2023 Best Undergraduate Business Schools in South Carolina

Published: September 1, 2022

By: Colleges of Distinction Staff

Jump to: Clemson University | Coastal Carolina University | College of Charleston | Furman University | Presbyterian College | University of South Carolina Aiken | Frequently Asked Questions | See best undergraduate business schools in other states | Best South Carolina Colleges by Award

The state of South Carolina is known for its contribution to innovation and to the United States as a whole. From finance, to aviation and manufacturing, South Carolina’s colleges can supply the skills and knowledge one needs to begin a career in business.

Every school on this list has already gotten our stamp of approval for the way they enrich every students’ education through the Four Distinctions. And with the addition of the business badge, you can be sure that these institutions offer hands-on business programs that produce experienced, responsible leaders for the booming corporate world.

We have thoroughly researched the business programs at these South Carolina Colleges of Distinction and verified that they exhibit all of the following characteristics:

• Multidisciplinary exposure across all aspects of business
• Real-world experience through internships and other forms of engagement with actual firms
• Industry connections that help students build their network and access to professional growth
• Business ethics that emphasize how a firm’s obligations extend beyond its shareholders
• Collaborative learning, in both business and general education courses, that stress the nuances of an efficient team
• Dedicated advisors and counselors who have a clear understanding of students’ academic and post-graduate milestones

Student success is the primary focus of our Colleges of Distinction, and these business degree-granting CoDs are no exception. With different types of business degrees to help students pursue their desired industry, the 2022-2023 South Carolina Business Colleges of Distinction provide a stable foundation for entrepreneurial minds.

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Clemson University

Clemson, SC ‧ Public ‧ 4-year

Join a vibrant community and make valuable connections at Clemson University. Clemson is a public university in Clemson, South Carolina.

Acceptance rate 62% • Net price $22,935 • SAT Range 1210-1390 • Students submitting SAT scores 59%
Total Undergrad Population 20,868 • Setting Suburb • Public 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 85% • Retention rate 94% • Student-to-faculty ratio 16:1
Total undergrad business degrees granted last year: 2,331

Business Majors Offered

Business Administration, Management and Operations
Accounting and Related Services
Finance and Financial Management Services
Marketing
Construction Management

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Coastal Carolina University

Conway, SC ‧ Public ‧ 4-year

Coastal Carolina University is a dynamic, public institution located near the resort area of Myrtle Beach. The University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the baccalaureate degree and master’s degree.

More than 10,600 students from across the country and the world interact with a world-class faculty and enjoy a nationally competitive NCAA I athletic program, an inspiring cultural calendar, and a tradition of community interaction that is fueled by more than 190 student clubs and organizations.

Acceptance rate  70%     •     Net price  $14,716     •     SAT Range  1020-1180     •     Students submitting SAT scores 51% Total Undergrad Population 9,500     •     Setting Small City     •     Public 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year)  46%     •     Retention rate 73%     •     Student-to-faculty ratio 17:1
Total undergrad business degrees granted last year 490

Business Majors Offered

Business Administration, Management and Operations
Accounting and Related Services
Business/Managerial Economics
Finance and Financial Management Services
Hospitality Administration/Management
Marketing

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College of Charleston

Charleston, SC ‧ Public ‧ 4-year

The College of Charleston was founded in 1770 and is located in South Carolina’s historic city of Charleston. The school’s mission is to provide a superior quality undergraduate education at an affordable price.

Acceptance rate 74% • Net price $20,351 • SAT Range 1070-1240 • Students submitting SAT scores 60%
Total Undergrad Population 9,300 • Setting Medium City • Public 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 66% • Retention rate 80% • Student-to-faculty ratio 15:1
Total undergrad business degrees granted last year: 539

Business Majors Offered

Business Administration, Management and Operations
Accounting and Related Services
Finance and Financial Management Services
Hospitality Administration/Management
International Business
Marketing
Real Estate

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Furman University

Greenville, SC ‧ Private ‧ 4-year

Furman is a liberal arts institution that places a dedicated focus on student-faculty interactions. The University recognizes the immense value of these interactions as a system of intellectual give and take. Students are taught to think critically, communicate effectively, and engage in higher-level conceptualization.

A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION
A liberal arts degree is incredibly useful in today’s global society. Furman provides its students with a well-rounded educational experience—one that transcends disciplines and departments. Ultimately, students still commit themselves to a specific area of study, but they are also equipped with a wide range of skills. They are given responsibility over their educations and are encouraged to take advantage of all the academic and personal resources that Furman has to offer.

SIGNATURE PROGRAMS
Furman is noted for its integration of special learning programs into its core curriculum. Students are given the opportunity to participate in experiential learning, undergraduate research, and study abroad. These signature programs give students the chance to put academic theory into practice.

Acceptance rate 65% • Net price $37,761 • SAT Range 1230-1400 • Students submitting SAT scores 41%
Total Undergrad Population    2,345 • Setting Large Suburb • Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 81% • Retention rate 81% • Student-to-faculty ratio 9:1
Total undergrad business degrees granted last year: 67

Business Majors Offered

Business Administration, Management and Operations
Accounting and Related Services

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Presbyterian College

Clinton, SC ‧ Private ‧ 4-year

Presbyterian College sits between Columbia and Greenville, SC, in the college town of Clinton. PC is noted as much for its challenging academics as it is for its one-of-a-kind mascot: the Blue Hose.

Presbyterian College’s students are one of a kind, too: they bring their own interests and abilities to campus and pursue them wholeheartedly. Students customize their education by choosing from 50+ majors and pre-professional programs. They’re taught and mentored by a faculty whose #1 priority is their students’ success. Students research, intern, and study abroad. And they get involved on campus, a place defined by honor and ethics. PC prepares students to be fulfilled personally and professionally so they may contribute to today’s global society.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

At Presbyterian College, there is a belief that learning can and should take place outside of the four walls of the classroom. This is why 100% of PC students participate in study abroad, research, or internships during their time as an undergraduate student. In the last year, PC students have traveled to the Galapagos Islands to study the local wildlife, researched and designed prosthetic limbs, and interned at the Greenville Zoo.

HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE

Students have had local internships in banks, hotels, hospitals, and law offices. The college also collaborates with Millekin, a large textile company, to provide students with an integrated internship and leadership training experience. Some students have ventured to Washington, DC, to intern for the National Geographic Society and to Atlanta to intern for CNN, Delta Air Lines, The Today Show, and even NASA. Read how two PR internships led Brittany Kirkland ‘13 to land a position at one of the world’s largest technology corporations.

Acceptance rate  71%     •     Net price  $21,959     •     SAT Range  1030-1200     •     Students submitting SAT scores 74%
Total Undergrad Population 1,048     •     Setting Town     •     Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year)  61%     •     Retention rate 72%     •     Student-to-faculty ratio 12:1
Total undergrad business degrees granted last year 47

Business Majors Offered

Business Administration, Management and Operations
Business/Managerial Economics

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University of South Carolina Aiken

Aiken, SC ‧ Public ‧ 4-year

Operating with a dedication to active learning, the University of South Carolina Aiken inspires students through collaborative scholarship between themselves and their professors, groundbreaking research, creative activities, and meaningful service. Its expansive offering of 50+ programs span the arts, sciences, and such professional fields as business, education, and nursing.

USC Aiken embraces its rich liberal arts tradition, rewarding every student with the value of multidisciplinary exposure. Challenged to expand their worldview with a range of perspectives, these students garner the mental flexibility they need to keep up with an ever-evolving market and society. They learn to solve complex problems and communicate their ideas as well-rounded scholars, both within their specific fields of study and beyond.

The diverse range of thought that comes with a USC Aiken education is complemented with a diverse range of experiential, out-of-the-classroom opportunities. Students have tremendous opportunities to take their studies abroad, organize and conduct research projects, and delve into real-world applications of their studies.

REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE
USC Aiken provides a variety of opportunities for students to practice in a professional setting the skills and knowledge they acquire in the classroom. In many professional programs—such as teacher education, business, nursing, and clinical psychology—internships and practica are either required or strongly encouraged. In other areas like theatre, visual art, or communication, students may be placed in cooperating agencies in the local community.

CAPSTONE COURSES AND PROJECTS
Many of the science majors at USC Aiken require students to engage in senior research or complete a thesis. Likewise, programs in the arts include capstone classes through which students are expected to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills they have attained through a culmination of their studies. Honors students and students pursuing interdisciplinary studies must also complete a capstone experience to showcase their advanced, creative work.

Acceptance rate  56%     •     Net price  $12,689     •     SAT Range  970-1150     •     Students submitting SAT scores 74%
Total Undergrad Population 3,284     •     Setting Large Suburb     •     Public 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year)  41%     •     Retention rate 66%     •     Student-to-faculty ratio 17:1
Total undergrad business degrees granted last year 147

Business Majors Offered

Business Administration, Management and Operations

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