2026 Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools in South Carolina
[General Business/Commerce](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/general-business-commerce/business-commerce-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general business/commerce education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general business/commerce students.
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2026 Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools in South Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general business/commerce, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools
Trident Technical College tops our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools in South Carolina. Located in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,546, compared with $8,620 for out-of-state students. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $18,116 in student loans. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $50,166. That is a strong return on a $18,116 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in general business/commerce will find it at Horry Georgetown Technical College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Conway, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,518, with out-of-state students paying around $10,978. Students borrow a median of $26,100 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $36,679. Set against $26,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
York Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general business/commerce, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Rock Hill, York Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,036, compared with $13,340 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from York Technical College generally make around $33,870. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Midlands Technical College earned it the #4 place for general business/commerce. Midlands Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of West Columbia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,100, with out-of-state students paying around $14,700. Students borrow a median of $17,611 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Midlands Technical College generally make around $39,610. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tri County Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general business/commerce, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Pendleton, Tri County Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,448 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,007 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $15,787. General Business/commerce graduates of Tri County Technical College earn a median of $43,438 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Technical College Of The Lowcountry earned the #6 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Technical College Of The Lowcountry is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Beaufort. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,156, while out-of-state students pay about $11,916. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $17,110. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $44,556. Set against $17,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Orangeburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,210, compared with $8,354 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $18,583. General Business/commerce graduates of Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College earn a median of $61,814 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of South Carolina Lancaster earned the #8 position for value in general business/commerce this year. University Of South Carolina Lancaster is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Lancaster. In-state tuition and fees average $7,558, compared with $18,238 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $11,705. General Business/commerce graduates of University Of South Carolina Lancaster earn a median of $44,067 early in their careers. Set against $11,705 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of South Carolina Lancaster admits about 83% of applicants.
Northeastern Technical College earned the #9 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Located in the rural area of Cheraw, Northeastern Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,664, while out-of-state students pay about $6,024. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $18,933. General Business/commerce graduates of Northeastern Technical College earn a median of $57,772 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,933 median debt.
Piedmont Technical College placed #10 among the best values for general business/commerce. Set in the town of Greenwood, Piedmont Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,775, with out-of-state students paying around $6,923. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $26,547. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Piedmont Technical College generally make around $33,486. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Coker College earned the #11 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Set in the town of Hartsville, Coker College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,416. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Coker College generally make around $30,285. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Coker College admits about 94% of applicants.
South Carolina State University landed the #12 spot for general business/commerce value this year. Set in the town of Orangeburg, South Carolina State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,060, compared with $21,750 for out-of-state students. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $31,740 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from South Carolina State University generally make around $39,914. That is a strong return on a $31,740 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Denmark Technical College came in at #13 for value in general business/commerce this year. Located in the rural area of Denmark, Denmark Technical College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $6,315 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,955 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $25,351.
Citadel Military College Of South Carolina ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Located in the city of Charleston, Citadel Military College Of South Carolina is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,570 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,508. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $24,305 in student loans. General Business/commerce graduates of Citadel Military College Of South Carolina earn a median of $52,909 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,305 median debt. The acceptance rate is 23%.
Limestone College placed #15 among the best values for general business/commerce. Located in the town of Gaffney, Limestone College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $27,800. Students borrow a median of $32,714 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $38,973. That is a strong return on a $32,714 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Strayer University South Carolina earned the #16 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Set in the city of Greenville, Strayer University South Carolina is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,920. Students borrow a median of $44,664 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $49,793. Set against $44,664 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of South Carolina Columbia ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,688, compared with $36,298 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $24,472. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $54,087. That is a strong return on a $24,472 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
More General Business/Commerce Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
