These 3 colleges offer the best value in SC for 2023, new study shows. Here’s why
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Fall is a time for cooler temperatures, pumpkin spice and football.
It’s also the time for students to return to college.
South Carolina boasts its fair share of prestigious universities, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Some also have a healthy dose of die-hard football fans.
But as costs continue to rise for everything from gas to food and even education itself, picking the right college that will give you the most value is more important than ever.
Financial tech company SmartAsset has for years published annual studies on colleges that offer the most value in each state based on a variety of financial factors and data sets, including salary, tuition, living expenses, student retention rate and scholarships awarded.
So, which colleges in South Carolina offer the best value in 2023?
Clemson University earned the top spot as the college in the state that offers the best value. Next on the list was Bob Jones University in Greenville. Citadel Military College of South Carolina came in at a close third place.
Below is a list of 10 South Carolina colleges included in the study and the categories used to determine their rankings.
South Carolina colleges rankings
| Rank | School | City | Avg. Scholarships/Grants | Median Starting Salary | Tuition | Student Living Costs | Student Retention Rate | College Education Value Index |
| 1 | Clemson University | Clemson | $11,808 | $62,100 | $18,141 | $18,757 | 94% | 70.16 |
| 2 | Bob Jones University | Greenville | $12,757 | $52,100 | $21,417 | $11,536 | 83% | 68.07 |
| 3 | Citadel Military College | Charleston | $12,410 | $63,900 | $14,769 | $20,233 | 86% | 67.91 |
| 4 | University of South Carolina | Columbia | $6,864 | $55,200 | $14,887 | $18,508 | 87% | 56.22 |
| 5 | Presbyterian College | Clinton | $34,151 | $53,300 | $45,619 | $16,815 | 76% | 54.04 |
| 6 | Wofford College | Spartanburg | $34,643 | $56,000 | $51,902 | $19,326 | 88% | 53.25 |
| 7 | Furman University | Greenville | $34,738 | $55,400 | $58,448 | $18,281 | 91% | 52.23 |
| 8 | Coastal Carolina University | Conway | $9,998 | $48,600 | $13,825 | $16,289 | 72% | 48.89 |
| 9 | Winthrop University | Rock Hill | $11,657 | $48,400 | $18,561 | $15,585 | 68% | 46.73 |
| 10 | Francis Marion University | Florence | $9,203 | $47,300 | $14,132 | $15,196 | 66% | 46.24 |
