4 #4 Clemson University 51 1,622
# 5 #5 University of South Carolina - Columbia 46 1,916
# 6 #6 College of Charleston 40 514
# 7 #7 Southern Wesleyan University 36 628
# 8 #8 Limestone University 35 678
# 9 #9 University of South Carolina-Upstate 31 589
# 10 #10 Anderson University - SC 29 519

#1 Columbia College - SC

  • Salary Score: 64
  • Online Enrollment: 381
  • Locations: Columbia
  • Accreditation: SACS COC

Students at Columbia College in South Carolina can choose from 12 different online bachelor's degrees and five online minors and certificates. The college offers majors in business administration, business analytics, organizational leadership, computer science, emergency management, healthcare, and speech-language pathology, among others. Online students use the learning management platform Canvas to access readings, watch videos, and participate in discussions. Columbia College students can access services such as telehealth counseling and virtual appointments for career counseling services. Columbia College is a private four-year school with affiliations to the United Methodist Church. It serves around 1,000 undergraduate students, and 38% enroll fully online.

#2 Citadel Military College of South Carolina

  • Salary Score: 53
  • Online Enrollment: 478
  • Locations: Charleston
  • Accreditation: SACS COC

Citadel Military College of South Carolina, which is a public institution, offers a select number of fully online degrees. The school is particularly strong in online master's programs in business administration, civil engineering, and educational leadership. Nearly all applicants are accepted, and 70% of students earn their degree.

Distance learners at Citadel use the Canvas learning platform to view lectures and readings, submit homework assignments, and engage in class discussions. The majority of enrollees — 92% — study full time.

#3 Medical University of South Carolina

  • Salary Score: 51
  • Online Enrollment: 608
  • Locations: Charleston
  • Accreditation: SACS COC

The Medical University of South Carolina, which is a public institution, offers a small selection of online degrees. These include a bachelor's in healthcare studies; master's degrees in extracorporeal science or health informatics; an executive master's or doctorate in health administration; and a doctorate in nurse anesthesia practice.

At this school, distance learners access their online course materials, complete lab assignments, and engage in class discussions through the Blackboard learning management system. Nearly all students attend school full time.

#4 Clemson University

  • Salary Score: 51
  • Online Enrollment: 1,622
  • Locations: Clemson
  • Accreditation: SACS COC

At the publicly run Clemson University, students can earn one of 36 online graduate degrees and certificates. Among the school's many offerings are master's degrees in business administration, public administration, and secondary education, as well as PhDs in healthcare genetics, learning sciences, and teaching and learning.

Distance learners access their online courses through the Canvas learning management system. Clemson has a fairly competitive acceptance rate of 43% and a graduation rate of 85%, and 95% of enrollees study full time.

#5 University of South Carolina - Columbia

  • Salary Score: 46
  • Online Enrollment: 1,916
  • Locations: Columbia
  • Accreditation: SACS COC

The University of South Carolina's Columbia campus offers more than 50 online bachelor's, master's, and postgraduate degrees spanning eight colleges. Examples include a bachelor's in integrated information technology and a master's in library science. The school is particularly known for its array of online master's and doctoral programs in nursing.

Distance learners use the Blackboard learning platform to view lectures and readings, submit homework assignments, and engage in class discussions. This public school has a 64% acceptance rate and a 78% graduation rate. The majority of enrollees — 95% — study full time.

#6 College of Charleston

  • Salary Score: 40
  • Online Enrollment: 514
  • Locations: Charleston
  • Accreditation: SACS COC

At the College of Charleston, students can take online courses while pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees. Avenues of study include bachelor's and master's degrees in the arts; business; education; health sciences; humanities and social sciences; languages, cultures, and world affairs; and sciences, mathematics, and engineering.

College of Charleston online students access their course materials and participate in learning activities through the OAKS learning management system on the D2L platform. The school has a 76% acceptance rate and a 65% graduation rate. Of all enrollees, 93% are full-time students.

#7 Southern Wesleyan University

  • Salary Score: 36
  • Online Enrollment: 628
  • Locations: Central
  • Accreditation: SACS COC

Southern Wesleyan University (SWU) is a small private Christian university serving around 1,000 undergraduate students, with more than 25% enrolled in fully online programs. Students can choose from eight different bachelor's programs online in fields such as early childhood and family studies, special education, human services, and religion. Online courses typically last seven weeks, and students can review course materials when it's convenient for them rather than meeting with their class at a set time. SWU is known for being a military and veteran-friendly university and offers a tuition discount for active duty military and their spouses. The university also offers online library resources, virtual office hours with professors, 24/7 technology support for the Canvas learning management system, and tutoring services.

#8 Limestone University

  • Salary Score: 35
  • Online Enrollment: 678
  • Locations: Gaffney
  • Accreditation: SACS COC

Limestone University (Limestone), a private four-year Christian college, is located in Gaffney. Students at Limestone can choose from a wide variety of online bachelor's degrees in everything from healthcare administration to computer science. Online students can apply at any time and can start their degree on one of six start dates throughout the year. Limestone serves more than 1,500 students, and 39% are enrolled fully online. Once they apply and are accepted, students will meet with an academic advisor to finish the enrollment process and sign up for classes, and will continue to get support from them throughout their program. The university also provides student services such as virtual career development resources, a student success app, and an online writing center.

#9 University of South Carolina-Upstate

  • Salary Score: 31
  • Online Enrollment: 589
  • Locations: Spartanburg
  • Accreditation: SACS COC

The University of South Carolina - Upstate (USC-Upstate) is a public university offering online graduate and undergraduate degree programs in fields such as health informatics, political science, information management, nursing, and public relations. About one in five students at USC-Upstate are online only, and the school serves more than 5,000 students. Online courses are taught by the same faculty as campus ones and are accessed through the Blackboard learning platform. Student support resources include telehealth counseling and medical services for students living in-state, tutoring, career services, and technical support.

#10 Anderson University - SC

  • Salary Score: 29
  • Online Enrollment: 519
  • Locations: Anderson
  • Accreditation: SACS COC

Anderson University, which is a private, non-profit college associated with the Baptist church, offers nearly 50 online bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Two of its most popular online programs are the bachelor's in business administration and the master's in teacher education.

The school has an acceptance rate of 45% and a graduation rate of 60%. Of all enrolled students, 87% attend school full time.

#11 University of South Carolina-Aiken

  • Salary Score: 29
  • Online Enrollment: 788
  • Locations: Aiken
  • Accreditation: SACS COC

Through the University of South Carolina's Aiken campus, students can earn one of 16 online bachelor's and master's degrees. A total of 11 bachelor's degree completion programs are available in business, finance, emerging media, psychology, special education, and more. Distance learners can also pursue MBAs in general management, accounting, finance, project management, or a master's of educator leadership.

Distance learners at Aiken use the Blackboard learning platform to view lectures and readings, submit homework assignments, and engage in group learning activities. This public school has an acceptance rate of 76% and a graduation rate of 42%, and 79% of enrollees study full time.

#12 Charleston Southern University

  • Salary Score: 25
  • Online Enrollment: 571
  • Locations: Charleston
  • Accreditation: SACS COC

Charleston Southern University (CSU) is a Baptist school with a wide variety of bachelor's programs online, including degrees in applied computing, criminal justice, healthcare administration, human resources, project management, and student ministry. CSU offers accelerated seven-week online classes so students can fast-track their bachelor's degree. Classes are also asynchronous, so students can review lectures and course materials when it's convenient rather than meeting with their class at a regularly scheduled time. Student resources available to online students include career services, access to learning and writing centers, and support for military veterans. CSU serves more than 2,500 undergraduate students, and more than half enroll in both online and campus courses. The university's most popular degrees include registered nursing, business, and education.

#13 Columbia International University

  • Salary Score: N/A
  • Online Enrollment: 849
  • Locations: Columbia
  • Accreditation: SACS COC

A private, non-profit Christian college, Columbia International University offers 45 online associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Some of the specific options include a bachelor's in clinical counseling, a bachelor's in theology, a master's of divinity, and an MBA. This fairly competitive school accepts only 48% of all applicants and graduates 70% of its students.

Columbia International delivers all of its online courses through the CourseWorks learning management system. Two-thirds of students attend school full time.

#14 Coastal Carolina University

  • Salary Score: N/A
  • Online Enrollment: 481
  • Locations: Conway
  • Accreditation: SACS COC

Coastal Carolina University, which is a public institution, offers a selection of 10 online bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, as well as four online graduate certificates. At the bachelor's level, online learners can study information technology, hospitality management, marketing, or health administration. At the master's level, degrees are available in business administration, information systems technology, and education.

Online students use Moodle to access their course materials, complete homework, and participate in class discussions. The school has a 79% acceptance rate and a 48% graduation rate, and 91% of enrollees study full time.

#15 Winthrop University

  • Salary Score: N/A
  • Online Enrollment: 353
  • Locations: Rock Hill
  • Accreditation: SACS COC

At Winthrop University, a public university, students can earn one of six online master's degrees. The possible areas of study are: arts administration, social work, business administration, special education, sport and fitness administration, and human nutrition.

Distance learners at Winthrop view lectures and readings, submit homework assignments, and engage in group learning activities on the Blackboard learning platform. This public school has an acceptance rate of 70% and a graduation rate of 61%, and 89% of enrollees study full time.

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Higher Education in South Carolina

South Carolina hosts 66 degree-granting institutions evenly split between public and private. You could earn an associate degree from a two-year community college in South Carolina, then attend a college or university for a bachelor's and graduate program, all without leaving the state. Just under three-quarters of bachelor's graduates stay in South Carolina, while many of the rest head to neighboring North Carolina or Georgia.

If you're looking for specific degrees in the state, check out the best online MSW programs in South Carolina or one of South Carolina's online nursing programs.

Online Colleges in South Carolina

Following a nationwide trend, distance education is on the rise in South Carolina. Enrollment of exclusively online students increased from 6% to 21.5% from 2012-2021. A large spike in 2020 was due to COVID-19, but online enrollment had nearly doubled between 2012 and 2019. 

An online education may appeal to students who want a college degree with maximum flexibility. These distance programs usually feature asynchronous learning, which lets students complete coursework at convenient times throughout the week.

You can find online degrees at all levels in South Carolina. The following table highlights some differences among these degree levels.

Certificate program

Common Admissions Requirements

  • Official high school or GED transcripts

Estimated Time to Complete: 6-12 months

Associate degree

Common Admissions Requirements

  • Official high school or GED transcripts
  • SAT or ACT scores

Estimated Time to Complete: Two years

Bachelor's degree

Common Admissions Requirements

  • Official high school or GED transcripts (minimum 2.5 GPA)
  • SAT or ACT scores
  • Letter of recommendation 
  • Personal statement on education and career goals

Estimated Time to Complete: Four years

Master's degree

Common Admissions Requirements

  • Official bachelor's degree transcripts (minimum 3.0 GPA)
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Personal statement on career goals

Estimated Time to Complete: 2-3 years

Doctoral degree

Common Admissions Requirements

  • Official bachelor's or master's degree transcripts (minimum 3.0-3.25 GPA)
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Personal statement on career goals

Estimated Time to Complete: 3-10 years, with an average of 7.5

For college options in other locations, view OnlineU's best online college rankings by state or best online colleges by degree level.

Popular Online Degree Programs in South Carolina

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), South Carolina schools conferred 27,001 bachelor's degrees in 2020. The following subjects were some of the most commonly studied in the Palmetto State.

Business

Business programs are intended for students who want to work for money-making organizations in a variety of capacities. Depending on your skills and interests, you might pursue a bachelor's degree in a business specialty, such as a marketing bachelor's degree or a business management program. There are also related options, like pursuing a finance degree or even a supply chain management degree.

Humanities

Humanities programs include diverse majors. For example, you can pursue an English degree or an art history degree. Additionally, there are other kinds of history degrees available that include niches ranging from a bachelor's in anthropology to a bachelor's in philosophy. In general, humanities degrees emphasize critical thinking and writing about a focused area of human existence. 

Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Natural sciences and mathematics are two key components of the acronym "STEM," which stands for "science, technology, engineering, and mathematics." STEM degrees in math and natural science include bachelor's programs in mathematics, physics degrees, and biology degrees

Health

Health profession programs are popular choices given the size and complexity of the U.S. healthcare system. The health professions can refer to careers in the broader healthcare business — such as healthcare administration and healthcare management — or more focused jobs in patient care, such as those that require a nursing degree or dental hygiene degree

Cost of Online Colleges in South Carolina

South Carolina's public colleges cost more on average than other public schools around the country. This is true for both in-state students — who qualify for more favorable tuition rates — and out-of-state learners. But South Carolina's private colleges may be more affordable than elsewhere, with an average rate for tuition and fees that's about $4,500 lower than the national average.

Annual Average Cost of Tuition and Required Fees (2020-2021) for South Carolina Colleges:

  • (In-state) | $4,964 for two-year college
  • (Out-of-state) | $10,313 for public, four-year college
  • (In-state) | $12,544 for public, four-year college
  • (Out-of-state) | $33,055 for private college
  • (In-state) | $27,317 for private college

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

Financial Aid for Students in South Carolina

College students in South Carolina may be eligible for federal and state-funded financial aid in addition to grants, scholarships, work-study program funding, or student loans from private sources. Loans should be a last resort, because these must be repaid with interest and can lead to high levels of debt

Completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a good way to start applying for aid. This form gathers your financial information in one place so funders can determine your eligibility for specific programs. Unlike some states, South Carolina doesn't offer a comparable form to undocumented students that lets them access the state's financial aid programs. 

All other South Carolina residents can consider the state's sponsored grants and scholarships, which are awarded based on financial need, academic merit, or both. 

Job Outlook for South Carolina College Graduates

South Carolina's Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) anticipates 12% job growth in the 2020-2030 decade. The state's growing industries include several that require a college education in many cases, such as information, healthcare and social assistance, and professional, scientific, and technical services.

In this section, we list four of the fastest growing jobs in South Carolina that require a bachelor's degree or higher. Job outlook data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored site Projections Centra and salary information comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Statisticians

Annual Mean Salary: $73,390 in South Carolina
Job Growth: 40.6%

Statisticians create reports about numerical data that's of interest to their employers, such as industry employment or retail sales information. A bachelor's degree in statistics, a data science degree, or general mathematics program might prove useful in this line of work.

Medical and Health Services Managers

Annual Mean Salary: $114,970 in South Carolina
Job Growth: 35%

Medical and health services managers supervise teams and oversee operations in healthcare facilities. This fast-growing profession typically requires a bachelor's degree in healthcare administration, but some positions may call for a master's degree in healthcare administration or healthcare management.

Software Developers

Annual Mean Salary: $105,360 in South Carolina
Job Growth: 30.8%

Software developers figure out what applications users want and need, then try to create them. Software development is related to but different from software engineering, and would-be developers might want to study software development, or obtain either a computer science degree, or cybersecurity degree.

Operations Research Analysts

Annual Mean Salary: $83,380 in South Carolina
Job Growth: 31.5%

Like statisticians, operations research analysts crunch numbers for a living. Their profession is dedicated to using data to maximize efficiency in a workplace. They also often study math, data science, or statistics in college.

FAQs About Online Colleges in South Carolina

What Are the Best Colleges in South Carolina?


It's hard to decide which colleges are best, but you might be able to figure out which you think are the best for you. The first step is ensuring that you only consider institutionally accredited colleges as a form of basic quality control. After this, you can compare schools based on criteria that matter to you: size, program offerings, graduation rate, online versus on-campus learning, and so on.

Elsewhere on our site, we rank the schools with the best online bachelor's degrees and programs in many popular major subjects.

How Many Colleges Are in South Carolina?


There are 66 colleges that confer associate, bachelor's, and graduate degrees in South Carolina. Half of them are public. They range from small local community colleges to the University of South Carolina, which enrolls 27,053 undergraduates.

Can You Go to College for Free in South Carolina?


You might be able to attend a South Carolina college for no cost using a combination of financial aid sources. For example, it's possible to secure a need-based federal grant, a South Carolina LIFE Scholarship or need-based grant, and a private scholarship for studying a particular subject all at the same time. Such cases are relatively rare and take plenty of careful work to manage.

How Do I Get Grants for College in South Carolina?


The state gives some grants to students with the greatest financial need. Applicants must have been South Carolina residents for at least 12 months and must enroll in a public college. Grantees must complete a FAFSA each year to confirm their financial status.

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