This SC university has the best dorms? A national education research group says yes. Here’s why

Who has the best dorms in South Carolina?

Could it be the university that has all single rooms in a suite. And two bathrooms?

A full kitchen?

Or this — a washer and dryer in every suite like at home, not coin operated.

That’s what many universities are going for as they plan living spaces for students.

And according to Niche, which offers profiles on all colleges and schools in the U.S., the best dorms in South Carolina — 11th in the country — are at the University of South Carolina Beaufort, a 1,990-student university with sister campuses in Bluffton and Hilton Head.

Founded in 1795, it became part of the USC system in 1959, offering two-year degrees to 82 students. School leadership fought to become a four-year university, which it won in 2004.

It’s been growing ever since and for a time was among the fastest growing universities in the nation.

Here’s what Niche says about USC Beaufort beyond the A+ in dorms: A- diversity, B professors, campus safety, B- academics, campus food, athletics (go Sand Sharks), value (after aid average $16,574 per year), C+ student life, party scene, location (15 miles to Hunting Island State Park - Hilton Head campus 1 mile).

Carol Weir, a spokesperson for the university, said all the dorms at USCB are new.

“They are truly awesome,” she said.

They are three stories and of a Lowcountry style, which Lowcountry Home describes as simple, practical and understated.

The university requires students to live on campus their first two semesters unless they’re older than 21, have a medical release, have to care for siblings or they’re living close by with parents.

Niche takes into consideration safety, cost, capacity, but most of all comments from students on its website.

No other South Carolina schools were on the list.

The top school for dorms was Johnson University, a private Christian school in Knoxville, Tennessee; followed by Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri; High Point University in High Point, North Carolina; Union University in Jackson, Tennessee; Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona.