There are 97 colleges in South Carolina - 34 public and 63 private schools. At South Carolina colleges, college Cost of Attendance (COA), which factors in tuition, fees, books, housing, meals, and personal expenses, has risen steadily in the past ten years, reflecting the growing price of higher education.
The total Cost of Attendance has increased substantially at South Carolina colleges:
Tuition and fees saw dramatic increases across institution types:
| Institution Type | 10-Year Increase (2016-2025) | 2025 Average Tuition & Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Public, In-State | 5.07% (from $11,573 to $12,160) | $12,160 |
| Public, Out-of-State | 11.74% (from $24,555 to $27,437) | $27,437 |
| Private Colleges | 20.25% (from $21,139 to $25,419) | $25,419 |
Note on Degrees: Undergraduate tuition & fees increased by 11.74%, while graduate program tuition & fees increased by 1.31% over the same period.
Over the past 10 years, the COA has increased 17.31% when living on campus and 17.66% when living off campus at South Carolina Colleges.
In private South Carolina Colleges, the COA has increase by 23.07% (on-campus) and 23.37% (off-camus). The COA includes tuition, fees, books & supplies, room & board, and other personal expenses.
For the academic year 2024-2025, the total cost of attendance is $44,506 when a student lives on campus and $45,273 when living off campus at South Carolina Colleges. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of COA for South Carolina Colleges over the past 10 years.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | |
| 2015-16 | $24,958 | $37,940 | $34,524 | $25,496 | $38,478 | $35,062 |
| 2016-17 | $25,839 3.53% | $39,234 3.41% | $36,144 4.69% | $25,939 1.74% | $39,334 2.22% | $36,244 3.37% |
| 2017-18 | $26,492 2.53% | $40,283 2.67% | $36,328 0.51% | $26,960 3.94% | $40,751 3.60% | $36,796 1.52% |
| 2018-19 | $26,910 1.58% | $41,129 2.10% | $35,825 -1.38% | $27,095 0.50% | $41,314 1.38% | $36,010 -2.14% |
| 2019-20 | $27,186 1.03% | $41,748 1.51% | $36,589 2.13% | $27,695 2.21% | $42,257 2.28% | $37,098 3.02% |
| 2020-21 | $27,519 1.22% | $42,170 1.01% | $37,471 2.41% | $27,755 0.22% | $42,406 0.35% | $37,707 1.64% |
| 2021-22 | $27,900 1.38% | $42,921 1.78% | $38,809 3.57% | $28,126 1.34% | $43,147 1.75% | $39,035 3.52% |
| 2022-23 | $27,937 0.13% | $43,402 1.12% | $39,667 2.21% | $28,304 0.63% | $43,769 1.44% | $40,034 2.56% |
| 2023-24 | $29,813 6.72% | $44,681 2.95% | $40,933 3.19% | $30,141 6.49% | $45,009 2.83% | $41,261 3.06% |
| 2024-25 | $29,229 -1.96% | $44,506 -0.39% | $42,488 3.80% | $29,996 -0.48% | $45,273 0.59% | $43,255 4.83% |
For the current year (2025), the average tuition & fees for South Carolina Colleges is $13,138 for South Carolina residents and $28,469 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average tuition & fees is $26,798.
For graduate programs, the 2025 average graduate tuition & fees is $14,226 for South Carolina residents and $25,156 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average graduate program tuition & fees is $17,937.
The tuition & fees has increased 11.74% for undergraduate programs and 1.31% for graduate programs at South Carolina Colleges. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of tuition & fees by tuition rates and degrees.
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | |
| 2015-16 | $11,573 | $24,555 | $21,139 | $12,500 | $24,165 | $11,838 |
| 2016-17 | $11,950 3.26% | $25,345 3.22% | $22,255 5.28% | $12,865 2.92% | $24,883 2.97% | $11,383 -3.84% |
| 2017-18 | $12,346 3.31% | $26,137 3.12% | $22,182 -0.33% | $12,987 0.95% | $25,138 1.02% | $13,718 20.51% |
| 2018-19 | $12,657 2.52% | $26,876 2.83% | $21,572 -2.75% | $13,087 0.77% | $25,346 0.83% | $13,005 -5.20% |
| 2019-20 | $12,718 0.48% | $27,280 1.50% | $22,121 2.54% | $13,103 0.12% | $25,843 1.96% | $15,093 16.06% |
| 2020-21 | $12,712 -0.05% | $27,363 0.30% | $22,664 2.45% | $13,106 0.02% | $25,914 0.27% | $15,705 4.05% |
| 2021-22 | $12,709 -0.02% | $27,730 1.34% | $23,618 4.21% | $13,165 0.45% | $25,473 -1.70% | $14,922 -4.99% |
| 2022-23 | $12,358 -2.76% | $27,823 0.34% | $24,088 1.99% | $12,979 -1.41% | $26,382 3.57% | $15,416 3.31% |
| 2023-24 | $13,510 9.32% | $28,378 1.99% | $24,630 2.25% | $13,354 2.89% | $25,947 -1.65% | $16,798 8.96% |
| 2024-25 | $12,160 -9.99% | $27,437 -3.32% | $25,419 3.20% | $13,551 1.48% | $24,481 -5.65% | $17,229 2.57% |
For the current year (2025), the average book & supplies costs is $1,515 for South Carolina Colleges. The following table shows the changes of book & supplies costs from year 2016 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies |
|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,613 |
| 2016-17 | $1,598 -0.93% |
| 2017-18 | $1,614 1.00% |
| 2018-19 | $1,511 -6.38% |
| 2019-20 | $1,490 -1.39% |
| 2020-21 | $1,519 1.95% |
| 2021-22 | $1,525 0.39% |
| 2022-23 | $1,485 -2.62% |
| 2023-24 | $1,540 3.70% |
| 2024-25 | $1,515 -1.62% |
For South Carolina Colleges, the living have increased 24.41% when a student lives on campus facilities and 24.23% when living off campus from year 2016 to 2025. The living costs includes costs for room & board, and other living expenses.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $11,772 | $12,347 |
| 2016-17 | $12,291 5.49% | $12,764 1.51% |
| 2017-18 | $12,532 2.10% | $13,134 5.00% |
| 2018-19 | $12,742 1.91% | $13,086 1.66% |
| 2019-20 | $12,978 2.57% | $13,567 3.49% |
| 2020-21 | $13,288 2.66% | $13,835 0.22% |
| 2021-22 | $13,666 2.22% | $14,185 2.48% |
| 2022-23 | $14,094 3.74% | $14,716 4.24% |
| 2023-24 | $14,763 5.27% | $15,325 5.61% |
| 2024-25 | $15,554 5.58% | $16,227 8.79% |