South Carolina doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 19 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 19 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Clemson came out on top.
The 10 Best College Towns In South Carolina For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where South Carolina's towns land among the best college towns in America.
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| Colleges | Clemson University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 23,300 (129 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 18,072 |
| Median rent | $1,007 |
| Graduation rate | 83% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $35,015 |
Clemson is home to Clemson University. There are 129 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,007 a month, and the average cost to attend is $35,015 a year. It ranks 3rd for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Greenville Technical College, Furman University, Bob Jones University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 15,168 (21 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 72,935 |
| Median rent | $1,312 |
| Graduation rate | 57% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $39,676 |
Greenville is home to Greenville Technical College, Furman University, Bob Jones University. There are 21 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,312 a month, and the average cost to attend is $39,676 a year. It ranks 10th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of South Carolina Aiken |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,962 (9 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 32,521 |
| Median rent | $1,180 |
| Graduation rate | 47% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $21,540 |
Aiken is home to University of South Carolina Aiken. There are 9 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,180 a month, and the average cost to attend is $21,540 a year. It ranks 12th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Francis Marion University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,628 (7 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 40,408 |
| Median rent | $992 |
| Graduation rate | 46% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $23,850 |
Florence is home to Francis Marion University. There are 7 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $992 a month, and the average cost to attend is $23,850 a year. It ranks 13th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of South Carolina-Upstate, Wofford College, Converse University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 8,143 (21 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 38,910 |
| Median rent | $1,099 |
| Graduation rate | 57% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $42,146 |
Spartanburg is home to University of South Carolina-Upstate, Wofford College, Converse University. There are 21 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,099 a month, and the average cost to attend is $42,146 a year. It ranks 18th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | College of Charleston, Charleston Southern University, Citadel Military College of South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 16,614 (11 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 154,338 |
| Median rent | $1,722 |
| Graduation rate | 69% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $37,218 |
Charleston is home to College of Charleston, Charleston Southern University, Citadel Military College of South Carolina. There are 11 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,722 a month, and the average cost to attend is $37,218 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Coastal Carolina University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 10,377 (38 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 27,263 |
| Median rent | $866 |
| Graduation rate | 53% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $26,692 |
Conway is home to Coastal Carolina University. There are 38 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $866 a month, and the average cost to attend is $26,692 a year. It ranks 5th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Lander University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,397 (15 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 22,536 |
| Median rent | $839 |
| Graduation rate | 53% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $27,277 |
Greenwood is home to Lander University. There are 15 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $839 a month, and the average cost to attend is $27,277 a year. It ranks 8th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Southern Wesleyan University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 747 (14 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 5,320 |
| Median rent | $876 |
| Graduation rate | 60% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $39,914 |
Central is home to Southern Wesleyan University. There are 14 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $876 a month, and the average cost to attend is $39,914 a year. It ranks 2nd for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Winthrop University, Clinton College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,649 (5 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 75,259 |
| Median rent | $1,341 |
| Graduation rate | 33% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $27,862 |
Rock Hill is home to Winthrop University, Clinton College. There are 5 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,341 a month, and the average cost to attend is $27,862 a year. It ranks 6th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in South Carolina
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 19 towns in South Carolina that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in South Carolina.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in South Carolina.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In South Carolina
If you're looking for the best college towns in South Carolina, Clemson is where to start.
The best college towns in South Carolina are Clemson, Greenville, Aiken, Florence, Spartanburg, Charleston, Conway, Greenwood, Central, and Rock Hill.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in South Carolina for 2026?
Clemson is the best college town in South Carolina for 2026, followed by Greenville and Aiken.
How did you rank the best college towns in South Carolina?
We looked at every town in South Carolina with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in South Carolina?
Boiling Springs ranks last of the 19 college towns we ranked in South Carolina for 2026.
Best College Towns In South Carolina For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clemson, SC | 18,072 | 23,300 | $1,007 |
| 2 | Greenville, SC | 72,935 | 15,168 | $1,312 |
| 3 | Aiken, SC | 32,521 | 2,962 | $1,180 |
| 4 | Florence, SC | 40,408 | 2,628 | $992 |
| 5 | Spartanburg, SC | 38,910 | 8,143 | $1,099 |
| 6 | Charleston, SC | 154,338 | 16,614 | $1,722 |
| 7 | Conway, SC | 27,263 | 10,377 | $866 |
| 8 | Greenwood, SC | 22,536 | 3,397 | $839 |
| 9 | Central, SC | 5,320 | 747 | $876 |
| 10 | Rock Hill, SC | 75,259 | 3,649 | $1,341 |
| 11 | Newberry, SC | 10,790 | 1,479 | $831 |
| 12 | Bluffton, SC | 33,157 | 2,052 | $2,256 |
| 13 | Orangeburg, SC | 13,253 | 4,640 | $848 |
| 14 | Columbia, SC | 139,643 | 34,441 | $1,204 |
| 15 | Hartsville, SC | 7,419 | 840 | $874 |
| 16 | Anderson, SC | 30,051 | 3,183 | $975 |
| 17 | Clinton, SC | 7,676 | 852 | $899 |
| 18 | Sumter, SC | 43,053 | 383 | $1,076 |
| 19 | Boiling Springs, SC | 12,936 | 0 | $1,266 |
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