2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina
When pursuing a degree in today's world, veterans have 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 Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Our analysis looked at 34 schools in South Carolina to determine which ones were the best for veterans and active service men and women. Our ranking methodology focuses on over 20 different objective factors - such as percentage of costs covered by the GI Bill®, number of GI Bill® recipients at the school, and overall quality - to make this determination.
Get more details on our ranking methodology.
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Top Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina
See which schools came out on top of our ranking:
Our analysis found University of South Carolina - Columbia to be the best school for veterans in South Carolina in this year’s ranking. UofSC is a large public school situated in Columbia, South Carolina. It awarded 9,478 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, UofSC supports 35,470 students, and 1,523 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 897 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $10,738. In addition to receiving other benefits, 38 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. UofSC did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our Best Schools in South Carolina list.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Clemson University. It ranked #2 on our 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina list. Clemson, South Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 6,915 students in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, Clemson supports 26,406 students, and 843 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 643 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $13,584. On top of their other funding sources, 20 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Clemson also made our Best Schools in South Carolina list, coming in at #2.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Citadel Military College of South Carolina. It ranked #3 on our 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina list. The Citadel is a public institution located in Charleston, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 991 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, The Citadel supports 3,740 students, and 564 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 412 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $9,148. During this same period, 13 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The Citadel not only placed well in our veterans ranking, but it is also #4 on our Best Schools in South Carolina list.
Read full report on Citadel Military College of South Carolina
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at College of Charleston helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools for veterans in South Carolina. College of Charleston is a fairly large public school located in Charleston, South Carolina that handed out 2,540 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, C of C supports 10,384 students, and 549 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 364 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $9,745. In addition to receiving other benefits, 7 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. C of C does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
C of C also claimed a spot on our Best Schools in South Carolina list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Winthrop University. It ranked #5 on our 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina list. Winthrop is a public institution located in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,282 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, Winthrop supports 5,576 students, and 408 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 173 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $11,714. To help with additional expenses, 9 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Coastal Carolina University did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina ranking, coming in at #6. Coastal Carolina University is a public institution located in Conway, South Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,303 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Of the 10,118 students enrolled at Coastal Carolina University, 676 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 292 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $7,860. In addition to receiving other benefits, 19 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
University of South Carolina - Aiken ranked #7 on this year’s Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina list. UofSC Aiken is a public institution located in Aiken, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 642 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, UofSC Aiken supports 3,944 students, and 266 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 134 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $7,735. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
In addition to its great veterans ranking, UofSC Aiken is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Schools in South Carolina list.
Bob Jones University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina list. Located in Greenville, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 661 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Of the 3,029 students enrolled at Bob Jones University, 68 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 32 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $16,355. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
With a ranking of #9, Francis Marion University did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina list. Francis Marion University is located in Florence, South Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 693 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
According to our most recent data, Francis Marion University supports 4,148 students, and 170 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 59 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $8,866. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Limestone College did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Gaffney, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 488 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2019-2020.
Among the 1,943 students enrolled at Limestone College, 162 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 91 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $8,942. On top of their other funding sources, 12 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Limestone College does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
Anderson University South Carolina did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina ranking, coming in at #11. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Anderson, South Carolina, and it awarded 849 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, Anderson University South Carolina supports 3,848 students, and 87 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 76 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $11,419. In addition to receiving other benefits, 7 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Anderson University South Carolina also claimed a spot on our Best Schools in South Carolina list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
University of South Carolina - Beaufort landed the #12 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina ranking. Located in Bluffton, South Carolina, the small public school awarded 411 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2019-2020.
Our most recent data shows that 219 of the 2,006 students enrolled at USCB were GI Bill® students, of which 122 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $8,536. To help with additional expenses, 3 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Furman University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina ranking. Located in Greenville, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 879 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Among the 2,567 students enrolled at Furman, 46 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 38 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $27,766. On top of their other funding sources, 26 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Furman did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our Best Schools in South Carolina list.
With a ranking of #14, Southern Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina list. Located in Central, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 375 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2019-2020.
Of the 1,345 students enrolled at SWU, 63 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 43 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $9,464. On top of their other funding sources, 10 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. SWU does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
Lander University landed the #15 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina ranking. Lander University is a public institution located in Greenwood, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 527 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Our most recent data shows that 199 of the 3,513 students enrolled at Lander University were GI Bill® students, of which 73 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $8,119. Lander University does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
University of South Carolina - Upstate landed the #16 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina ranking. Located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,290 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Our most recent data shows that 384 of the 6,038 students enrolled at USC Upstate were GI Bill® students, of which 163 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $9,307.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, USC Upstate also is in the top 20% of our Best Schools in South Carolina ranking.
Newberry College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina ranking. Located in Newberry, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 237 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, Newberry College supports 1,256 students, and 52 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 25 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $14,500. To help with additional expenses, 11 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Charleston Southern University landed the #18 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina ranking. Charleston Southern University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Charleston, South Carolina that handed out 770 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Our most recent data shows that 423 of the 3,350 students enrolled at CSU were GI Bill® students, of which 323 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $14,331. To help with additional expenses, 101 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Presbyterian College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina ranking. Presbyterian College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Clinton, South Carolina that handed out 270 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, PC supports 1,309 students, and 31 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 22 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $15,073. In addition to receiving other benefits, 6 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. PC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Schools in South Carolina list.
Columbia International University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina ranking. Located in Columbia, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 368 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2019-2020.
Of the 2,098 students enrolled at CIU, 92 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 64 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $8,393. To help with additional expenses, 3 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
In addition to its great veterans ranking, CIU is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Schools in South Carolina list.
With a ranking of #21, South University, Columbia did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina list. South University, Columbia is a private for-profit institution located in Columbia, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 259 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, South University, Columbia supports 732 students, and 268 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 171 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $12,915. To help with additional expenses, 11 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. South University, Columbia does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Voorhees College did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Denmark, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 87 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2019-2020.
Among the 368 students enrolled at Voorhees College, 28 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 7 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $10,155. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
South Carolina State University did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina ranking, coming in at #23. South Carolina State University is a small public school located in Orangeburg, South Carolina that handed out 424 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, South Carolina State University supports 2,339 students, and 235 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 59 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $8,124. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Morris College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina list. Morris College is located in Sumter, South Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 108 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
Our most recent data shows that 43 of the 395 students enrolled at Morris College were GI Bill® students, of which 16 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $11,372. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Wofford College landed the #25 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in South Carolina ranking. Spartanburg, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 461 students in 2019-2020.
Our most recent data shows that 36 of the 1,764 students enrolled at Wofford were GI Bill® students, of which 21 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $17,661. During this same period, 4 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Wofford not only placed well in our veterans ranking, but it is also #5 on our Best Schools in South Carolina list.
Best Colleges for Veterans in the Southeast Region
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Best Colleges in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top 25 schools only.
**GI Bill® student total includes all chapters of the GI Bill® program (e.g., Post-9/11, Montgomery GI Bill, Reserve Education Assistance Program, and Veteran Readiness and Employment)
References
- 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).
- Veteran-specific data can be found at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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