2026 Best Value General Education Schools in South Carolina
[General Education](/majors/education/general-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools to find the best return on investment for general education students.
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2026 Best Value General Education Schools in South Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Education Schools
For return on investment in general education, no school beat Horry Georgetown Technical College this year. Horry Georgetown Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Conway. In-state tuition and fees average $5,518, while out-of-state students pay about $10,978. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $19,172. Early-career general education graduates make about $37,387. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Winthrop University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,678, with out-of-state students paying around $28,676. Students borrow a median of $27,040 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Winthrop University generally make around $39,378. Set against $27,040 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Winthrop University admits about 79% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at Bob Jones University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Greenville, Bob Jones University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $22,892. Students borrow a median of $20,497 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Bob Jones University generally make around $40,538. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Clemson University earned it the #4 place for general education. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, compared with $40,866 for out-of-state students. General Education graduates carry a median of $23,783 in student loans. General Education graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $50,364 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,783 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Columbia College South Carolina one of the best values for general education. Set in the city of Columbia, Columbia College South Carolina is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,054. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $28,158. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Columbia College South Carolina generally make around $48,339. That is a strong return on a $28,158 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Carolina Columbia landed the #6 spot for general education value this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,688, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. Students borrow a median of $24,472 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia generally make around $51,023. Set against $24,472 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of South Carolina Columbia admits about 60% of applicants.
Anderson University Sc earned the #7 position for value in general education this year. Located in the city of Anderson, Anderson University Sc is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,970. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $28,034. General Education graduates of Anderson University Sc earn a median of $49,149 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,034 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
More General Education Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
