Why This Matters

  • SOUTH CAROLINA HAS 28 TWO-YEAR COLLEGES WITH ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS

    According to recent data from College Navigator, there are 28 community colleges with two-year programs in South Carolina.

  • THE AVERAGE IN-DISTRICT TUITION FOR SOUTH CAROLINA STUDENTS IS $5,899

    During the 2020-21 academic year, South Carolina students paid an average of $5,899 for in-district community college tuition.

  • 437,899 ASSOCIATE DEGREE STUDENTS RECEIVED FINANCIAL AID

    As reported by the National Center for Education Statistics, 76.9% of community college students in the United States received financial aid for the 2018-19 academic year — this amounts to 437,899 students.

Our Research

To create a comprehensive list of the learning opportunities and job training available in South Carolina, we reviewed private and public community colleges as well as trade, technical, and vocational programs. The criteria we assessed includes tuition cost, credits needed to graduate, and course format.

The two-year colleges on this list are all accredited, which ensures overall quality and allows for credit transfers if students decide they want to change schools or pursue a higher-level degree. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is a regional accreditor with core values that include integrity, accountability, and continuous quality improvement. Another recognized accreditor on our list is the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), which accredits community colleges in multiple states.

  • 39hours to write this article
  • 28universities and colleges we assessed
  • 116education programs we compared

The Top Community Colleges in South Carolina

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What You Should Know About Graduating From Community College in South Carolina

When researching community college degree programs in South Carolina, you can narrow your options down by focusing on high-paying careers. Air traffic controllers and radiation therapists lead the pack when it comes to salary potential, with nuclear medicine technologists close behind. Web developers and diagnostic medical sonographers are also high-paying careers in South Carolina.

Another factor to consider when researching two-year programs is the projected number of job openings. In South Carolina, jobs for preschool teachers, dental hygienists, and computer network support specialists are expected to have many openings between 2018 and 2028.

It’s also good to know which careers are projected to have declining employment. For example, embalmers and legal support workers are two careers with a rapid projected decline rate.

What’s Next?

Financial aid information is important when researching South Carolina community colleges. Use these state and federal websites to find out more about the financial aid that’s available and how to apply for it.

  • South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. Access the Palmetto Calculator through the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education’s website. This tool estimates your tuition cost and has information about state scholarships and loans.
  • Federal Student Aid. The U.S. Department of Education provides $120 billion in student financial aid every year through scholarships, grants, and loans. Fill out your online FAFSA to get started or use the FAFSA4caster to determine your eligibility.
  • CareerOneStop. This comprehensive resource from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has information on thousands of scholarships, fellowships, and grants for students. The data can be filtered by your state, degree level, and other criteria. Dollar amounts, application requirements and deadlines, and contact information can all be found here.