U.S. News & World Report ranks top SC colleges and universities for 2021
U.S News & World Report has released its list of best colleges for the 2020-2021 school year.
The annual, influential rankings were published Monday and are based on graduation rates, graduation rates for low-income students, the amount of student loan debt students hold, opinions from a panel of experts, student to faculty ratio, faculty pay, test scores of incoming freshmen and more.
While Ivy League schools — many of which cost more than $50,000 per year — dominated the list, the less-expensive regional schools throughout the Palmetto State ranked high for value. A total of 12 South Carolina schools made the list for best value for regional universities in the South. Of those 12, four were ranked in the top 10 for best value.
Best value is based on net cost (after the average scholarship award) compared to ranking, the percentage of students who receive needs-based scholarships, according to the ranking’s methodology page.
USC v. Clemson
A comparison of USC and Clemson’s rankings in the most recent U.S. News & World Report paint a complicated picture of the strengths and weaknesses of the state’s most ardent collegiate rivals.
Clemson University, which tied for 74th best national university, ranked higher than its cross-state rival, University of South Carolina, which tied for 118th.
Both schools fell several places behind where they finished last year. Rankings released last year placed Clemson as the No. 70 best national university. USC was ranked No. 104 best national university last year.
While the rankings did not factor in virtual learning, the obvious difference between USC and Clemson for students, staff and faculty is that USC is doing more than half of its classes completely or at least in part face to face. Clemson just recently resumed in-person classes.
Clemson ranked higher than USC in best value and best schools for veterans.
In contrast, USC ranked No. 3 in first-year experiences while Clemson ranked No. 51.
While Clemson tied for the No. 17 ranking in internships, ranking it above Georgetown University in Washington D.C., USC’s international business program in the Darla Moore School of Business, continued to dominate the rankings, coming in a No. 1 overall.
USC’s international business program has been ranked among the top nationwide programs for decades, according to a previous article from The State.
Here are how other SC colleges and universities rank among their peers nationwide.
Best public, national universities
No. 27 (tie) Clemson
No. 44 (tie) USC
Best National Liberal Arts Colleges
No. 52 Furman University
No. 69 Wofford College
No. 127 (tie) Presbyterian College
Best regional universities in the South
No. 2 The Citadel
No. 8 College of Charleston
No. 13 Winthrop University
No. 22 Converse College
No. 33 Bob Jones University
No. 42 (tie) Anderson University
No. 42 (tie) Columbia International University
No. 45 (tie) Coastal Carolina University
No. 47 Columbia College
No. 53 North Greenville University
No. 59 Coker College
No. 62 Charleston Southern
No. 68 Francis Marion
No. 77 Southern Wesleyan University
No. 84 South Carolina State University
Best public, regional colleges in the South
No. 7 (tie) Erskine College
No. 9 Claflin University
No. 11 Newberry College
No. 12 (tie) USC Aiken
No. 12 (tie) USC Upstate
No. 41 Lander University
No. 55 (tie) Limestone University
No. 55 (tie) Voorhees College
Best value for national colleges
No. 142 Clemson
No. 182 USC
Best value for regional colleges in the south
No. 2 Coastal Carolina
No. 3 The Citadel
No. 6 Bob Jones University
No. 8 Converse College
No. 12 Columbia International University
No. 25 Columbia College
No. 32 Anderson University
No. 45 Winthrop University
No. 49 Coker College
No. 51 North Greenville University
No. 54 College of Charleston
No. 56 Francis Marion University