South Carolina · Getting in
Most selective colleges in South Carolina
The short answer
The most selective four-year colleges in South Carolina are Citadel Military College of South Carolina (28% admitted), Clemson University (38% admitted) and Furman University (49% admitted), by acceptance rate.
Selective here means a low acceptance rate: the share of applicants the college admitted. A low rate says how many people a college turns away, not how good a fit it is for you. Each row also shows the average price after grants.
The list (14 of 28)
Four-year colleges in South Carolina with 500 or more undergraduates, lowest acceptance rate first. The list shows 14 of the 28 colleges with an acceptance rate on file. Rates come from IPEDS (fall 2024) for 11 colleges and each college's own Common Data Set (fall 2025) for 3 colleges.
- Citadel Military College of South Carolina 28% admitted Charleston, SC · Average price after grants: $22,019 a year in-state, about $49,510 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Clemson University 38% admitted Clemson, SC · Average price after grants: $22,032 a year in-state, about $48,556 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Furman University 49% admitted Greenville, SC · Average price after grants: $31,764 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Wofford College 52% admitted Spartanburg, SC · Average price after grants: $23,144 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Anderson University 55% admitted Anderson, SC · Average price after grants: $24,068 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- University of South Carolina 56% admitted Columbia, SC · Average price after grants: $22,197 a year in-state, about $46,885 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- College of Charleston 60% admitted Charleston, SC · Average price after grants: $18,177 a year in-state, about $44,043 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Erskine College 63% admitted Due West, SC · Average price after grants: $19,826 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Claflin University 65% admitted Orangeburg, SC · Average price after grants: $19,710 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- North Greenville University 67% admitted Tigerville, SC · Average price after grants: $22,235 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- University of South Carolina-Upstate 67% admitted Spartanburg, SC · Average price after grants: $15,680 a year in-state, about $27,182 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Converse University 68% admitted Spartanburg, SC · Average price after grants: $23,526 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Presbyterian College 68% admitted Clinton, SC · Average price after grants: $20,154 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- University of South Carolina Beaufort 73% admitted Bluffton, SC · Average price after grants: $20,646 a year in-state, about $31,692 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
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What are the most selective colleges in South Carolina?
The most selective four-year colleges in South Carolina are Citadel Military College of South Carolina (28% admitted), Clemson University (38% admitted) and Furman University (49% admitted), by acceptance rate.
How many colleges on this list admit fewer than half of applicants?
3 of the 14 colleges listed admitted fewer than half of their 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.