Best colleges for Sociology in South Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
Clemson University, University of South Carolina-Columbia and College of Charleston are the top bachelor's Sociology programs in South Carolina by graduate earnings. Clemson University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,320, College Scorecard. Clemson University, Coastal Carolina University and College of Charleston award the most Sociology degrees in South Carolina: 110, 42 and 35 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 18 South Carolina colleges offer Sociology and award 312 degrees and certificates a year in all.
Sociology is the scientific study of human society, focusing on social behavior, relationships, and cultural aspects of everyday life. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the complexities of social interactions…
Top 9 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 | Clemson University Clemson Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,320 | 110 | 87% | — | $26,125 |
| 2 | University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,517 | 27 | 79% | — | $27,000 |
| 3 | College of Charleston Charleston Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,801 | 35 | 66% | — | $25,000 |
| 4 | Coastal Carolina University Conway Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,738 | 42 | 48% | — | $26,475 |
| 5 | Winthrop University Rock Hill Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,877 | 18 | 57% | — | $27,000 |
| 6 | Lander University Greenwood Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $31,243 | 5 | 50% | — | $30,622 |
| 7 | University of South Carolina Aiken Aiken Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $29,438 | 17 | 40% | — | $28,750 |
| 8 | Francis Marion University Florence Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $28,982 | 12 | 43% | — | $31,500 |
| 9 | Claflin University Orangeburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $24,139 | 5 | 52% | $23,698 | $32,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Sociology 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 | Clemson University Clemson Public | 110 | $36,320 |
| 2 | Coastal Carolina University Conway Public | 42 | $24,738 |
| 3 | College of Charleston Charleston Public | 35 | $28,801 |
| 4 | University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia Public | 27 | $30,517 |
| 5 | Winthrop University Rock Hill Public | 18 | $33,877 |
| 6 | University of South Carolina Aiken Aiken Public | 17 | $29,438 |
| 7 | Francis Marion University Florence Public | 12 | $28,982 |
| 8 | Presbyterian College Clinton Private not-for-profit | 9 | Not reported |
| 9 | Furman University Greenville Private not-for-profit | 7 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of South Carolina Beaufort Bluffton Public | 7 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 8 South Carolina colleges offering Sociology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Carolina-Upstate | Spartanburg | Public | 7 |
| Claflin University | Orangeburg | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Lander University | Greenwood | Public | 5 |
| Morris College | Sumter | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Voorhees University | Denmark | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Charleston Southern University | Charleston | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Coker University | Hartsville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Newberry College | Newberry | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).
Top skills
What Sociologists earn in South Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sociology programs in South Carolina.
Which South Carolina colleges award the most Sociology degrees?+
Clemson University (110 graduates a year), Coastal Carolina University (42 graduates a year) and College of Charleston (35 graduates a year) award the most Sociology degrees in South Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 18 South Carolina colleges offer Sociology.
What is the best college for Sociology in South Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, Clemson University leads among bachelor's Sociology programs in South Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,320, College Scorecard. University of South Carolina-Columbia and College of Charleston follow. By degrees awarded, Clemson University is the largest, with 110 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Sociology program in South Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Clemson University tops the list at $36,320. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
What is the focus of the Sociology program?+
Sociology is the scientific study of human society, focusing on social behavior, relationships, and cultural aspects of everyday life. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the complexities of social interactions…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, writing, active learning, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Sociologists?+
The national job outlook is about +3.6% growth with around 300 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Master's 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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