[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”heading-4″]South Carolina offers many options for online learners, including degree-completion programs, specialized certificates, and associate, bachelor’s, and graduate degrees.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]With a vibrant history and enthusiastic sporting community, South Carolina is home to both public universities and small liberal arts colleges. The Citadel — a publicly funded military college in Charleston, South Carolina — enrolls about [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.citadel.edu/root/images/ir/enroll_profiles/spring_19_profile.pdf/”]4,000 students annually[/hen-ui-link], while the University of South Carolina System offers programs at [hen-ui-link href=”https://southcarolina.edu/”]19 campuses[/hen-ui-link] across the state.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Choosing from the best online colleges in South Carolina requires careful consideration of your career goals and personal aspirations, along with each school’s cost and scheduling flexibility. Online undergraduate degrees can prepare students for careers like healthcare, business, and information technology. University of South Carolina (UofSC), for example, provides [hen-ui-link href=”https://sc.edu/about/system_and_campuses/palmetto_college/bachelor_degree_programs/”]online degree-completion programs[/hen-ui-link] in nearly 20 disciplines, plus a fully online [hen-ui-link href=”https://sc.edu/about/system_and_campuses/palmetto_college/bachelor_degree_programs/nursing/index.php”]RN-to-BSN program[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″ class=”text-tertiary”]Featured Online Schools[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”editorialListings” /] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]The Best Online Colleges in South Carolina[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-grid columns-md=”2″ gap=”md”] [/hen-ui-grid] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Employment in South Carolina[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.sccommerce.com/industries”]Top industries in South Carolina[/hen-ui-link] include agribusiness, manufacturing, and aerospace technology, which each offering entry-level and middle-level positions. South Carolina has a relatively low unemployment rate; according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.sc.htm”]unemployment in October 2023[/hen-ui-link] reached just over 2.9% — down significantly from earlier in the year.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The highest-paying careers in the state are managerial and executive roles, which require advanced degrees. Chief executives, computer and information systems managers, and agricultural and engineering managers rank among the highest-paid roles.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/state/south-carolina/”]cost of living[/hen-ui-link] in South Carolina is below the national average. Housing is the largest expense, although it also sits comfortably below the average for housing across the United States.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Below are a few of the highest-paying roles employing more than 1,000 individuals in South Carolina. Salary information applies specifically to South Carolina, while job growth data pertains to the United States as a whole.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-table] [hen-ui-table-caption]Highest-Paying Careers[/hen-ui-table-caption] [hen-ui-table-header] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell]Career[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]Annual Mean Salary[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]Projected Job Growth (2022-2032)[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]Education Required[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [/hen-ui-table-header] [hen-ui-table-body] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell]Family Medicine Physicians[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]$229,300[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physicians-and-surgeons.htm/”]3%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]Doctoral degree[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell]Chief Executives[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]$100,090[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/top-executives.htm/”]3%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]Bachelor’s degree[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell]Dentists, General[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]$159,530[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dentists.htm/”]4%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]Doctoral degree[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell]Nurse Anesthetists[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]$125,900[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm/”]38%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]Master’s degree[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell]Architectural and Engineering Managers[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]$159,920[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/architectural-and-engineering-managers.htm”]4%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]Bachelor’s degree[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell]Computer and Information Systems Managers[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell] $164,070[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/computer-and-information-systems-managers.htm”]15%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]Bachelor’s degree[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell]Financial Managers[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]$139,790[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/financial-managers.htm/”]16%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]Bachelor’s degree[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [/hen-ui-table-body] [/hen-ui-table] Source: [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_sc.htm/”]BLS[/hen-ui-link] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The following data reflects the highest-paying roles employing more than 15,000 professionals in South Carolina. Salary figures apply specifically to South Carolina, while job growth data refers to the United States as a whole.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-table] [hen-ui-table-caption]Most Common Careers in South Carolina[/hen-ui-table-caption] [hen-ui-table-header] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell]Career[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]Annual Mean Salary[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]Projected Job Growth (2022-2032)[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]Education Required[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [/hen-ui-table-header] [hen-ui-table-body] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell]General and Operations Managers[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]$102,240[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/top-executives.htm/”]4%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]Bachelor’s degree[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell]Accountants and Auditors[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]$78,000[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/accountants-and-auditors.htm/”]4%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]Bachelor’s degree[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell]Registered Nurses[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]$81,220[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm/”]6%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]Bachelor’s degree[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell]Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]$61,620[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/kindergarten-and-elementary-school-teachers.htm”]1%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]Bachelor’s degree[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell]Maintenance and Repair Workers, General[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]$44,980[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/general-maintenance-and-repair-workers.htm”]4%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]High school diploma[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell]First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]$41,020[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes351012.htm”]6%[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell]High school diploma[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [/hen-ui-table-body] [/hen-ui-table] Source: [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_sc.htm/”]BLS[/hen-ui-link] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Online Associate and Graduate Degrees[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]COVID-19 has changed online education, opening up distance learning to new fields of study. As a result, colleges and universities have increased support for online learners, providing innovative resources and media to accommodate student needs.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Junior and community colleges in South Carolina offer online associate degrees. Many associate programs, like the associate in arts at Spartanburg Community College, help graduates [hen-ui-link href=”/resources/transfer-credits-online-colleges/”]transition to degree-completion programs[/hen-ui-link] at four-year institutions in the state.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Two-year schools in South Carolina offer associate degrees in areas like criminal justice technology, management, and robotics production. Online degrees offer [hen-ui-link href=”/resources/synchronous-vs-asynchronous-programs-courses/”]convenience and flexibility[/hen-ui-link], making them ideal for students who have other commitments like work or family.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For more advanced students, earning an online master’s or doctoral degree is also an option. For example, Columbia College offers a master’s [hen-ui-link href=”/rankings/bachelors/best-online-bachelors-criminal-justice/”]degree in criminal justice online[/hen-ui-link], and Clemson University offers online master’s programs in parks, recreation, and tourism management and construction science management. UofSC offers several engineering degrees online, including programs in robotics.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Coursework for online programs usually matches on-campus degrees, with some limitations for laboratory and practical requirements. On-campus students can converse directly with classmates and instructors in person, while technology enables similar exchanges with online learners.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Frequently Asked Questions[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Is College Free in South Carolina?”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]College in South Carolina is not usually free, with some exceptions. Senior citizens may receive [hen-ui-link href=”https://sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/on_your_time/senior_citizens/index.php#:~:text=South%20Carolina%20residents%20who%20are,the%20state’s%20free%20tuition%20program./”]tuition waivers[/hen-ui-link] at state colleges and universities, and children of veterans may also [hen-ui-link href=”https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/State/Territory-Benefits/South-Carolina/”]receive free tuition[/hen-ui-link]. Some schools, like [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.cctech.edu/in-the-news/free-tuition-is-herepr/”]Central Carolina Technical College[/hen-ui-link], offer scholarship programs that cover the first two years of college tuition.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”How Many Historically Black Colleges and Universities Are in South Carolina?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nine institutions hold HBCU status in South Carolina. Private HBCUs include Allen University, Benedict College, Claflin University, Morris College, Voorhees College, and Clinton College. Friendship Junior College and Harbison Junior College are also HBCUs, along with South Carolina State University.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Is University of South Carolina an HBCU?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]UofSC is not an HBCU. Founded in 1805, UofSC is a public research institution with its main campus in Columbia and seven additional campuses around the state.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Does University of South Carolina Have Online Degrees?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]UofSc offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees online. Bachelor’s degree options include programs in nursing, with additional degree-completion opportunities in nearly 20 disciplines. UofSC also offers online graduate certificates, doctorates, and specialist degrees.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Can You Get a Good Job With an Online Degree?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Yes, online students have the same job opportunities as traditional students, so long as they attend an accredited institution. Distance education also allows learners with full-time positions to complete coursework while maintaining employment.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Can You Go to College Completely Online?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Many schools offer undergraduate and graduate degrees completely online with no on-campus requirements. Depending on the program, students may need to participate in laboratory or practical requirements in face-to-face settings.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Is South Carolina a Veteran-Friendly State?”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]South Carolina is a veteran-friendly state, offering free tuition for children of war veterans. Individuals must attend state-supported colleges or universities to qualify. [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-state-benefits/south-carolina-state-veterans-benefits.html/”]Additional benefits for veterans[/hen-ui-link] include tax deductions and exemptions, employment preference, and reduced fees at state facilities.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [/hen-ui-accordion] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Learn more, do more.[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h5″]More topic-relevant resources to expand your knowledge.[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”slider” ids=”/resources/college-finances/paying-for-college/,/resources/best-ways-succeed-online-education/,/rankings/by-state/best-colleges-universities-by-state/”][/hen-ui-article-row] [hen-ui-section-header title=”Popular with our students.” /] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”2-col” ids=”970,1538,905″][/hen-ui-article-row]