2026 Best Value Engineering Schools in South Carolina
[Engineering](/majors/engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong engineering education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value engineering schools.
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2026 Best Value Engineering Schools in South Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Engineering Schools
Leading the list is Midlands Technical College, our #1 best value for engineering in South Carolina. Located in the suburb of West Columbia, Midlands Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,100, while out-of-state students pay about $14,700. Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,611 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Midlands Technical College earn a median of $39,610 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Francis Marion University earned it the #2 place for engineering. Located in the rural area of Florence, Francis Marion University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,170, compared with $21,544 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $30,577 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $41,456. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Coastal Carolina University one of the best values for engineering. Located in the city of Conway, Coastal Carolina University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,640, with out-of-state students paying around $29,628. Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,174 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $38,272. Set against $27,174 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in engineering will find it at Bob Jones University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Greenville, Bob Jones University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $22,892. Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,497 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $40,538. That is a strong return on a $20,497 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Citadel Military College Of South Carolina one of the best values for engineering. Located in the city of Charleston, Citadel Military College Of South Carolina is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,570, compared with $38,508 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,160 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Citadel Military College Of South Carolina generally make around $62,734. Set against $25,160 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Citadel Military College Of South Carolina admits about 23% of applicants.
Claflin University placed #6 among the best values for engineering. Located in the town of Orangeburg, Claflin University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $17,046 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $32,111. Engineering graduates of Claflin University earn a median of $33,026 early in their careers. Set against $32,111 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Claflin University admits about 65% of applicants.
Clemson University placed #7 among the best values for engineering. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, compared with $40,866 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $25,444. Engineering graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $73,209 early in their careers. Set against $25,444 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
University Of South Carolina Columbia earned the #8 position for value in engineering this year. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,688, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,962 in student loans. Engineering graduates of University Of South Carolina Columbia earn a median of $71,653 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Carolina Columbia admits about 60% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
