2026 Best Value General Economics Schools in South Carolina

[General Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/economics-general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general economics students.
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2026 Best Value General Economics Schools in South Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general economics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Economics Schools
Leading the list is College Of Charleston, our #1 best value for general economics in South Carolina. Set in the city of Charleston, College Of Charleston is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,978, while out-of-state students pay about $38,296. Students borrow a median of $24,733 to complete the general economics program here. Early-career general economics graduates make about $40,222. That is a strong return on a $24,733 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Clemson University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general economics, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. General Economics graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. General Economics graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $45,075 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Carolina Columbia is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general economics, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Students from in state pay about $12,688 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,298 for out-of-state students. General Economics graduates carry a median of $24,062 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia generally make around $48,149. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Wofford College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general economics, landing the #4 spot this year. Wofford College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Spartanburg. Students from in state pay about $56,005 in tuition and fees. General Economics graduates carry a median of $24,643 in student loans. Early-career general economics graduates make about $41,052. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Furman University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general economics, landing the #5 spot this year. Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Greenville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,770. General Economics graduates carry a median of $24,125 in student loans. Early-career general economics graduates make about $55,615. That is a strong return on a $24,125 median debt. Furman University admits about 43% of applicants.
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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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.