2026 Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools in South Carolina
[General Business/Commerce](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/general-business-commerce/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. 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
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general business/commerce degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools
For return on investment in general business/commerce, no school beat Trident Technical College this year. Trident Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Charleston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,546, with out-of-state students paying around $8,620. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $18,116. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $50,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Horry Georgetown Technical College one of the best values for general business/commerce. Set in the city of Conway, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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. General Business/commerce graduates of Horry Georgetown Technical College earn a median of $36,679 early in their careers. 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. Located in the city of Rock Hill, York Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,036 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,340. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from York Technical College generally make around $33,870. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Midlands Technical College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Located in the suburb of West Columbia, Midlands Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,100 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,700. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $17,611 in student loans. 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 came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Located in the suburb of Pendleton, Tri County Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,448 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,007. 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. That is a strong return on a $15,787 median debt.
Technical College Of The Lowcountry placed #6 among the best values for general business/commerce. Located in the city of Beaufort, Technical College Of The Lowcountry is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,156, compared with $11,916 for out-of-state students. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $17,110 in student loans. General Business/commerce graduates of Technical College Of The Lowcountry earn a median of $44,556 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College earned the #7 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Set in the town of Orangeburg, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,210 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,354. Students borrow a median of $18,583 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College generally make around $61,814. Set against $18,583 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of South Carolina Lancaster landed the #8 spot for general business/commerce value this year. Located in the town of Lancaster, University Of South Carolina Lancaster is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,558, compared with $18,238 for out-of-state students. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $11,705 in student loans. General Business/commerce graduates of University Of South Carolina Lancaster earn a median of $44,067 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. 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. Set in the rural area of Cheraw, Northeastern Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,664, with out-of-state students paying around $6,024. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $18,933 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Northeastern Technical College generally make around $57,772. 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. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $26,547 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Piedmont Technical College generally make around $33,486. Set against $26,547 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Coker College earned the #11 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Located in the town of Hartsville, Coker College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $33,416. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $27,000. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $30,285. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
South Carolina State University landed the #12 spot for general business/commerce value this year. South Carolina State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Orangeburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,060, while out-of-state students pay about $21,750. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $31,740 in student loans. General Business/commerce graduates of South Carolina State University earn a median of $39,914 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Denmark Technical College placed #13 among the best values for general business/commerce. Denmark Technical College is a small public school located in the rural area of Denmark. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,315, while out-of-state students pay about $11,955. 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,570, compared with $38,508 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $24,305. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Citadel Military College Of South Carolina generally make around $52,909. That is a strong return on a $24,305 median debt. Citadel Military College Of South Carolina admits about 23% of applicants.
Limestone College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Limestone College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Gaffney. In-state tuition and fees average $27,800. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $32,714 in student loans. General Business/commerce graduates of Limestone College earn a median of $38,973 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Strayer University South Carolina ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Located in the city of Greenville, Strayer University South Carolina is a mid-sized private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,920. Students borrow a median of $44,664 to complete the general business/commerce program here. General Business/commerce graduates of Strayer University South Carolina earn a median of $49,793 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of South Carolina Columbia landed the #17 spot for general business/commerce value this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,688, while out-of-state students pay about $36,298. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $24,472 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia generally make around $54,087. Set against $24,472 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of South Carolina Columbia admits about 60% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, 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.
