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Best Value Trade School Bachelor's Degree Schools in South Carolina

2023 Best Value Trade School Bachelor's Degree Schools in South Carolina

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices

11 Schools Ranked
$26,843 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$24,136 Avg Student Debt*

There are so many trade school programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Best Value Trade School Bachelor's Degree Schools in South Carolina ranking. Our analysis looked at 11 schools in South Carolina to see which bachelor's degree programs offered the best value experiences for trade school students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.

For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

Top Value Trade Bachelor's Degree Schools in South Carolina

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Clemson University

Clemson, South Carolina
5,123 Total Awards
$39,502 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Clemson University to be the best value school for trade school students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in South Carolina. Clemson is located in Clemson, South Carolina and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5,123 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Clemson are $39,502 a year. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $20,939 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Clemson does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 49% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Clemson also took the #1 spot in our Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in South Carolina rankings.

Read full report on Clemson University

#2

University of South Carolina - Upstate

Spartanburg, South Carolina
1,186 Total Awards
$23,085 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of South Carolina - Upstate. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Bachelor’s Degree Schools in South Carolina list. University of South Carolina - Upstate is a small public school located in Spartanburg, South Carolina that handed out 1,186 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at USC Upstate are $23,085 a year. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $23,239 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since USC Upstate does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 84% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

USC Upstate did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in South Carolina list.

Read full report on University of South Carolina - Upstate

#3

Coastal Carolina University

Conway, South Carolina
1,890 Total Awards
$28,490 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Coastal Carolina University is a great place for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. This fairly large public school is located in Conway, South Carolina, and it awarded 1,890 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Coastal Carolina University are $28,490 per year. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $23,426 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Coastal Carolina University. During the 2020-2021 year, about 64% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#4

University of South Carolina - Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina
7,106 Total Awards
$33,928 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means University of South Carolina - Columbia is a great place for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. UofSC is located in Columbia, South Carolina and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 7,106 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.

UofSC undergraduate students pay an average of $33,928 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,419 in student loans.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at UofSC. In 2020-2021 about 61% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, UofSC is ranked #5 for overall quality in South Carolina.

Full University of South Carolina - Columbia Report

#5

Francis Marion University

Florence, South Carolina
515 Total Awards
$21,544 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Francis Marion University is a great place for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Florence, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 515 students in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Francis Marion University are $21,544 a year. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $29,623 in loans while pursuing their degree.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Francis Marion University does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 50% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Full Francis Marion University Report

#6

Bob Jones University

Greenville, South Carolina
491 Total Awards
$21,332 Average Tuition & Fees

Bob Jones University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree trade school programs. Bob Jones University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Greenville, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 491 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Bob Jones University are $21,332 per year. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $16,329 in loans while pursuing their degree.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Bob Jones University does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 21% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Bob Jones University is ranked #4 for overall quality in South Carolina.

Read full report on Bob Jones University

#7

Winthrop University

Rock Hill, South Carolina
881 Total Awards
$30,196 Average Tuition & Fees

Winthrop University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree trade school programs. Winthrop is a public institution located in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 881 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Winthrop are $30,196 per year. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $25,437 in loans while pursuing their degree.

One thing to take note of is that Winthrop does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 74% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Full Winthrop University Report

#8

South Carolina State University

Orangeburg, South Carolina
320 Total Awards
$21,750 Average Tuition & Fees

South Carolina State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Bachelor’s Degree Schools in South Carolina ranking. Located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, the small public school handed out 320 bachelor’s degree awards in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at South Carolina State University are $21,750 a year. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $32,061 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Online courses are available at South Carolina State University, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 49% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#9

South University, Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina
57 Total Awards
$16,560 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #9, South University, Columbia did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree. South University, Columbia is a private for-profit institution located in Columbia, South Carolina. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 57 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.

South University, Columbia undergraduate students pay an average of $16,560 in tuition and fees each year. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $38,641 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since South University, Columbia does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 53% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#10

Charleston Southern University

Charleston, South Carolina
523 Total Awards
$29,790 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #10, Charleston Southern University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in Charleston, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 523 bachelor’s degree awards in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CSU are $29,790 per year. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,654 in student loans.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since CSU does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 62% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

CSU also took the #3 spot in our Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in South Carolina rankings.

Read full report on Charleston Southern University

#11

Newberry College

Newberry, South Carolina
271 Total Awards
$29,100 Average Tuition & Fees

Newberry College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Bachelor’s Degree Schools in South Carolina ranking. Located in Newberry, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 271 bachelor’s degree awards in 2021-2022.

Newberry College undergraduate students pay an average of $29,100 in tuition and fees each year. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $23,214 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Newberry College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 3% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read More…

View Best Value Trade Bachelor’s Degree Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 11 schools only.

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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