Best colleges for Liberal Arts and Sciences in South Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of South Carolina-Upstate, University of South Carolina-Columbia and North Greenville University are the top bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in South Carolina by graduate earnings. University of South Carolina-Upstate leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,241, College Scorecard. Trident Technical College, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College and Aiken Technical College award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in South Carolina: 599, 174 and 118 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 40 South Carolina colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences and award 7,801 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
Top 7 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,241 | 64 | 43% | — | $30,000 |
| 2 | University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,245 | 117 | 79% | — | $26,000 |
| 3 | North Greenville University Tigerville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,506 | 50 | 55% | $20,327 | $25,500 |
| 4 | Coastal Carolina University Conway Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,221 | 74 | 48% | — | $27,250 |
| 5 | Benedict College Columbia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,120 | 7 | 24% | $19,589 | — |
| 6 | Lander University Greenwood Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $25,204 | 6 | 50% | — | $27,125 |
| 7 | Francis Marion University Florence Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $21,838 | 4 | 43% | — | $41,475 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | York Technical College Rock Hill Public · Associate degree | $27,088 | 486 | 30% | — | $8,180 |
| 2 | Horry-Georgetown Technical College Conway Public · Associate degree | $26,724 | 505 | 38% | — | $16,500 |
| 3 | Central Carolina Technical College Sumter Public · Associate degree | $26,254 | 78 | 34% | — | $10,835 |
| 4 | Piedmont Technical College Greenwood Public · Associate degree | $25,532 | 376 | 33% | — | $14,000 |
| 5 | Tri-County Technical College Pendleton Public · Associate degree | $22,578 | 1,280 | 42% | — | $8,750 |
| 6 | University of South Carolina-Salkehatchie Allendale Public · Associate degree | $19,438 | 140 | 30% | — | $11,588 |
| 7 | University of South Carolina-Sumter Sumter Public · Associate degree | $18,517 | 277 | 39% | — | $10,500 |
| 8 | University of South Carolina-Union Union Public · Associate degree | $18,455 | 121 | 48% | — | $9,250 |
| 9 | Spartanburg Methodist College Spartanburg Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $14,509 | 171 | 43% | $16,728 | $12,000 |
| 10 | Midlands Technical College West Columbia Public · Associate degree | $29,688 | 728 | 18% | — | $14,550 |
Colleges awarding the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in South Carolina
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trident Technical College Charleston Public | 599 | Not reported |
| 2 | Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Orangeburg Public | 174 | Not reported |
| 3 | Aiken Technical College Graniteville Public | 118 | Not reported |
| 4 | University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia Public | 117 | $33,245 |
| 5 | Florence-Darlington Technical College Florence Public | 79 | Not reported |
| 6 | Coastal Carolina University Conway Public | 74 | $27,221 |
| 7 | University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg Public | 64 | $36,241 |
| 8 | North Greenville University Tigerville Private not-for-profit | 50 | $29,506 |
| 9 | College of Charleston Charleston Public | 39 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of South Carolina Beaufort Bluffton Public | 33 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 30 South Carolina colleges offering Liberal Arts and Sciences
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other (SOC 25-1199).
What Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in South Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in South Carolina.
Which South Carolina colleges award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees?+
Trident Technical College (599 graduates a year), Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College (174 graduates a year) and Aiken Technical College (118 graduates a year) award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in South Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 40 South Carolina colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences.
What is the best college for Liberal Arts and Sciences in South Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, University of South Carolina-Upstate leads among bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in South Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,241, College Scorecard. University of South Carolina-Columbia and North Greenville University follow. By degrees awarded, Trident Technical College is the largest, with 599 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Liberal Arts and Sciences program in South Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of South Carolina-Upstate tops the list at $36,241. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in South Carolina?+
The average annual wage for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other in South Carolina is $76,230 (median $77,940), across about 1,600 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program?+
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
What is the job outlook for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other?+
The national job outlook is about +1.8% growth with around 13,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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