by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a grad degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Master's Degree Colleges in South Carolina ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Jump to Any of the Following Sections: * Our Methodology
Our analysis looked at 24 grad schools in South Carolina to determine which ones have the best master's degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best grad schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
Average early-career salary of those graduating with a master's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. That is, everyone wants their master's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that graduate students take on while pursuing their master's degree. We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty master's recipients will have paying back their loans.
We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Master's Degree Schools ranking. On a broad level, other factors that go into our rankings include such things as the demand of the school, the student body caliber, if the school has online options, and the educational resources provided by the school.
We go into more detail on these factors on our graduate school ranking methodology page.
If you plan to take your education even further, you may want to visit our Best Doctorate Degree Schools ranking.
Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:
Our analysis found Clemson University to be the best grad school for master’s degrees in South Carolina in this year’s ranking. Located in Clemson, South Carolina, the large public school handed out 1,817 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Clemson make an average of $58,526 per year during the early years of their career.
A rank of #2 on our Best Master’s Degree in South Carolina list means Columbia International University is a great place for students working on their degree. CIU is located in Columbia, South Carolina and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 218 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Out of the 24 master’s degree schools in South Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, University of South Carolina - Columbia landed the #3 spot on the list. UofSC is a large public school situated in Columbia, South Carolina. It awarded 1,659 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from UofSC make an average of $55,055 per year during the early years of their career.
A rank of #4 on our Best Master’s Degree in South Carolina list means Citadel Military College of South Carolina is a great place for students working on their degree. This small public school is located in Charleston, South Carolina, and it awarded 283 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from The Citadel go into careers with an average salary of $46,871 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of South Carolina - Upstate. The school came in at #5 in South Carolina on this year’s best master’s degree schools ranking. This small public school is located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and it awarded 107 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Anderson University South Carolina came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in South Carolina ranking. Located in Anderson, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 244 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Anderson University South Carolina is $49,160 during the early years of their career.
Bob Jones University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in South Carolina list. Bob Jones University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Greenville, South Carolina. It awarded 94 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Columbia College landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in South Carolina ranking. Columbia College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Columbia, South Carolina that handed out 160 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Columbia College South Carolina make an average of $47,037 a year.
Winthrop University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in South Carolina list. Winthrop is a public institution located in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 322 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Winthrop make an average of $45,762 per year during the early years of their career.
Erskine College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in South Carolina list. Erskine is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Due West, South Carolina. It awarded 22 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Erskine make an average of $47,388 per year during the early years of their career.
College of Charleston did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in South Carolina ranking, coming in at #11. C of C is located in Charleston, South Carolina and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 231 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from C of C make an average of $49,307 a year.
Charleston Southern University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in South Carolina ranking, coming in at #12. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Charleston, South Carolina, and it awarded 183 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from CSU make an average of $59,966 a year.
With a ranking of #13, Converse College did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in South Carolina list. Converse is a private not-for-profit institution located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 97 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Converse go into careers with an average salary of $42,970 during the early years of their career.
North Greenville University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in South Carolina ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Tigerville, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 96 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from North Greenville go into careers with an average salary of $45,725 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #15, Southern Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in South Carolina list. SWU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Central, South Carolina. It awarded 101 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from SWU make an average of $51,511 a year.
University of South Carolina - Aiken ranked #16 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in South Carolina list. Located in Aiken, South Carolina, the small public school awarded 114 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Coastal Carolina University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in South Carolina ranking. Coastal Carolina University is a fairly large public school situated in Conway, South Carolina. It awarded 255 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Coastal Carolina University is $44,718 during the early years of their career.
Limestone College landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in South Carolina ranking. Limestone College is located in Gaffney, South Carolina and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Coker University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in South Carolina ranking. Coker is located in Hartsville, South Carolina and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 70 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Coker make an average of $37,298 per year during the early years of their career.
Lander University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in South Carolina ranking. Greenwood, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 46 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Lander University go into careers with an average salary of $40,977 during the early years of their career.
Francis Marion University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in South Carolina list. Florence, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 180 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Francis Marion University make an average of $60,850 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #22, Claflin University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in South Carolina list. Claflin is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Orangeburg, South Carolina. It awarded 35 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #23, South Carolina State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in South Carolina list. South Carolina State University is a small public school located in Orangeburg, South Carolina that handed out 103 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from South Carolina State University is $40,484 during the early years of their career.
South University, Columbia ranked #24 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in South Carolina list. South University, Columbia is a small private for-profit school located in Columbia, South Carolina that handed out 93 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from South University, Columbia make an average of $51,148 per year during the early years of their career.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.