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 School | CAEP Accred.?1 | Trad. Teacher Program Enrollment2 | Trad. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers2 | Trad. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2 | Alt. Teacher Program Enrollment2 | Alt. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers2 | Alt. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2 | Net Price3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen University | No | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | $13,858 |
| Anderson University | Yes | 344 | 106 | 91% | — | — | — | $21,576 |
| Benedict College | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | — | $12,155 |
| Bob Jones University | No | 134 | 56 | 85% | — | — | — | $15,669 |
| Charleston Southern University | Yes | 248 | 42 | 91% | — | — | — | $17,496 |
| Claflin University | Yes | 12 | 11 | 100% | — | — | — | $20,806 |
| Clemson University | Yes | 784 | 177 | 95% | — | — | — | $22,935 |
| Coastal Carolina University | Yes | 393 | 130 | 82% | — | — | — | $14,716 |
| Coker University | No | 11 | 10 | 100% | — | — | — | $16,647 |
| College of Charleston | Yes | 484 | 151 | 90% | — | — | — | $20,351 |
| Columbia College | Yes | 213 | 30 | 100% | — | — | — | $20,277 |
| Columbia International University | No | 20 | 11 | 100% | — | — | — | $18,651 |
| Converse University | No | 94 | 40 | 89% | 2 | 1 | N.Av. | $25,534 |
| Erskine College | Yes | 17 | 9 | 100% | — | — | — | $35,573 |
| Francis Marion University | Yes | 372 | 69 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $12,380 |
| Furman University | Yes | 61 | 20 | 90% | — | — | — | $37,761 |
| Lander University | Yes | 88 | 88 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $15,541 |
| Limestone University | Yes | 24 | 13 | 100% | — | — | — | $24,967 |
| Morris College | Yes | 26 | 3 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $16,326 |
| Newberry College | Yes | 31 | 21 | 24% | — | — | — | $20,205 |
| North Greenville University | Yes | 116 | 58 | 86% | — | — | — | $20,627 |
| Presbyterian College | Yes | 16 | 16 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $21,959 |
| South Carolina State University | Yes | 16 | 16 | 100% | — | — | — | $20,022 |
| Southern Wesleyan University | Yes | 135 | 21 | 93% | — | — | — | $18,614 |
| The Citadel | Yes | 55 | 24 | 63% | — | — | — | $17,920 |
| University of Southern Carolina-Aiken | Yes | 128 | 63 | 96% | — | — | — | $12,689 |
| University of Southern Carolina-Beaufort | Yes | 36 | 20 | 95% | — | — | — | $16,748 |
| University of Southern Carolina-Columbia | Yes | 975 | 255 | 84% | — | — | — | $21,784 |
| University of Southern Carolina-Upstate | Yes | 220 | 107 | 83% | — | — | — | $15,074 |
| Winthrop University | Yes | 264 | 131 | 97% | — | — | — | $19,300 |
| Wofford College | No | — | — | — | — | — | — | $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.
- Benedict College ($12,155)
- Francis Marion University ($12,380)
- University of Southern Carolina-Aiken ($12,689)
- Allen University ($13,858)
- Coastal Carolina University ($14,716)
- University of Southern Carolina-Upstate ($15,074)
- Lander University ($15,541)
- Bob Jones University ($15,669)
- Morris College ($16,326)
- Coker University ($16,647)
- University of Southern Carolina-Beaufort ($16,748)
- Charleston Southern University ($17,496)
- The Citadel ($17,920)
- Southern Wesleyan University ($18,614)
- Columbia International University ($18,651)
- 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/