7 South Carolina Colleges Make Forbes Top 500

Students and families applying from South Carolina can compare these schools on cost, debt, and alumni earnings.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in College Applications

7 South Carolina Colleges Make Forbes Top 500

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Forbes released its annual list of America's top 500 colleges for 2027 on November 5, 2026, and seven South Carolina schools made the ranking. The list is aimed at students and families weighing college choices in the state.

Why it matters

Forbes ranks schools on educational and career outcomes rather than reputation, so the list points to what graduates earn and how their debt compares. For South Carolina families planning applications, it offers a way to compare cost and return on investment alongside admissions odds.

Clemson University, with a 38% acceptance rate, has an average annual cost of $79,542 and a median alumni salary of $104,009 ten years after graduation. College of Charleston, at $36,189 in average annual cost, is ranked No. 474 and Presbyterian College is ranked No. 461 on the 500-school list.

The players

Forbes

A national business media company whose annual college ranking evaluates schools on educational and career outcomes.

Clemson University

A public research university in South Carolina ranked No. 160 on the Forbes 2027 list, with a 38% acceptance rate and an average annual cost of $79,542.

University of South Carolina

A public flagship university located in Columbia, South Carolina, ranked No. 215 on the Forbes 2027 list with a 60% acceptance rate.

The Citadel

A public military college in Charleston, South Carolina, ranked No. 200 on the Forbes 2027 list with a 23% acceptance rate.

College of Charleston

A public college in Charleston, South Carolina, ranked No. 474 on the Forbes 2027 list, with an average annual cost of $36,189.

The details

Forbes has evaluated the nation's colleges every year since 2008, and it bases its rankings on how students fare after graduating. The list weighs student debt after college, return on investment, and how many alumni become leaders, and it excludes school reputation from the calculation. Families comparing schools can use these outcome measures alongside each school's published cost and acceptance rate to see how the price of attendance relates to post-graduation earnings.

2008: Forbes began evaluating the nation's colleges on outcomes.
November 5, 2026: Forbes released its 2027 top 500 colleges ranking.

Education Landscape

Forbes has ranked colleges on outcomes since 2008, so the 2027 list adds a newer year to a long-running comparison of cost, debt, and alumni success. Ranking on post-graduation results rather than reputation reflects a focus on whether a degree pays off.

Students building an application list can use the Forbes outcome data alongside each school's own cost and acceptance figures. Families should confirm current tuition and aid details directly with each school's financial-aid office before deciding.

The takeaway

Outcome-based rankings can help you weigh price against post-graduation earnings, not just prestige. Ask each school's financial-aid office for its current net price before you finalize your list.