Affordable Colleges in South Carolina: Tuition and Financial Aid

Compare South Carolina colleges by county

South Carolina technical colleges price by county, and the rate you pay depends on where you live. A South Carolina address alone does not establish eligibility for every district’s lowest rate. Ask the college which rate your residence qualifies for. These 2026–27 schedules were checked on October 12, 2026 and show tuition before aid.

University of South Carolina and online completion

At the university, the unit changes: tuition is per semester inside a band of hours, not per credit.

• University of South Carolina (Columbia). The 2026-2027 schedule charges $6,144 per semester for residents and $19,050 for nonresidents at 12–16 hours. Part-time is $512 per credit hour for residents and $1,587.50 for nonresidents. Hours above 16 are billed per credit, at $80 for residents and $208 for nonresidents. In-state tuition requires the South Carolina Residency Certification Form; students who do not submit it “will not be considered for in-state tuition,” so a claimed address is not enough. Fees are billed per semester: an $80 matriculation fee, a technology fee of $200 full-time or $17 per credit hour part-time, and a mandatory athletics fee of $150 per semester full-time ($12.50 per credit hour part-time, $300 a year). The page states fees are subject to change without notice.
• Palmetto College online completion. Finish a bachelor’s degree online through USC if you already hold credit toward it. Full-time tuition is $5,199.00 per semester for South Carolina residents and $10,428.00 for nonresidents. Part-time is assessed per credit hour for loads under 12 hours: $433.25 for residents and $869.00 for nonresidents. The technology fee is $156 per semester or $13 per credit hour. There is a one-time $75 matriculation fee and a $40 per hour nursing course fee. The USC Board of Trustees approved these rates in June 2026, effective Fall 2026.

For a bachelor’s completion program, ask the receiving college to separate the total degree requirement from the credits taught after admission. Incoming associate-degree credits can be an entry requirement rather than part of the completion portion you pay for.

Online courses and transfer programs

• Spartanburg: SCCOnline lists an Associate in Arts transfer degree, Management AAS, and Accounting AAS among its online degree options. The AA program is designed for students aiming at a four-year degree. Choose the major at the receiving college with an advisor before selecting electives.
• Horry-Georgetown: its online-program list includes the 60-credit Associate in Arts. Check the required course mix with your intended transfer university rather than assuming every elective will count.
• Trident: use the online-program directory to find a named degree, then check its catalog requirements and course availability.

The Commission on Higher Education’s transfer guide and SC Transfer and Articulation Center are good starting points. The receiving institution decides how courses apply to its degree.

State aid and residency

The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education maintains information on LIFE, Palmetto Fellows, SC HOPE, Lottery Tuition Assistance and other state grants. Eligibility varies by program, institution, enrollment, academic record and residence. Read the state’s residency information, and complete the FAFSA process where required. A tuition waiver or aid example is not an award letter or a guarantee of a zero bill.

Before you apply

• Ask the college which district rate your residence qualifies for, and whether the courses you want change it.
• Ask for the billing unit behind every charge. The tables above mix per-credit tuition, per-semester fees and per-course surcharges.
• If you are considering USC Columbia, submit the residency certification form before you rely on the in-state rate.
• Get a written evaluation of your previous credits, and ask which associate-degree courses will transfer toward the bachelor’s degree.
• Confirm state aid with the Commission on Higher Education and your college’s financial-aid office, using their current rules.