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Easiest colleges to get into in South Carolina

Updated Federal and Common Data Set numbers, each with its year

The short answer

The easiest four-year colleges to get into in South Carolina are Bob Jones University (open admission), Southern Wesleyan University (99.5%) and Charleston Southern University (97%), by the share of applicants admitted.

A high acceptance rate means the college admits most people who apply. Open-admission colleges admit anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent. Each row also shows the average price after grants, so you can weigh the two.

The list (14 of 29)

Four-year colleges in South Carolina with 500 or more undergraduates, open-admission colleges first, then the highest acceptance rate. The list shows 14 of the 29 colleges with an acceptance rate or open admission on file. Rates come from IPEDS (fall 2024).

  1. Bob Jones University Open admission Greenville, SC · Admits every applicant with a high school diploma. Average price after grants: $14,632 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, 2024-25
  2. Southern Wesleyan University 99.5% admitted Central, SC · Average price after grants: $16,041 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  3. Charleston Southern University 97% admitted Charleston, SC · Average price after grants: $20,661 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  4. Benedict College 96% admitted Columbia, SC · Average price after grants: $17,734 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  5. Columbia International University 95% admitted Columbia, SC · Average price after grants: $18,951 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  6. Coker University 94% admitted Hartsville, SC · Average price after grants: $24,908 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  7. Columbia College 94% admitted Columbia, SC · Average price after grants: $21,611 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  8. Newberry College 90% admitted Newberry, SC · Average price after grants: $22,104 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  9. Francis Marion University 86% admitted Florence, SC · Average price after grants: $10,890 a year in-state, about $21,274 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  10. South Carolina State University 83% admitted Orangeburg, SC · Average price after grants: $18,030 a year in-state, about $28,720 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  11. Lander University 81% admitted Greenwood, SC · Average price after grants: $16,659 a year in-state, about $26,259 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  12. Winthrop University 79% admitted Rock Hill, SC · Average price after grants: $16,375 a year in-state, about $30,415 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  13. University of South Carolina Aiken 79% admitted Aiken, SC · Average price after grants: $14,565 a year in-state, about $25,023 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  14. Coastal Carolina University 75% admitted Conway, SC · Average price after grants: $15,287 a year in-state, about $33,573 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
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What are the easiest colleges to get into in South Carolina?

The easiest four-year colleges to get into in South Carolina are Bob Jones University (open admission), Southern Wesleyan University (99.5%) and Charleston Southern University (97%), by the share of applicants admitted.

How many of these colleges have open admission?

1 of the 14 colleges listed have open admission: they admit anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent. The others admitted 75% to 99.5% of applicants.

How recent are these acceptance rates?

Each row shows its year. Rates come from IPEDS, the federal college survey, for students who applied for fall 2024, or from the college's own Common Data Set for fall 2025 where that is newer.

Numbers change each year when colleges and the Department of Education publish new data. Confirm costs and admission rules with the college before you apply.

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