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South Carolina Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide

Prospective teachers in South Carolina must earn certification by completing a board-approved educator preparation program. This page is a resource for future educators exploring teaching degrees across the state. Below you’ll find a comparison table of approved programs, along with curated lists of top-rated and affordable options to help guide your search.

Table of Contents

SC Teacher Preparation Program Comparison
16 Affordable SC Bachelor’s in Education Programs
Top-Ranked South Carolina Education Programs
Best Bachelor’s in Education Programs
Schools With Associate Degrees in Education

Comparison of South Carolina Schools With Teacher Preparation Programs

The table below compares 31 South Carolina teacher preparation programs across key factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the South Carolina State Board of Education (SBE). Completing a state-approved program is a key step toward licensure. While Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accreditation is not required for licensure, we include it because CAEP is a nationally respected accreditor whose standards are recognized or accepted in many states.

Data includes enrollment, completion, and pass rates for traditional and alternative programs, based on the 2024 Title II Report (2022-2023 school year). Traditional programs are usually part of a bachelor’s degree, while alternative certification programs target career changers and may lead to a certificate or master’s degree. Many schools offer both—review our South Carolina traditional certification guide and our South Carolina alternative certification guide for more. Net price reflects the average annual cost for in-state undergraduates—tuition, books, room and board—minus grants and scholarships.

State-Approved SchoolCAEP Accred.?1Trad. Teacher Program Enrollment2Trad. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers2Trad. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2Alt. Teacher Program Enrollment2Alt. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers2Alt. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2Net Price3
Allen UniversityNo14$13,858
Anderson UniversityYes34410691%$21,576
Benedict CollegeYes$12,155
Bob Jones UniversityNo1345685%$15,669
Charleston Southern UniversityYes2484291%$17,496
Claflin UniversityYes1211100%$20,806
Clemson UniversityYes78417795%$22,935
Coastal Carolina UniversityYes39313082%$14,716
Coker UniversityNo1110100%$16,647
College of CharlestonYes48415190%$20,351
Columbia CollegeYes21330100%$20,277
Columbia International UniversityNo2011100%$18,651
Converse UniversityNo944089%21N.Av.$25,534
Erskine CollegeYes179100%$35,573
Francis Marion UniversityYes37269N.Av.$12,380
Furman UniversityYes612090%$37,761
Lander UniversityYes8888N.Av.$15,541
Limestone UniversityYes2413100%$24,967
Morris CollegeYes263N.Av.$16,326
Newberry CollegeYes312124%$20,205
North Greenville UniversityYes1165886%$20,627
Presbyterian CollegeYes1616N.Av.$21,959
South Carolina State UniversityYes1616100%$20,022
Southern Wesleyan UniversityYes1352193%$18,614
The CitadelYes552463%$17,920
University of Southern Carolina-AikenYes1286396%$12,689
University of Southern Carolina-BeaufortYes362095%$16,748
University of Southern Carolina-ColumbiaYes97525584%$21,784
University of Southern Carolina-UpstateYes22010783%$15,074
Winthrop UniversityYes26413197%$19,300
Wofford CollegeNo$30,431

  • — indicates none or not applicable.
  • N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.

Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Education Programs in South Carolina

Our list of the most affordable bachelor’s in education programs is based on the net price per year for undergraduate tuition. Net price is the average cost of attendance after grants and scholarships are applied. These 16 most affordable schools have a net price under $20,000.

  1. Benedict College ($12,155)
  2. Francis Marion University ($12,380)
  3. University of Southern Carolina-Aiken ($12,689)
  4. Allen University ($13,858)
  5. Coastal Carolina University ($14,716)
  6. University of Southern Carolina-Upstate ($15,074)
  7. Lander University ($15,541)
  8. Bob Jones University ($15,669)
  9. Morris College ($16,326)
  10. Coker University ($16,647)
  11. University of Southern Carolina-Beaufort ($16,748)
  12. Charleston Southern University ($17,496)
  13. The Citadel ($17,920)
  14. Southern Wesleyan University ($18,614)
  15. Columbia International University ($18,651)
  16. Winthrop University ($19,300)3

Top-Ranked Schools With Education Programs in South Carolina

Best Bachelor’s in Education Programs in South Carolina

Our list of the top 11 bachelor’s in education programs is based on the traditional pathway pass rate data from the 2024 Title II Reports.

  • Claflin University (100%)
  • Coker University (100%)
  • Columbia College (100%)
  • Columbia International University (100%)
  • Erskine College (100%)
  • Limestone University (100%)
  • South Carolina State University (100%)
  • Winthrop University (97%)
  • University of Southern Carolina-Aiken (96%)
  • Clemson University (95%)
  • University of Southern Carolina-Beaufort (95%)2

Schools With Associate Degrees in Education

While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational level required to qualify for state certification, an associate degree can be the first step toward a career in education. It can qualify graduates for careers in non-licensed roles in early childhood education, after-school care, and related areas. The credits earned from an accredited associate degree program can also typically be transferred toward a bachelor’s degree. The 11 South Carolina schools below offer associate degrees in education.3 Schools with an asterisk (*) also offer four-year teaching programs and/or alternative route to certification programs.

  • Bob Jones University*
  • Clinton College
  • Greenville Technical College
  • Horry-Georgetown Technical College
  • Midlands Technical College
  • Northeastern Technical College
  • Southern Wesleyan University*
  • Spartanburg Community College
  • Trident Technical College
  • W.L. Bonner College
  • York Technical College

References:
1. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): https://caepnet.org/provider-search
2. US Department of Education 2024 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx
3. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/