South Carolina Public Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate of the 9 public South Carolina colleges that have competitive admission is 64.81% for the academic year 2024-2025. Compared to last year, the acceptance rate is lower by 9.47%. The acceptance rate at 4 public South Carolina colleges increased and the rate of 5 colleges decreased.

Citadel Military College of South Carolina has the lowest (i.e. hard to admit) acceptance rate of 22.72%. Clemson University (38.34%) and College of Charleston (60.03%) are following it in the list of Tightest South Carolina Public Colleges to Get In.

This ranking is only based on acceptance rates and more admission stats such as SAT and ACT scores are helpful to measure the chances to get in more accurately.

Citadel Military College of South Carolina ranked 1st, up 8 places from 9th last year. Clemson University ranked second, a drop from first place last year.

The average undergraduate tuition & fees of the schools is $30,754 and graduate tuition & fees is $24,646 for the academic year 2024-2025.

We note that the actual tightness of admission lies in considering other admission requirements such as SAT score.

Comparison between Tightest South Carolina Public Colleges To Get In

Table. Tightest South Carolina Public Colleges To Get In Comparison
School NameAcceptance RateYieldSAT ScoreUndergraduate Tuition & FeesTotal PopulationGraduation RateStudents to Faculty Ratio
1
8		Citadel Military College of South Carolina Charleston, SCPublic, 4-year 22.72%
75.37%		90.93%1,190$38,508
($12,570)		3,79375.00%11 to 1
2
1		Clemson University Clemson, SCPublic, 4-year 38.34%
0.29%		20.69%1,320$40,866
($15,554)		29,07787.00%16 to 1
3
-		College of Charleston Charleston, SCPublic, 4-year 60.03%
11.97%		11.91%1,220$38,296
($12,978)		11,92666.00%16 to 1
4
2		University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia, SCPublic, 4-year 60.15%
1.34%		22.94%1,270$36,298
($12,688)		38,53279.00%19 to 1
5
1		Coastal Carolina University Conway, SCPublic, 4-year 75.27%
4.92%		16.91%1,140$29,628
($11,640)		11,34848.00%17 to 1
6
1		University of South Carolina Aiken Aiken, SCPublic, 4-year 78.54%
1.18%		28.22%1,120$21,218
($10,760)		4,02240.00%16 to 1
7
3		Winthrop University Rock Hill, SCPublic, 4-year 79.25%
4.19%		15.04%1,115$28,676
($14,678)		4,89457.00%13 to 1
8
1		South Carolina State University Orangeburg, SCPublic, 4-year 82.62%
0.89%		11.45%-$21,750
($11,060)		3,24237.00%19 to 1
9
1		Francis Marion University Florence, SCPublic, 4-year 86.39%
4.16%		22.47%990$21,544
($11,170)		4,11243.00%13 to 1
Average64.81%26.73%1,171$30,754
($12,566)		12,32759.11%16 to 1