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Best Value Graduate Certificate Schools in South Carolina

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2023 Best Value Graduate Certificate Schools in South Carolina

Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

14 Schools Ranked
$20,441 Avg Tuition & Fees*

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.

The Best Value Graduate Certificate Schools in South Carolina ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 14 schools in South Carolina to see which graduate certificate programs offered the best value experiences for students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

Top Value Graduate Certificate Schools in South Carolina

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Furman University

Greenville, South Carolina
40 Total Awards
$7,513 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Furman University to be the best value school for students who want to pursue a graduate certificate in South Carolina. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Greenville, South Carolina, and it awarded 40 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Furman graduate students pay an average of $7,513 in tuition and fees each year.

Furman does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 8% took at least some of their classes online.

Furman did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our Best Graduate Certificate Schools in South Carolina list.

Read More…

#2

Clemson University

Clemson, South Carolina
328 Total Awards
$23,246 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Clemson University is a great place for students working on their graduate certificate who want the most bang for their educational buck. Clemson is located in Clemson, South Carolina and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 328 graduate certificates to qualified students.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Clemson are $23,246 a year.

Clemson does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 69% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Clemson also made our Best Graduate Certificate Schools in South Carolina list, coming in at #1.

Full Clemson University Report

#3

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina
75 Total Awards
$18,540 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent graduate certificate programs at Citadel Military College of South Carolina helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best value schools in South Carolina. Located in Charleston, South Carolina, the small public school awarded 75 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at The Citadel are $18,540 per year.

Online graduate courses are available at The Citadel, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 76% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

The Citadel also made our Best Graduate Certificate Schools in South Carolina list, coming in at #4.

Read full report on Citadel Military College of South Carolina

#4

University of South Carolina - Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina
388 Total Awards
$30,160 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent graduate certificate programs at University of South Carolina - Columbia helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value schools in South Carolina. UofSC is a public institution located in Columbia, South Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 388 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at UofSC are $30,160 per year.

UofSC does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 74% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

UofSC also took the #3 spot in our Best Graduate Certificate Schools in South Carolina rankings.

Read full report on University of South Carolina - Columbia

#5

Converse College

Spartanburg, South Carolina
15 Total Awards
$7,698 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Converse College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Graduate Certificate Schools in South Carolina list. Converse College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Spartanburg, South Carolina that handed out 15 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Converse are $7,698 a year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Converse. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 61% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full Converse College Report

#6

Anderson University South Carolina

Anderson, South Carolina
5 Total Awards
$11,643 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #6, Anderson University South Carolina did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their graduate certificate. Located in Anderson, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 5 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Anderson University South Carolina are $11,643 per year.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Anderson University South Carolina. In fact, around 73% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#7

Southern Wesleyan University

Central, South Carolina
6 Total Awards
$13,726 Average Tuition & Fees

Southern Wesleyan University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Graduate Certificate Schools in South Carolina ranking. Southern Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Central, South Carolina that handed out 6 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

SWU graduate students pay an average of $13,726 in tuition and fees each year.

If you are interested in distance education, SWU is an excellent choice, since graduate classes are offered online.

SWU not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #5 on our Best Graduate Certificate Schools in South Carolina list.

Full Southern Wesleyan University Report

#8

Coastal Carolina University

Conway, South Carolina
5 Total Awards
$19,836 Average Tuition & Fees

Coastal Carolina University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Graduate Certificate Schools in South Carolina list. This fairly large public school is located in Conway, South Carolina, and it awarded 5 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Coastal Carolina University are $19,836 a year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Coastal Carolina University. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 57% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#9

Columbia International University

Columbia, South Carolina
7 Total Awards
$11,810 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #9, Columbia International University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their graduate certificate. CIU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Columbia, South Carolina. It awarded 7 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

CIU graduate students pay an average of $11,810 in tuition and fees each year.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at CIU. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 93% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#10

College of Charleston

Charleston, South Carolina
43 Total Awards
$37,836 Average Tuition & Fees

College of Charleston came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Graduate Certificate Schools in South Carolina ranking. College of Charleston is a fairly large public school located in Charleston, South Carolina that handed out 43 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

C of C graduate students pay an average of $37,836 in tuition and fees each year.

Online graduate courses are available at C of C, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 80% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#11

Francis Marion University

Florence, South Carolina
6 Total Awards
$22,000 Average Tuition & Fees

Francis Marion University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value graduate certificate programs. Located in Florence, South Carolina, the small public school handed out 6 graduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.

Francis Marion University graduate students pay an average of $22,000 in tuition and fees each year.

Francis Marion University does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 77% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#12

South University, Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina
4 Total Awards
$16,320 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #12, South University, Columbia did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their graduate certificate. South University, Columbia is a very small private for-profit school located in Columbia, South Carolina that handed out 4 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at South University, Columbia are $16,320 a year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at South University, Columbia. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 34% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on South University, Columbia

#13

Winthrop University

Rock Hill, South Carolina
45 Total Awards
$30,342 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #13, Winthrop University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their graduate certificate. Located in Rock Hill, South Carolina, the medium-sized public school awarded 45 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Winthrop are $30,342 a year.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Winthrop. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 87% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Winthrop University

#14

South Carolina State University

Orangeburg, South Carolina
15 Total Awards
$22,570 Average Tuition & Fees

South Carolina State University landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value graduate certificate programs. South Carolina State University is a public institution located in Orangeburg, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at South Carolina State University are $22,570 a year.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at South Carolina State University. During the 2019-2020 year, about 44% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Full South Carolina State University Report

View Best Value Graduate Certificate Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 14 schools only.

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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