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Most affordable public universities in South Carolina

13 public universities in South Carolina report net price data, ranging from $6,267 at the lowest to higher costs at more selective schools. The median net price across these is $15,781. South Carolina's public universities run a bit higher than the national average for the kind. The list below shows the most affordable options, ranked by net price.

Median net price in South Carolina

$15,781

National median for public universities

$10,692

public universities reporting in South Carolina

13

The most affordable public universities in South Carolina, ranked by net price

1

Greenville Technical College

SC

Net price

$6,267

Receive grant aid

94%

2

Francis Marion University

SC

Net price

$11,231

Receive grant aid

98%

3

University of South Carolina Aiken

SC

Net price

$11,697

Receive grant aid

98%

4

University of South Carolina-Upstate

SC

Net price

$13,794

Receive grant aid

97%

5

Coastal Carolina University

SC

Net price

$14,453

Receive grant aid

87%

6

Lander University

SC

Net price

$14,657

Receive grant aid

98%

7

University of South Carolina Beaufort

SC

Net price

$15,781

Receive grant aid

90%

8

Winthrop University

SC

Net price

$16,838

Receive grant aid

100%

9

South Carolina State University

SC

Net price

$17,928

Receive grant aid

94%

10

College of Charleston

SC

Net price

$20,806

Receive grant aid

81%

11

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

SC

Net price

$21,041

Receive grant aid

84%

12

Clemson University

SC

Net price

$24,408

Receive grant aid

74%

13

University of South Carolina-Columbia

SC

Net price

$26,068

Receive grant aid

91%

What makes a school affordable here

In South Carolina, the most affordable public universities share two things in common. First, low published net prices reflect both reasonable sticker prices and meaningful institutional or state aid. Second, a high share of students receive grant aid. At Greenville Technical College, the most affordable on this list, 94% of students receive grant aid. Net price reflects what a typical family actually pays, not the sticker price you see at first glance. A school with a $50,000 sticker price and a $10,000 net price is more affordable for most families than a school with a $20,000 sticker and a $19,000 net price.

Affordable colleges in South Carolina, other types

Affordable public universities in other states

Find your personalized cost

National rankings use publicly available federal cost data. Plug in your actual aid offer and family situation for a Worth-It Score that reflects your specific picture.

Affordability rankings use publicly available federal higher-ed cost data. Net price reflects the average cost a family pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from total cost of attendance, for the 2022-23 reporting year. See full methodology →