2026 Best Value General Studies Schools in South Carolina
[General Studies](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/general-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general studies students.
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2026 Best Value General Studies Schools in South Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Studies Schools
Our analysis ranked Coastal Carolina University the best value for a degree in general studies in South Carolina. Coastal Carolina University is a large public school located in the city of Conway. In-state tuition and fees average $11,640, with out-of-state students paying around $29,628. Typical student debt for general studies graduates is $27,250. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Coastal Carolina University generally make around $38,272. Set against $27,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Coastal Carolina University admits about 75% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Technical College Of The Lowcountry one of the best values for general studies. Located in the city of Beaufort, Technical College Of The Lowcountry is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,156, with out-of-state students paying around $11,916. Typical student debt for general studies graduates is $9,500. Early-career general studies graduates make about $28,441. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in general studies will find it at Lander University, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Greenwood, Lander University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $11,700 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,300. General Studies graduates carry a median of $27,125 in student loans. Early-career general studies graduates make about $37,548. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Spartanburg Methodist College earned it the #4 place for general studies. Set in the suburb of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Methodist College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,650. Typical student debt for general studies graduates is $12,000. Early-career general studies graduates make about $14,509. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Williamsburg Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Williamsburg Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Kingstree. Students from in state pay about $4,488 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,592 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $29,935 ten years after entry.
College Of Charleston placed #6 among the best values for general studies. Set in the city of Charleston, College Of Charleston is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,978, with out-of-state students paying around $38,296. Typical student debt for general studies graduates is $24,733. General Studies graduates of College Of Charleston earn a median of $40,222 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
North Greenville University came in at #7 for value in general studies this year. Located in the rural area of Tigerville, North Greenville University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $25,800 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general studies graduates is $25,500. General Studies graduates of North Greenville University earn a median of $29,506 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Columbia International University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value general studies schools. Columbia International University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,900. Typical student debt for general studies graduates is $25,000. Early-career general studies graduates make about $32,296. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Columbia International University admits about 94% of applicants.
More General Studies Rankings
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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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
