How SC colleges rank: Results from serious (and not so serious) surveys

With students returning to college campuses throughout the Palmetto State, many will want to brag about their schools.

The Princeton Review, U.S. News & World Report, Niche, even Southern Living and others publish various rankings to offer an often subjective bit of proof as to which schools are best at any number of things, from “Who Has the Best College Football Entrance,” to “Who has the Most Conservative Students.”

Everyone knows the University of South Carolina has the No. 1 International Business School, and Clemson has the Best Career Services program – both ranked by Princeton Review.

But here are some you might not know:

1 S.C. State University’s rank among Palmetto state’s colleges by Washington Monthly Magazine, based on social mobility, research and service. The Bulldogs rank No. 34 nationally on the list the magazine says rates colleges on their “contribution to the public good.”

1 Furman University’s spot as South Carolina’s best on U.S. News’ “National Liberal Arts Colleges Rankings.” The Paladins are No. 51 nationally, besting schools such as St. Olaf, Wabash and Kalamazoo colleges.

1 Columbia College is tops in the nation with a perfect score in the NAIA “Champions of Character” rankings. The Fighting Koalas are good sports.

1 Clemson’s spot on the USA Today list of “The 10 Best Entrances in College Football.” A rock, a cannon, a hill, balloons, maybe some fireworks – what’s not to like?

5 Clemson’s ranking on USA Today’s “The 10 Best Stadiums in College Football.” Memorial Stadium was ranked sixth on USA Today’s list of “The 10 Best Fields in College Football” and was 11th on stadiumjourney.com “Best College Football Stadium Experience Rankings.”

5 Clemson’s rank on Princeton’s “Everyone Plays Intramural Sports” list. One intramural activity is an Inner Tube Water Polo tournament.

5 Coker College’s rank on US News’ list of “Best Colleges for Veterans” in the South region. USC-Aiken is No. 6, Newberry No. 11, USC-Beaufort No. 20 and Limestone No. 21. “These schools participate in federal initiatives helping veterans and active-duty service members,” according to the magazine.

7 USC’s Alpha Gamma Delta earned a mention in Southern Living’s list of “The South’s Most Beautiful Sorority Houses.” Guessing there are no wine bottle candle holders or beer bottle collections decorating the place.

8 The city of Columbia’s spot on Livability.com’s “Best College Towns” list. With Five Points and …. well, that’s enough.

8 Clemson earned that spot on USA Today’s ranking of “The 10 Best Traditions in College Football.” Touching Howard’s Rock, running down the hill…..wait, it wasn’t for either of those. Nope, this award went to the Tigers’ “tradition” of stamping orange tiger paws on $2 bills and spending them when they go to away football games.

9 USC’s spot on stadiumjourney.com’s “Best College Football Stadium Experience Rankings.” The Gamecocks have the fifth-best entrance in college football, Cockabooses, Steve Spurrier, enthusiastic fans and lots of tailgating.

10 Presbyterian College’s spot on USA Today’s list of “10 Best Deals for Students Going to College Out of State.” Anytime you’re on a list where Princeton is No. 1, Yale is No. 2 and Harvard is No. 4, it’s worth bragging.

12 Coastal Carolina University’s rank in the “Most Beautiful Coastal College Campuses” by Best Value Schools. Best Value ranked 30 colleges where reading, writing and surfing are the norm, and not only did CCU beat coastal neighbor University of North Carolina at Wilmington (No. 15), but two Hawaii colleges as well – University of Hawaii Hilo (No. 26) and University of Hawaii Manoa (No. 21).

13 Clemson’s ranking for “Most Conservative Students” by Princeton. This doesn’t mean most students are predicting just a winning season for the Tigers’ football team.

14 Wofford’s rank on Princeton’s “Most Conservative Students” list. This doesn’t mean most students are predicting a winning season for the Terriers’ football team.

16 USC’s students know how to weather a “Sandstorm” at Williams-Brice and earned that spot on the “Students Pack the Stadiums” list by Princeton. Gamecock students who get turned down for tickets for home games probably will think that ranking is too low.

17 Wofford’s rank on Princeton’s “Future Rotarians and Daughters of the American Revolution” list. Do Wofford’s students even know what the Rotary Club and DAR is? Maybe not, but chances are apparently they will one day. Clemson is No. 15 on this list.

17 USC’s ranking on Princeton’s list of schools where “Students Study the Least.” That either means Gamecock students are really smart – or they’re really not.

17 USC’s rank on Princeton’s “Best Athletic Facilities” list. The swimming pool at the Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center is beside the Greek Village. That could have nothing to do with it.

18 USC’s rank on Princeton’s “Best College Newspaper” list. “The Daily Gamecock” is the thrice-weekly student newspaper.

18 The College of Charleston’s rank on Princeton’s “College City Gets High Marks” list. Charleston has beaches, bars and Darius Rucker. Of course it gets high marks.

20 College of Charleston’s ranking by Princeton on the best party schools’ list. This is one ranking many students work really hard to improve – and one the administrators work really hard to hide.

96 Winthrop’s spot in the 2015 Niche Rankings for Friendliest Students. Since it’s out of 588 schools, it makes it friendlier than most, not as friendly as some.